Meet Arlo Estill | Fabric artist and Hemp Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arlo Estill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arlo, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The idea behind Hempsmith is to introduce industrial hemp fiber to the mainstream. My brother, Zafer and I started this brand to demonstrate the uses of hemp and create a new story of clothing. We believe that materials can be grown and consumed wisely in a restorative economy. Hemp is a great material to be using for clothing because it produces a durable fiber and grows quickly, sequestering carbon and building soil.

Hemp grows like a weed. So farmers can have multiple harvests in a season, improving its efficiency and lowering its impact. Compared to conventional cotton, industrial hemp uses a fraction of the water and land while eliminating the need for artificial fertilizer. At Hempsmith, we make branded hemp clothing. Bringing awareness to industrial hemp, and its many uses.

We do the tie dye, printing, and embroidery at our Atelier at The Plant, in Pittsboro, NC.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I do really enjoy the creative side of this business. It is a lot of fun, the new products, designs, dyes and everything. I really love the hand crafted nature of our designs. We are tie dying by hand and printing by hand, the old fashioned way. This results in subtle differences that come with the craft. We use water based inks and our dyes and prints are top notch.

I am passionate about the fiber arts and I want to see it become more widespread. The tying of friendship bracelets with hemp twine, hand knitting and sewing. It feels like a really cool medium for me. I have always enjoyed our tie dye process where we let it sit over night and then get to crack the dye open the next day to see how the dye took.

It is also a lot of fun doing custom work. We can take peoples logos and put it on clothing with tasteful design and quality.

I am grateful for Hempsmith as a creative outlet where I can try new things and learn. All the while honing our design and product selection.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Plant is the place to be in Pittsboro, NC. Its a hub of craft food and beverage with local business, music, and events. If I had a guest to the Piedmont of NC we would be hitting the farm at Little Pond Gardens for harvest walks and permaculture tours/discussion and then The Plant for whiskey tastings at Fair Game Beverage Co.

There are walking trails, a pond and wetland, an onsite farm and native plants nursery. The people are laid back and the food and drinks are devine.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are many to shoutout. I am grateful for all the wise teachers and powerful counselors I have had the opportunity to learn from. Firstly my parents would be one of my greatest advisors and inspirations. Lyle Estill and Tami Schwerin, the brilliant entrepreneurs behind The Plant in Pittsboro, NC. My brother, Zafer Estill was also before his time in seeing that industrial hemp is the future.

I am grateful for the college of textiles at NCSU that taught me a lot and connected me with some very cool people. Shoutout Dr. West, Dr. Godfrey, and Dr. Matthews.

Thank you to my old friend Doug who taught me how to screen print and our neighbor Jim Nitsch for teaching me how to tie dye. Shoutout to my man Rob Hamlet for all the love and support. I am grateful to be surrounded by talented, powerful, and creative individuals. Shoutout to Kristen Viera for the unconditional love, and badass research and systems design.

Shoutout to my friends Anthony Medeiros and Brian Burnham for helping build the brand and get us to where we are today. Big thanks to Tyler Distasio for the continued support and energy. Shoutout John Breckinridge for the mentorship and guidance.

Website: https://Hempsmithclothing.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hempsmith/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HempsmithClothing/

Image Credits
Brian Burnham and Soren Rademacher on Photography