communityspotlight by Lily Viola
Planet Hemp Being Green Never Felt So Good
E
ron Villanueva, owner of the new- ly opened Planet Hemp at the Coastland Center mall, in Naples, likes to joke about the hemp in the clothing he sells. “We’re not selling the dope; we’re selling the rope,” he quips. To which his partner, long-time Na- ples resident and busi- ness owner Richard Amador, adds, “People think that hemp is
Richard Amador
marijuana, but the hemp used in cloth- ing is the thick stalk industrial variety that would only give you a headache if you tried to inhale it.”
When Villanueva decided to start a green business, his research led him to Planet Hemp. A first-time entrepre- neur, he approached Amador for some business tips for his new enterprise. It took only one look at the product and store for Amador, a savvy businessman with plenty of experience, to jump in full-time. “I’m glad I did, because I think hemp is the perfect material for Florida,” says Amador, who adds that the amaz- ing fabric combines the cool touch and breathability of linen with the
softness of cotton. “It is manufactured through an eco-friend- ly process, which requires no pesticides, herbicides, or fungi- cides,” he advises. “Nor does it require harsh chemicals to process, thus saving our waterways. Hemp is also four times more durable than cotton, so hemp clothing lasts a lot longer.”
Villanueva is equally enthusiastic. “Few people realize how comfortable it is,” he notes. “Through a recently de- veloped eco-friendly enzyme process- ing, hemp blue jeans now feel like soft slacks, hoodies like downy cashmere, and T-shirts like you aren’t wearing anything at all.”
Nor do most people know about the fabric’s other attractive qualities, say the business partners. “For example, hemp provides insulation that keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It is also a natural antibacterial material, which means you can wear a hemp shirt all day and it will hold no body odors, unlike other materials,”
Eron Villanueva
explains Amador. Hemp is also wrinkle- free, making it ideal for travel. And a great benefit for Floridians is the fabric’s ability to offer significant UV protection from the sun.
“While you are going to find cheaper clothes in every other store in the mall,” says Villanueva, “you won’t find any other piece of clothing that is as comfortable, lasts as long, or gives you better value than what you will find here at Planet Hemp.” “And it’s all good news for the environment,” adds Amador. “Planet Hemp is organic. We are really happy to be a part of a sustainable solution. Being green makes Eron and I feel good in more ways than one.”
Planet Hemp is located at 2036 Tamiami Trail N., in the Coastland Cen- ter mall, next to Sears. Call 239-776- 7212. See ad, page 38.
28 Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
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