What is the Global Hemp Innovation Center?
OSU’s Global Hemp Innovation Center (GHIC) is home to world-leading experts in hemp research, extension, and education, and is the most comprehensive program of its kind in the nation.
GHIC advances hemp and its market potential by fostering innovation across all segments of the hemp supply chain. The center leverages the expertise of faculty from diverse disciplines who partner with federal and state agencies, as well as industry sectors, to help solve challenges in meeting the growing demand for food, fiber, chemicals, and other products made from hemp.
How has the Global Hemp Innovation Center partnered with the OSU Apparel Design Program?
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Since 2023, the Global Hemp Innovation Center (GHIC) has been collaborating with the Apparel Design program faculty and students at Oregon State University.
GHIC has generously sponsored the purchase of hemp and hemp-blended fabrics for students to use in their classes and senior collections. This support has provided students with access to fabrics they might not otherwise encounter or be able to afford.
Through this partnership, students have been able to explore the alchemy of natural dyeing, including dyes grown by OSU students in the horticulture program. By pushing the boundaries of sustainability in the apparel industry, students are challenged to create circular garments—pieces made entirely from natural fibers and dyes that can be composted back into the earth at the end of their lifecycle.