麻の繊維の魅力：古くて新しい持続可能な素材
The Allure of Hemp Fiber: An Ancient yet Innovative Sustainable Material
麻纖維的魅力：古老而創新的可持續材料
世界中で古くから栽培され、その多様な特性を活かしてさまざまな用途に利用されてきた麻。麻は種類が多く、また繊維の中で最も古く、太古の人類誕生時代に遡る歴史を持ちます。その起源は、木の葉を身に纏い始めた頃にさかのぼるとされています。
Hemp, cultivated since ancient times around the world, has been utilized for various purposes due to its diverse characteristics. Hemp encompasses numerous varieties and stands as one of the oldest fibers, with a history tracing back to the dawn of human civilization when people began adorning themselves with leaves.
Hemp, cultivated since ancient times around the world, has been utilized for various purposes due to its diverse characteristics. Hemp encompasses numerous varieties and stands as one of the oldest fibers, with a history tracing back to the dawn of human civilization when people began adorning themselves with leaves.
麻は靭皮繊維と葉脈繊維に大別され、亜麻（リネン）や苧麻（ラミー）などが代表的な麻繊維です。靭皮繊維は植物の茎から取る繊維で、葉脈繊維は大型の麻の葉脈から採る繊維のことです。
靭皮繊維には、亜麻（糸や製品をリネン、繊維をフラックスと呼ぶ）、苧麻（ラミー）、大麻（ヘンプ）、黄麻（ジュート）、洋麻（ケナフ）、莔麻（インディアンマロー）、チャイナジュート、ユーレナなどがあります。一方、葉脈繊維にはマニラ麻（アバカ）、マニラヘンプ、サイザル麻、ヘニケン麻、ニュージーランド麻、マゲー麻、カントン麻、モーリシャス麻などが含まれます。これらの中で、家庭用品品質表示法は亜麻と苧麻だけを「麻」と呼んでいます。
亜麻（リネン）は、草丈約1メートルの一年草で、しなやかで木に近い風合いを持ち、特有の亜麻色をしています。白さや光沢、引張強さ、吸水性、放湿性などは、苧麻に次ぐ特性として知られています。寒冷地が主要な産地とされ、ロシア、東欧諸国、フランス、ベルギー、アイルランド、中国などで栽培されています。一方、苧麻（ラミー）は草丈約2～4メートルの多年草で、長い繊維とシャリが特徴です。吸水性と放湿性に優れ、白い光沢があり、天然繊維中で最高の引張強さを誇ります。主要な産地は日本、中国、韓国、インドネシア、ブラジルです。皮繊維を採る際には、茎を水に浸し、ペクチン質を醗酵させて溶解除去し、繊維を柔らかくする工程が行われます。亜麻（リネン）や苧麻（ラミー）は共通した特性を有しています。
Hemp can be broadly categorized into bast fibers and leaf vein fibers, with flax (linen) and ramie being prominent examples of bast fibers. Bast fibers are extracted from plant stems, while leaf vein fibers are derived from the larger veins of hemp leaves.
Among bast fibers, there are various types such as flax (used for linen thread and products), ramie, hemp, jute, kenaf, Indian mallow, China jute, and urena. Leaf vein fibers include Manila hemp (abaca), Manila hemp, sisal hemp, henequen, New Zealand flax, maguey, Canton hemp, and Mauritius hemp. However, for consumer labeling purposes, only flax and ramie are referred to as "hemp."
Flax (linen), a one-year plant with a height of about 1 meter, boasts a supple and wood-like texture along with a distinctive flaxen hue. Its whiteness, glossiness, tensile strength, water absorption, and moisture release rank second only to ramie. Cold regions serve as its primary cultivation sites, including Russia, Eastern European countries, France, Belgium, Ireland, and China. On the other hand, ramie, a perennial plant towering around 2 to 4 meters, features long fibers and a crisp texture. It excels in water absorption, moisture release, and displays a bright gloss. It also possesses the highest tensile strength among natural fibers. Key production areas for ramie include Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia, and Brazil. The process of obtaining its fiber involves soaking the stems in water, fermenting to dissolve and remove pectin, and softening the fibers. Flax (linen) and ramie share common traits.
靭皮繊維には、亜麻（糸や製品をリネン、繊維をフラックスと呼ぶ）、苧麻（ラミー）、大麻（ヘンプ）、黄麻（ジュート）、洋麻（ケナフ）、莔麻（インディアンマロー）、チャイナジュート、ユーレナなどがあります。一方、葉脈繊維にはマニラ麻（アバカ）、マニラヘンプ、サイザル麻、ヘニケン麻、ニュージーランド麻、マゲー麻、カントン麻、モーリシャス麻などが含まれます。これらの中で、家庭用品品質表示法は亜麻と苧麻だけを「麻」と呼んでいます。
亜麻（リネン）は、草丈約1メートルの一年草で、しなやかで木に近い風合いを持ち、特有の亜麻色をしています。白さや光沢、引張強さ、吸水性、放湿性などは、苧麻に次ぐ特性として知られています。寒冷地が主要な産地とされ、ロシア、東欧諸国、フランス、ベルギー、アイルランド、中国などで栽培されています。一方、苧麻（ラミー）は草丈約2～4メートルの多年草で、長い繊維とシャリが特徴です。吸水性と放湿性に優れ、白い光沢があり、天然繊維中で最高の引張強さを誇ります。主要な産地は日本、中国、韓国、インドネシア、ブラジルです。皮繊維を採る際には、茎を水に浸し、ペクチン質を醗酵させて溶解除去し、繊維を柔らかくする工程が行われます。亜麻（リネン）や苧麻（ラミー）は共通した特性を有しています。
Hemp can be broadly categorized into bast fibers and leaf vein fibers, with flax (linen) and ramie being prominent examples of bast fibers. Bast fibers are extracted from plant stems, while leaf vein fibers are derived from the larger veins of hemp leaves.
Among bast fibers, there are various types such as flax (used for linen thread and products), ramie, hemp, jute, kenaf, Indian mallow, China jute, and urena. Leaf vein fibers include Manila hemp (abaca), Manila hemp, sisal hemp, henequen, New Zealand flax, maguey, Canton hemp, and Mauritius hemp. However, for consumer labeling purposes, only flax and ramie are referred to as "hemp."
Flax (linen), a one-year plant with a height of about 1 meter, boasts a supple and wood-like texture along with a distinctive flaxen hue. Its whiteness, glossiness, tensile strength, water absorption, and moisture release rank second only to ramie. Cold regions serve as its primary cultivation sites, including Russia, Eastern European countries, France, Belgium, Ireland, and China. On the other hand, ramie, a perennial plant towering around 2 to 4 meters, features long fibers and a crisp texture. It excels in water absorption, moisture release, and displays a bright gloss. It also possesses the highest tensile strength among natural fibers. Key production areas for ramie include Japan, China, South Korea, Indonesia, and Brazil. The process of obtaining its fiber involves soaking the stems in water, fermenting to dissolve and remove pectin, and softening the fibers. Flax (linen) and ramie share common traits.
麻の繊維は非常に強靭であり、天然繊維の中で最も強いものの一つです。特に水に濡れるとその強度が増し、耐久性に優れています。また、麻繊維の表面はシャリ感や張りを持ち、通気性にも優れています。これにより、麻製品は「シャリ感」や「通気性」による涼しさを提供し、快適な着心地をもたらします。さらに、麻の繊維は熱伝導性が高いため、体温を奪いやすく、接触冷感や涼感をもたらします。また、吸湿・発散性にも優れており、汗を速やかに吸収し、素早く乾燥する特性を持っています。麻の成分は主にセルロースから成り立っており、その断面は肉厚中空で節が所々に現れる特徴があります。吸湿と放湿、膨潤と収縮といった相反する現象を繰り返すことで知られていますが、引っ張りや摩擦に強い一方で、同時に硬さやシワになりやすさが挙げられます。このシワが体に接する衣類の場合、接地面積が少なくなり清涼感を提供する一方、硬い感触や弾力に乏しさをもたらします。
麻は他の繊維との混紡性にも優れており、混紡や交織によって新たな風合いが生まれることがあります。また、麻繊維は生分解性にも優れており、環境に優しい素材としても注目を浴びています。麻の種類によっても異なる用途があります。例えば、ジュート（黄麻）は麻袋や産業資材として広く使用されており、その強力さと耐久性が評価されています。ヘンプ（大麻）はアパレル素材としても利用され、また資材としても用途が広がっています。サイザルや他の硬い麻はロープや索具類、防護資材などに適しています。
Hemp fibers are incredibly robust and stand as one of the strongest among natural fibers. Their strength increases when wet, offering remarkable durability. Moreover, hemp fibers exhibit a crisp texture and firmness on their surfaces, combined with excellent breathability. This grants hemp products a cooling effect and comfortable wearing experience through "crispness" and "breathability." Furthermore, hemp fibers possess high thermal conductivity, enabling the absorption of body heat, resulting in a sensation of coolness upon contact. They also excel in moisture absorption and release, swiftly absorbing sweat and drying. Comprising mainly cellulose, hemp fibers exhibit a cross-section characterized by thick hollow centers with nodes appearing sporadically. While they are known for alternating phenomena like moisture absorption and release, swelling and contracting, they are strong against pulling and friction. Yet, they can also be prone to stiffness and wrinkling. In the case of garments in contact with the body, wrinkles reduce the surface area of contact, offering a cooling sensation, but can also lead to a lack of elasticity and a rigid touch.
Hemp also excels in compatibility with other fibers, giving rise to new textures through blending and weaving. Additionally, hemp fibers boast biodegradability, garnering attention as an environmentally friendly material. Different types of hemp have varying applications. For example, jute (yellow hemp) finds extensive use in bags and industrial materials due to its strength and durability. Hemp (cannabis) is employed not only in apparel but also in a wide range of materials. Sisal and other coarse hemp fibers are suitable for ropes, cords, protective materials, and more.
麻は他の繊維との混紡性にも優れており、混紡や交織によって新たな風合いが生まれることがあります。また、麻繊維は生分解性にも優れており、環境に優しい素材としても注目を浴びています。麻の種類によっても異なる用途があります。例えば、ジュート（黄麻）は麻袋や産業資材として広く使用されており、その強力さと耐久性が評価されています。ヘンプ（大麻）はアパレル素材としても利用され、また資材としても用途が広がっています。サイザルや他の硬い麻はロープや索具類、防護資材などに適しています。
Hemp fibers are incredibly robust and stand as one of the strongest among natural fibers. Their strength increases when wet, offering remarkable durability. Moreover, hemp fibers exhibit a crisp texture and firmness on their surfaces, combined with excellent breathability. This grants hemp products a cooling effect and comfortable wearing experience through "crispness" and "breathability." Furthermore, hemp fibers possess high thermal conductivity, enabling the absorption of body heat, resulting in a sensation of coolness upon contact. They also excel in moisture absorption and release, swiftly absorbing sweat and drying. Comprising mainly cellulose, hemp fibers exhibit a cross-section characterized by thick hollow centers with nodes appearing sporadically. While they are known for alternating phenomena like moisture absorption and release, swelling and contracting, they are strong against pulling and friction. Yet, they can also be prone to stiffness and wrinkling. In the case of garments in contact with the body, wrinkles reduce the surface area of contact, offering a cooling sensation, but can also lead to a lack of elasticity and a rigid touch.
Hemp also excels in compatibility with other fibers, giving rise to new textures through blending and weaving. Additionally, hemp fibers boast biodegradability, garnering attention as an environmentally friendly material. Different types of hemp have varying applications. For example, jute (yellow hemp) finds extensive use in bags and industrial materials due to its strength and durability. Hemp (cannabis) is employed not only in apparel but also in a wide range of materials. Sisal and other coarse hemp fibers are suitable for ropes, cords, protective materials, and more.
麻はその多様な特性と持続可能性から、さまざまな産業分野で活用される可能性を秘めています。特に環境に優しい生分解性や高い強度、涼感などの特性は、今後の持続可能な素材としての需要を高めていくでしょう。技術の進化により、麻繊維の柔軟性や加工の改良が進んでおり、これによって麻をより多様な製品に応用することが可能になっています。ファッション、家庭用品、産業資材など、幅広い分野で麻の可能性が広がっています。繊維素材の選択において、麻の特性や利点を十分に理解し、それを活かした製品開発や利用が進むことで、持続可能な未来に向けた一翼を担っていくことでしょう。
With its diverse characteristics and sustainability, hemp holds potential for utilization across various industries. Particularly, the environmentally friendly biodegradability, high strength, and cooling properties are expected to elevate its demand as a sustainable material in the future. Technological advancements have enhanced the flexibility and processing of hemp fibers, enabling a wider range of applications. The possibilities of hemp extend to fashion, household goods, industrial materials, and beyond. By thoroughly understanding the attributes and advantages of hemp in selecting fiber materials and capitalizing on them in product development and utilization, hemp will play a role in shaping a sustainable future.
With its diverse characteristics and sustainability, hemp holds potential for utilization across various industries. Particularly, the environmentally friendly biodegradability, high strength, and cooling properties are expected to elevate its demand as a sustainable material in the future. Technological advancements have enhanced the flexibility and processing of hemp fibers, enabling a wider range of applications. The possibilities of hemp extend to fashion, household goods, industrial materials, and beyond. By thoroughly understanding the attributes and advantages of hemp in selecting fiber materials and capitalizing on them in product development and utilization, hemp will play a role in shaping a sustainable future.
<参考>
・株式会社麻絲商会 https://mashi.co.jp/
・日本麻紡績協会 http://asabo.jp/knowledge/
・織を学ぶ―染織を学ぶ〈2〉伝統と現代綴織の基礎から絹織物まで (美と創作シリーズ)
・株式会社麻絲商会 https://mashi.co.jp/
・日本麻紡績協会 http://asabo.jp/knowledge/
・織を学ぶ―染織を学ぶ〈2〉伝統と現代綴織の基礎から絹織物まで (美と創作シリーズ)
2023/08/08
haruna