Cork sisters Orla and Aoife Lynch have launched Firkail, a lifestyle clothing and accessories brand made from 100% organic hemp cotton.

Firkail is based in Kinsale and the company says its products are fully biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

Firkail describes its mission as providing a high quality and sustainable alternative to fast fashion, and the entrepreneurs want to see a return to a ‘hand-me-down' culture with long lasting clothing.

Hemp offers natural protection against UV light and the company is in talks with farmers in the south-west of Ireland who want to grow the plant locally. According to Firkail, their hemp is completely pesticide free and is dew retted.

Firkail promises customers that their product uses 50% less water when compared to cotton and consumes four times more carbon dioxide than trees.

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Firkail’s range spans tank tops priced from €55 and T-shirts priced from €62. Other products include hoodies priced at €100, and the brand has plans to introduce v-neck t-shirts and a crew neck jumper.

Founder Orla Lynch said Firkail's ethos ties in with the sisters' long-held beliefs as consumers.

“Growing up we were always taught to respect and care for our planet and buy Irish,” she said.

“We wanted to create stylish everyday items that are long-lasting and could be shared between generations. Hemp has so many durable qualities and requires far more sustainable processes in making clothes.”

The raw material is currently sourced from five farms where the hemp is machine harvested.

“Firkail is the warm hug from hemp you didn't know you needed,” said Orla Lynch. “We've created a really accessible range of day-to-day clothes like white tee shirts, hoodies and jumpers.”

Products are available via the website firkail.ie and the company has plans to run a pop-up event in Kinsale in the future.