About us

About Us - KOMBINAT

KOMBINAT is an idea. This idea is centered around a group of enthusiasts who have set themselves the crazy goal of bringing hemp materials back into the textile mainstream.

Why? Because we believe in practical solutions, solid craftsmanship, and that in today's world, it's still possible to do things your own way, going against the current.

Hemp fiber has been out of circulation for a long time - in our opinion, far too long. We also believe that the world simply needs a healthy counterbalance to the omnipresent plastic, the flood of junk, and the fast-fashion movement, which, to put it mildly, is not our cup of tea.

Our philosophy is balance - we are aware that we will never be perfect, one hundred percent ecological, and satisfying absolutely everyone's needs - we're not tomato soup to fit everyone's taste (if you don't like tomato soup - substitute any other soup here) - we know that our activities won't save the entire world, and that's not our goal either.

A sustainable approach, balance without going to extremes is something that defines us well.

If these values resonate with you - welcome aboard. We believe hemp is a great raw material and we want it to become a natural choice again. Just like it used to be.

The founder and mastermind behind KOMBINAT is Maciek Kowalski – he has been professionally involved with hemp for over a dozen years. He began his adventure with these plants through activism by publishing a hemp newspaper – Spliff.

From 2011 to 2014, he was also the spokesperson for the Free Hemp Association. He was the first entrepreneur in Poland in the new legal system to obtain a permit for the cultivation of industrial hemp, which ultimately transformed his initial fascination with hemp into a serious business.

The easiest way to contact Maciej is through LinkedIn – we encourage you to follow his profile on this platform. Maciej is not your typical inaccessible boss, and whenever he has time, he's happy to engage in discussions with anyone who has something interesting to say. So you can try to contact Maciej this way, just try to write with specifics - he's a busy person, and we'd rather he efficiently releases more hemp products, right?

Once, hemp was a given – it was used to make ropes, clothes, canvas, and many other things. In Poland, even in the 20th century, it was cultivated on a large scale, and our native hemp processing plants were our beautiful showcase.

The textile industry based on hemp was developing vigorously, and Poland was among the European leaders.

Even during the interwar period, we were one of the largest hemp producers in Europe – Polish agriculture and the textile industry were at a high level. Hemp ropes, sacks, and clothes were an integral part of everyday life.

In the 1950s and 1960s, hemp was still cultivated, especially for military needs. It was used to make protective clothing and materials for maritime transport.

Then came the era of plastic and polyester, whose properties captivated the whole world, and hemp quickly became obsolete, losing value more than other natural fibers, which include cotton and flax.

Global legal changes and prejudices against this plant made the hemp industry almost completely disappear for many years, not only from Poland but also from many other places around the world.

Only in recent years has the potential of hemp started to be recognized in the context of its advantages, as well as Europe's turn towards sustainable fashion.

We try to be ahead of trends - what will become common in a few (or several?) years, we are creating today. We like simplicity, authenticity, and products that don't fall apart after the third wash. Kombinat is a manufactory for those who prefer to buy once, but well.

We're going back to our roots, but we're doing it in a modern style.

KOMBINAT is a place where tradition and innovation go hand in hand, as cliché as that may sound.

At KOMBINAT, we don't take shortcuts. To make good hemp materials, it was necessary to combine several worlds that at first glance don't fit together. The challenge was to set up and connect machines that still remember previous eras in a skillful way, so that the end result would be products that could stand their ground in the 21st century.

All this would not have been possible without a group of committed people - the core of the project is a team from whom you will never hear the phrase "it can't be done". Without them, there would be no KOMBINAT, and they are the most important link in this puzzle.

The hemp yarn from which our sweaters, beanies, and other textiles are made is the result of hundreds of tests, trials, and errors. It's a whole mass of failed prototypes and hypotheses that ultimately had to be thrown in the trash.

Was it difficult? That's an understatement. Was it worth it? Without a shadow of a doubt.

We hope you'll find out for yourself.

Literally.

Because it works. It's strong and breathable. Clothes made from it have excellent thermoregulatory properties... or in human terms - they "breathe".

Hemp is a fascinating plant - it's not without reason that it's colloquially called a "weed"; it doesn't need pesticides, excellent soil, and conditions to grow several meters tall. From its fibers, you can create a material that doesn't need to prove its value – that has been repeatedly tested in battle throughout our history, both literally and figuratively.

Our products not only look good but also don't wear out after one season. Our clothes are an investment, not a seasonal disposable.

Hemp fiber is a raw material that doesn't require intensive chemical processing. It grows quickly, doesn't deplete the soil, and provides us with a material that is naturally resistant to fungi and moisture. This natural fiber is also bacteriostatic - it doesn't promote bacterial growth.

In a nutshell: hemp textiles are durable, hygienic, and breathable.

About us

What is KOMBINAT?

Who created all this commotion?

Hemp P_ST

Before setting out on a journey, one must gather a team!

Why hemp?