I've shared my love for hemp clothing a few times, but today's blog post takes that infatuation a step or two further with a brand I've been waiting to showcase for several months.

As fun as statement pieces are, I've found that I consistently gravitate towards "elevated basics", be it a crisp white button-up knotted over some jeans, a black tencel jumpsuit, or something like this Cai Camie. It's simple, versatile, and more than a "basic black tank", easily falling into the elevated basic category.

I had been hunting for the perfect black tank all summer and I'm so glad I waited for this beauty before buying something else. When Natalie, the founder, designer, and owner of Arraei Collective (pronounced "array") reached out to me about her soon-to-launch collection, I was in love from the get-go.

The design of the tank itself is enough to have me wearing it on repeat - thin straps, reversible design, buttons, slightly cropped, and an easy crinkle material that wears extremely well. But when I kept reading about Natalie's collection and her beautiful attention to sustainability in addition to versatile design, it sealed the hemp-deal for me.

Arraei Collective's pieces in this first collection are all made with hemp-blend fabrics. My tank specifically is 42% Hemp, 35% Silk, 23% Organic Cotton, all GOTS certified organic. The button are made from coconut shell, so it's truly a 100% natural, plant-based product.

If you read my blog post from a few months ago featuring WAMA's hemp underwear, you might remember me singing the praises of the material back then. And nothing has changed since then. Hemp is one of the most sustainable plants to grow and use for fabric production for several reasons - hemp requires no use of pesticides or chemicals to grow, it grows quickly and in large, dense quantities, and it's naturally anti-bacterial and moisture wicking.

The cotton and silk add texture, softness, and drape to the piece, making it such a dreamy fabric to wear often.

In addition to this tank, Arraei's newly launched first collection features a gorgeous kimono, a dress, a trench jacket, and a wrap skirt, all made with hemp or other plant-based materials and all as comfortable and versatile as the camie .

Through Arraei, Natalie hopes to encourage her customers to become rooted in the conscious lifestyle - with her pieces as the backbone of a thoughtful wardrobe.