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NC State student using hemp to build clothing company

An NC State senior is using hemp to build a clothing company.

Posted — Updated
By
Mandy Mitchell
, WRAL reporter
PITTSBORO, N.C. — When you think of hemp, you may think of CBD, creams and oils, but Alro Estill sees something different.
He sees T-shirts.

"Hemp grows really quickly and it doesn't take much water or any additives, so it produces a really durable fiber," Estill said.

Hemp is the inspiration for his growing company called Hempsmith.

It's a clothing company started in the backyard of his parents' home in Pittsboro.

"My brother actually came up with the whole concept," Estill said. "He was a senior in high school."

Arlo describes his brother, Zafer, as a man with great taste in clothing who wanted to change the world with hemp products. Arlo admired his older brother and tried to be involved as much as possible.

Zafer Estill passed away in 2016

"It was a knock at my door late at night and my life was changed forever," Alro Estill said.

Zafer died from a heroin overdose, leaving behind a heartbroken family and a brother who had a vision that he wanted to nurture.

"Within that first week I remember thinking, 'Wow, I can really run with this,'" Estill said.

He took over the company and is trying to continue his brother's dream.

Hempsmith currently gets its hemp from China, which is then sent to New York, where the clothing is made.

The Hempsmith logos are added in Chatham County.

"We've had some solid growth and we are building a customer base and we've had a lot of support from everybody around the community and the Triangle," Estill said.

He's on track to make this a full time job once he graduated from North Carolina State University in the spring and is hoping to one day use hemp grown in North Carolina. He said he feels like the business keeps him close to his late brother.

"It helps motivate me," Estill said. "I'm inspired and I've got a real purpose and I've got meaning and that's something a lot of people my age are scrambling for."

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