By: Svetlana Khachiyan

Building a Greener Future: Stepan Chiurcciu’s Push for Hemp in Textiles, Housing, and Design

Don’t be surprised if, in the near future, your designer clothes, handbags, car interiors, building materials, or even homes could be made from hemp. As the world shifts toward sustainability and moves away from cotton and synthetics, hemp is increasingly viewed as a versatile, eco-friendly alternative for the textile, construction, and automotive industries.

We spoke with Stepan Chiurcciu, managing partner of CalCity Industrial Park, about how it works, where the industry is heading, and why green technology is often considered the future.

Q. Stepan, what led you to focus on hemp processing?

I believe industrial hemp could become the sustainable material of the future. It offers a smart, environmentally sound answer to global challenges like climate change and water shortages. Cotton requires a massive amount of water and is often grown using harmful pesticides. Hemp, on the other hand, typically needs 2.5 times less water, can regenerate soil, and absorbs carbon dioxide (CO₂) — which can actively help decarbonize the planet.

Europe has reportedly announced plans to phase out cotton by 2030. While the U.S. hasn’t set a hard deadline, the trend suggests sustainable materials are increasingly replacing “dirty” technologies.

Q. How did CalCity Industrial Park get started?

CalCity Industrial Park was founded in 2019 with the mission of reviving industrial hemp and advancing green technologies. In 2022, our research indicated that Central Asia — including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and potentially Kyrgyzstan — could become a key region for hemp cultivation due to its land availability, favorable climate, and natural resources. Right after our local partner, Agro Invest Group, received the first license in Kazakhstan, and we received our first license in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, we planted hundreds of hectares of hemp in the Kostanay and Nukus regions as a pilot project in both countries. The results exceeded our expectations: the THC level, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, was just 0.003% — 66 times lower than the legal limit of 0.2–0.3%. The straw produced was of high quality and serves as a primary raw material. In other words, hemp can be ideal for producing textiles, construction materials, paper, and even cosmetics.

Q. What are your company’s main focus areas?

Our work centers around several key product categories. The first includes fibrous products — such as technical and textile fibers, tops, yarns, and composite materials. The second focuses on biopolymers and innovative breathable building materials, including eco-blocks, decking boards, siding, panels, and furniture boards — all aimed at being environmentally friendly and safe for human health. Finally, we are developing a range of eco-conscious industrial and construction solutions to promote sustainable practices worldwide.

We’ve created a line of 100% hemp fabrics, along with flax and hybrid blends such as hemp/linen, hemp/wool, and linen/cotton. Our production is based in Central Asia, where we source and process high-quality raw materials. We are actively building export channels to the United States and Europe and exploring opportunities for partial processing within the U.S. Our long-term vision is to establish facilities for producing finished goods directly on American soil.

Q. You’ve outlined the benefits of hemp. Are there any downsides?

Honestly, the only real drawback is the stigma. People still confuse the terms “cannabis” and “hemp.” Many still associate industrial hemp with drugs, though they are completely different. Industrial hemp has no mind-altering effects and has no psychoactive properties. For example, in the U.S., the permitted THC level in hemp is 0.2%, while ours is just 0.003% — dozens of times lower. Meaning the plant is widely regarded as safe and legal.

For context: drinking kefir can technically show trace amounts of alcohol in your system — but no one considers kefir an alcoholic beverage. It’s the same with industrial hemp. Our job is to educate and break down this misconception. Industrial hemp is not only safe and legal — it could be a game-changer for both the environment and the economy.

Q. Do you already have deals with major global brands?

Yes — we’ve already presented our fabrics to two of the world’s largest textile suppliers, Benetton and the Olimpias Group. They were impressed with the samples, and we are now working toward contracts for tops and yarn that could be used to produce denim fabrics for future collections.

We also produced high-quality denim samples and are planning meetings with leading brands such as Wrangler and Levi’s, which, to our knowledge, are reportedly actively shifting toward natural fibers.

Next time you’re walking through a mall, notice how often hemp and linen garments appear in window displays. That spotlight increasingly turns toward hemp — and we’re right in the middle of this global trend.

Q. How do you plan to stand out in this growing market?

We stand out by developing proprietary technologies that are largely unique. Every machine and production process has been designed from scratch by our in-house team, led by an engineer regarded as one of the world’s top engineers with over 30 years of experience. He personally builds and upgrades our equipment to maximize efficiency and environmental performance.

Our cost structure also gives us an advantage. Central Asia offers affordable land, low labor costs, and strong infrastructure — electricity, gas, and water — which helps us remain highly competitive on the global market.

Q. Why hasn’t anyone else done this until now?

It’s mostly historical. After 1961, when the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs classified hemp together with marijuana, hemp cultivation was banned in most parts of the world. Only a few countries, such as France and China, kept limited legal production. For decades, this global prohibition halted industrial research, shut down factories, and largely wiped out generations of expertise in hemp processing.

As a result, by the time regulations began to ease in the 1990s and 2000s, very few specialists or technologies remained. The industry had to start almost from zero — rebuilding knowledge, equipment, and markets. Yet, despite this long pause, the potential remained: hemp can be used to produce over 25,000 types of goods, from textiles and paper to bioplastics and construction materials.

Q. So theoretically, high-end luxury bags and car interiors could be made from hemp?

It’s possible. Imagine a Chanel handbag or a Bentley seat stitched from hemp — it’s not far-fetched. Many luxury brands already use rare hemp, a wild variety prized for its durability and natural texture, though only a few countries outside China can process it. These fibers are used in premium garments — even underarms — because they can help prevent sweat marks, odors, and bacteria. They’re hypoallergenic, breathable, and 100% natural.

The numbers tell the story: a ton of kenaf fiber can cost up to $70,000, while standard industrial hemp sells for around $14,000 per ton. Our hemp-and-wool hybrid, praised by both Chinese and Italian textile experts, is valued at $24 per kilogram, or $24,000 per ton. The difference is striking. Hemp could drive the next textile revolution — elegant, sustainable, and powered by green innovation.

Q. Have you faced any challenges in processing hemp?

Yes, one of the biggest challenges was separating the fiber from the woody core of the hemp stalk. Our in-house engineering team developed proprietary technology for this process. The outer fiber is used in textiles, while the woody core is utilized for green construction materials.

For certain final-stage products, we plan to collaborate with Andritz Laroche, a French company with offices across Europe and considered a global leader in hemp processing technology. Each year, Andritz introduces new innovations in this field, and we work closely with their team to learn and integrate those advancements into our production. For instance, this year alone, we’ve visited Andritz Graz in Austria three times to meet with senior management and discuss our expansion strategy and future partnership opportunities.

Q. What are your long-term goals?

We’re not just building a business — we’re building something meaningful and sustainable. Our mission is to help preserve forests, contribute to decarbonizing the planet, and reduce the environmental impact of traditional industries.

We also aim to show American investors that Central Asia represents a smart, untapped manufacturing hub. While China will continue to play a major role, it’s often considered no longer as cost-efficient as it once was. Production expenses are rising, and many companies are already looking for new, sustainable regions to relocate.

At CalCity, together with our partners from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, we believe innovation and responsibility can go hand in hand. Hemp isn’t just a crop — it could be a symbol of a cleaner, smarter future. And for us, that future is already underway.