The Benton Shirt: Grown and Sewn in USA
Categories: DESIGN
Posted: December 18, 2025

What started off with the idea “what if we created a garment that was not only cut and sewn in the US, but also grown here”, turned into a multi-year journey full of brainstorm sessions, excitement, let downs, frustrations, and finally culminating in the Benton Shirt. 

Designed in Great Falls, MT by our talented in-house team, this is a project which required the work of many partners across the country to bring this idea to market. The fabric is blend of hemp and cotton. The hemp is grown and harvested in Fort Benton, MT. The Cotton from Arizona. Each material finds its way to North Carolina, where it is then milled into a fabric. From there we go to the garment district of New York City, where it is cut, sewn, and dyed into a garment. 

The Benton Shirt is more than simply a cool shirt made in the USA out of a unique fabrication and domestic supply chain. It is a piece of history, and that is not hyperbole. For the first time since the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793, we are creating a commercially available hemp-based garment grown and sewn right here in the United States. To be fair hemp garments were still available after 1793 but not on a large scale, further reduction was caused by the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, and the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 made them illegal under federal law until the Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp in 2018. However, in the time since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, no garment has yet to be made here in the states from USA harvested hemp. 

 

Shortly after we launched our successful Original Canvas collection at SR (which was entirely manufactured overseas at the time) is when our friends at IND Hemp and ourselves started sharing dreams and ideas of a USA grown hemp-based garment. Through tireless work on their end to develop a workable textile fiber, and Smith and Rogue proving the markets readiness for hemp-based product with our Original Canvas line, we fast forward to October 2024 where we announced the Benton Shirt to the world during the Goodness of Hemp Summit in our hometown of Great Falls, MT.

Now that you know a little about the history and the significance of a grown and sewn hemp garment and the Benton specifically, lets discuss the shirt itself. Through the design phase for this historic piece our thoughts kept going back to the source of our raw material, Fort Benton, MT, the oldest continuously occupied settlement in Montana. We took inspiration from this time for the silhouette. A classic work shirt with a vintage arched back yoke that is representative of early 20th century designs aimed at practicality and reinforcement, a wide center front placket, sleeve plackets and adjustable cuffs.

Additionally, each individual trim is carefully considered. The buttons are a nod to past with a two-hole cat eye design, the neck label is illustrated with a hand drawn logo, inspired by the crest that is hung at the entrance of the fort. We also paid respect to the lore of Shep, a sheepherder’s companion that was famous for its loyalty, and who remains as a permanent fixture in the history of the town. 

Last but not least, we couldn’t wrap this project up with just some simple inexpensive hangtags made from overseas. We had to finish this project with some locally sourced tags to make this project complete. Both the hangtag and string made from hemp. Each individually hand numbered to commemorate their historical significance. 

The Benton is shirt is meant to be worn and worked in. The hemp provides durability, the cotton breathability and comfort. The garment dye provides a rich navy color. All of which ensure this milestone piece will age beautifully.