Hemper was a B Corp hemp fashion pioneer — nine years later it filed for liquidation

Hemper was a Madrid-based sustainable fashion brand that used hemp fiber to make artisan backpacks and accessories in Nepal. Founded in 2016 by Gloria Gubianas after a life-changing trip to Nepal, it became the second fashion brand in Spain to earn B Corp certification in 2019. It worked with over 20 rural workshops in Nepal, providing dignified employment to more than 300 people.

After a promising start, revenue peaked at €2 million but collapsed to €500,000 in the last full fiscal year. The company shifted from a digital-native model to wholesale, with 20 multi-brand points of sale in Spain, Greece, Switzerland, and France, and collaborations with Camper, Springfield, and L'Occitane. But the shift was too late. A two-year search for a strategic capital partner found no takers.

Hemper entered insolvency proceedings in March 2025 and was preparing for liquidation by June. Its brand and intellectual property were auctioned with a concursal value of €100,000, down from a €300,000 valuation at the time of filing. Gubianas called the insolvency 'the toughest and most vulnerable moment I have lived as an entrepreneur.'