Cannabis used to be associated with shabbily dressed, college-age stoners. But with legalization on the rise, it has expanded far beyond those stereotypes and into lucrative industries. The latest? High fashion (seriously.)
With clothes made of cannabis materials and with leaf prints all the rage, cannabis couture is a growing craze, and it may just stick around.
Don’t believe us? Here’s a quick overview of hash-inspired trends that will put a little more green in your wardrobe. And yes, you can use this as an excuse to buy new clothes.
Cannabis Trends In The Clothing Industry
Cannabis is more popular than you’d expect in the fashion industry. Some designers are using cannabis materials (hemp) as a cotton alternative, and others are using cannabis leaf prints and patterns.
Hemp
Hemp has become substantially popular in the clothing industry. Candid Magazine explains that hemp’s biggest appeal is that it is environmentally friendly. Hemp requires very little water for growth, and it requires no pesticides.
The article goes on to say that hemp lasts longer than cotton, and it is easier to produce in larger amounts. Moreover, hemp is typically softer and more durable than cotton. For these reasons and more, hemp is becoming popular the fashion industry.
Cannabis Leaf Prints
The cannabis leaf emblem is appearing on shirts everywhere these days. Rapper B-Real of Cyrpus Hill fame has his own clothing brand, Insane, and many of his products have the leaf print on them.
The cannabis leaf print is often used to appeal to the youth. However, several designers are trying to incorporate the leaf print into more high-end fashion. This use of the leaf seems to be an attempt to dismiss stereotypes and make cannabis look classy.
How Designers Are Using These Trends
Fashion designers are using sustainable materials such as hemp in their lines. Designer Steven Tai used hemp materials for all his models at London’s 2018 Fashion Week. Brands such as Nike and Levi’s are also incorporating hemp into their products.
The leaf print is also seeing major growth in popularity among designers. Just a few years ago, New York’s Fashion Week had several models in designer outfits that featured the leaf print. These high-end designs give the leaf a more sophisticated look, challenging stoner culture stereotypes.
The leaf print is being used in a subtle way by designer Gela Nash-Taylor and her son Travis. Forbes recently covered their cannabis-centric clothing brand Potent Goods, which sells high-end loungewear as well as bags and jackets. Their prints have a moody romance quality with the occasional use of the leaf, giving cannabis a more luxurious image
This print has always been popular among cannabis users, but the embrace of it by the fashion industry could be seen as a sign of the growing acceptance of cannabis around the country.