Some designers use the motif to bring attention to social issues and foster dialogue between rap and cannabis cultures. Others create clothing highlighting their green values.
High-end designer collections
As marijuana westcoastbud.io becomes more mainstream, fashion and accessories are adapting to reflect societal shifts. Designers are incorporating hemp fabrics and marijuana-themed motifs into their collections; hemp requires significantly less water and pesticides than cotton yet produces durable fiber, making it an attractive option for fashion brands that prioritize sustainability.
Mara Hoffman and other high-end designers have begun using cannabis leaves and buds in their Spring 2015 floral prints and Fall 2016 maxi dresses, while print provocateur Jeremy Scott made waves by turning the Adidas logo green for A$AP Rocky's sweatshirt wearing it in 2012. And Vetements introduced weed-grinder necklaces alongside its chic iPhone-like vaporizers last year.
Cannabis-themed clothing has also led to the production of products designed for stoners. Flower, in partnership with fashion brand Edie Parker, released a line of cannabis-inspired home goods and accessories such as fruit-themed smoking accessories and three strains of flower, as well as clutches jewelry and mid-century-style acrylic bags adorned with cannabis leaves and strain names.
Streetwear
Fashion has long drawn inspiration from youth culture, especially hip-hop, skating and basketball communities. Recently though, cannabis has also gained increasing significance within these circles, leading to clothing with marijuana-inspired logos and designs and lighters/vaporizers given high fashion makeovers - popular examples being Vetements' Grinder Necklace released in 2016.
Cannabis fashion has expanded beyond rasta motifs and tie-dye. At New York Fashion Week 2015, Mara Hoffman revealed a collection of white dresses and pants woven with green cannabis leaves.
Wiz Khalifa's 420 clothing collection exemplifies this trend perfectly. The line attempts to bridge rap and cannabis cultures through style while supporting The Last Prisoner Project which works to change drug laws and the criminal justice system. Partnerships like these help promote and spread brand messages.
Hemp fabrics
Hemp fabrics have quickly become a fashionable choice for clothing and accessories. Their durability, sustainability and stylish appeal makes hemp an increasingly attractive option. Hemp is an efficient crop that requires less water than cotton while crowding out weeds without needing herbicides and helping control soil erosion. More and more brands now offer hemp products; its popularity continues to spread rapidly.
Hemp fabric is an eco-friendly textile created from the stems of Cannabis sativa plant. As one of the strongest and most durable fabrics, hemp also offers insulation properties and radiation blocking abilities. Biodegradability further adds environmental advantages for choosing hemp textiles over other textile options.
Cannabis has an enormous effect on fashion in multiple ways, from designer collections to streetwear. As its popularity increases, more fashion brands may incorporate hemp and cannabis-inspired items into their lineups; this trend has proved itself as attractive to younger consumers and it will likely continue to do so.
Cultural identity
Cannabis is an iconic symbol of cultural identity. It encapsulates both edge and social commentary, prompting designers to incorporate cannabis leaves and symbols into their collections as fashion trends as well as ways of supporting the cannabis community.
Many clothing lines are now embracing cannabis culture through clothing lines from high-end designer wear to casual streetwear, dispelling negative perceptions and normalizing marijuana usage. Furthermore, hemp provides a sustainable and eco-friendly crop from which these designs are crafted.
Premium cannabis brands are leading the charge in incorporating cannabis into aspirational lifestyles. They're creating stylish and luxurious cannabis-centric apparel, accessories and handbags for millennials to wear or carry; working with influencers to promote their products; and using this strategy to set themselves apart from competition while reaching more people with their message - an approach which helps expand both consumer trust and the cannabis industry itself.
