Cannabis Consumption and Couture Collide at New York Fashion Week
NEW YORK-New York Fashion Week is set to get a high-fashion-and potentially high-twist this September 11, as Collina Strada and Eckhaus Latta partner with cannabis retailer Gotham to integrate active cannabis consumption into their runway shows. Models will visibly consume cannabis during both presentations,marking a bold step toward normalizing the plant’s presence within the fashion industry.
The collaboration, spearheaded by Collina Strada’s founder and creative director Hillary Taymour, aims to “capture how fashion and cannabis intersect to spark creativity and cultural inspiration,” though Taymour clarified there will be no literal flames. Eckhaus Latta, a long-time collaborator with Gotham, will also showcase cannabis-themed accessories alongside the on-stage consumption. this event reflects a broader trend of cannabis increasingly influencing cultural landscapes, from wellness to lifestyle-and now, high fashion.
Collina Strada will debut a $500 “vape pocket shirt” featuring a discreet pocket designed to hold a vape pen, provided by local cannabis company MFNY.Models will “strut-and-smoke” while showcasing the design, utilizing electronic vapes. Eckhaus Latta will present a co-branded joint case and lighter sheath, with their models consuming cannabis-presumably through smoking-on the runway.
“Fashion has always been about pushing boundaries and reflecting the times,” Taymour stated. “Partnering with Gotham allows us to challenge perceptions in a way that feels both daring and intentional-integrating cannabis into the runway conversation as naturally as a silhouette.”
gotham co-founder Gary Berks emphasized the importance of supporting emerging artists alongside established designers, stating, “Supporting new artists is as crucial to our strategy as collaborating with seasoned designers…Gotham is eager to align with the next generation of fashion disruptors while showcasing the evolution of Gotham Goods.” Pre-orders for the limited-edition Collina Strada x Gotham shirt open promptly after the show, with the collection arriving next spring at Gotham.
