CBD is Everywhere. Will CBD-infused Clothing Be Next?

CBD, or cannabiniol as it’s technically called, is everywhere lately. From gummy bears to brow gel to supplements to add to your pet’s food, the marijuana-based chemical compound touts itself as a cure-all for anxiety, joint pain and insomnia, all without the pesky side effect of getting high. In short, it’s the perfect panacea for our anxiety-ridden age.

Devan Chemicals, a specialty chemical firm based in Belgium, has just added cannabiniol to their textile solutions portfolio. The technology, called “R Vital,” consists of microcapsules of CBD woven into fabric. “When the skin touches the fabric, the resulting friction causes the capsules to break, releasing the ingredients to the body,” suggesting that your wardrobe might be the next stop on CBD’s world takeover.

The technology is being positioned as a sleep aid that can be incorporated into “everything from bedding to sleepwear fabric.” While you can’t purchase CBD-infused cashmere sweatpants just yet -- the technology is set to debut at the Heimtextil trade show in Frankfurt on Jan. 8 -- we predict it won’t be long. Researchers have anticipated that CBD will become a $22 billion industry by 2022, outstripping the demand for marijuana.

It is not clear whether the fabric loses its potency over time. One presumes that once all the capsules have broken, the effects of the CBD will diminish and the thrilling pair of CBD pyjamas one purchased metamorphose into regular old pajamas after just a few wears.

Here’s hoping The Row introduces a line of inordinately perfect (and prohibitively expensive) CBD-infused basics for the world to pine after.