Worth: $16.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Amy Powney, Chloe Marks, Pedro Otegui
Intro:
… an amazing and inspiring story.
Pollution, waste, carbon emissions, chemicals, animal welfare … these aren’t words usually associated with Parisian catwalks. There are a lot of sobering facts and figures about the fashion industry in this documentary; an industry that’s one of the most environmentally destructive on the planet. If it were a country, the fashion industry would rank third for carbon emissions, just behind China and the United States.
Worthy and important subjects don’t always make for compelling viewing, but Fashion Reimagined has a strong narrative that powers this tale about sustainable fashion. Its focus is Amy Powney – a highly talented designer who, at the start of this doco, picks up a Vogue award and a cash prize for her label, Mother of Pearl.
After reading No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies by Canadian author Naomi Klein, Powney’s eyes are opened to the sweatshops, use of chemicals and general environmental unfriendliness of the fashion industry. Her graduate collection was sustainability themed – it left her tutors “a bit baffled”.
With the money she’d scored from Vogue, Powney and product developer Chloe Marks began planning for No Frills – a completely sustainable and ethically sourced fashion line. This is where Fashion Reimagined goes beyond figures and facts and becomes an absorbing story. It follows Powney and Marks on their mission, which is full of twists, turns and textiles. There are numerous roadblocks as they try to ethically source cotton and wool, which they’ve identified as the most sustainable threads.
Their journey takes them from their London base to Austria, Uruguay, Peru and Turkey. Australia is not on the itinerary – the horror practice of mulesing rules Australian wool out.
Powney has an understated presence yet is a powerhouse in terms of making things happen. Fashion Reimagined does have a moment or two when things lull a little, but ultimately, it’s an amazing and inspiring story.
Find out where the film is playing here
