'Kingdom of Dreams,' 'Nose,' 'Fashion Reimagined' and other fashion documentaries to add to your watchlist

Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is in the sky, in the street. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” Since their inception, legacy fashion brands and their designers have carved out a niche for themselves in the wide world of fashion. They navigated their journey, often on their own terms, in their own eccentric ways (like artists often do). These designers created impact on the ramp and red carpet and even beyond it, to change the way audiences across the globe perceive clothes and fashion. We think it’s as exciting and inspiring to know about the behind-the-scenes of the fashion world as flipping through catalogues and seeing catwalks. From Nose to Kingdom of Dreams, here's a list of fashion docudramas and documentaries that take us through the highs and lows of designer houses and the people behind them as they make their mark across the globe. 

White Hot: The rise and fall of Abercrombie and Fitch (2022)

Directed by Alison Klayman, White Hot: The rise and fall of Abercrombie and Fitch is a documentary that sheds light on the success of the American clothing brand of the 90’s and early 2000’s and the consequent controversies and allegations that it faced owing to racist and exclusionary practices. The documentary follows the journey of the brand after the appointment of Mike Jeffries as CEO which led to a lawsuit against them. Right from the racist hiring policies to advertisements—using white, well-built and toned models to encouraging the creation of a clique whilst wearing the brand’s clothes, the film even showcases the average American teenager speaking about an unreal obsession of the brand. Alison Klayman does a phenomenal job in exposing the discriminatory nature of the once loved brand. 

SS Daley X National Youth Theatre 

Based on a budding fashion designer, Steven Stokey-Daley, the documentary takes the viewers back to London Fashion Week, where Daley collaborated with actors from the National Youth Theatre and made his standalone debut. The performance brought to life some of the major themes of Daley's work including homoeroticism and the queering of British uniforms and sense of rebellion that is seen across his work. The documentary takes us through moments of rehearsals and endless practices, leading up to the final day, with actors getting ready backstage. It's definitely a must-watch for all fashion lovers. 

Fashion Reimagined (2022)

Directed by Becky Hunter, Fashion Reimagined follows the journey of Amy Powney, the designer-daughter of environmental activists who mission is to create fashion that is ethical and sustainable at every level. Having always felt uneasy with the idea of the environmental damage and destruction that the fashion industry caused, Powney decided to use the cash prize from a prestigious award to create a sustainable collection, transform her label, Mother of Pearl and leave an impact within and beyond the fashion industry. 

Kingdom of Dreams (2022)

The all new mini-series is all about exposing the long-kept truths of the fashion world follows the interwoven journeys of some of the biggest icons in the fashion world including Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen. The four-part series takes its viewers through the history, evolution and democratisation of fashion that began in the early 90's and peaked in 2010. The series highlights some of the most iconic moments of fashion such as Tom Ford's X-rated revamp at Gucci and Marc Jacobs's graffitied Louis Vuitton logo. The docu-series also features several interviews of those who have not only carved out a space for themselves but also influenced the entire world of fashion. 

Nose (2021)

For all the 'cognoscentis' (A connoiseur of fragrances) out there, this one is definitely for you. Directed by Clément Beauvais, Nose gives the audiences an exclusive and unprecedented access into Dior's 'Maison de Parfums' creative process. The documentary begins with Dior's perfume creator, Francois Demachy travelling to Indonesia to spend a few hours amidst the lush patchouli fields. He then travels across the globe to discover new scents and ingredients, going from Grasse to see roses to Sri Lanka for sandalwood. Through the film, you enter the world of some of the most exquisite perfumes ever made. Nose, is sure to tingle all your senses.

ReDress the Future (2021) 

Over the last few years, much has been spoken about changing the norms of the fashion industry to make it more sustainable and ethical in its functioning. So, for those fashion aficionados and aspiring designers who want to step away from fast fashion and other unethical practices, this three-part documentary is just for you. Climate activist Mikaela Loach explores various questions, answers and possible solutions that can be put into practice by the fashion world to create an environmentally friendly industry. It not only focuses on the existing problems of the industry but highlights and features designers such as Phoebe English and Christopher Rayburn who are consciously working towards creating sustainable fashion.