FASHION REIMAGINED
by Karen Pecota

Becky Hutner,UK | USA | 2022

The opening scene of documentary filmmaker Becky Hutner's latest narrative in FASHION REIMAGINED is the announcement of the annual Vogue award given to the Best Young Designer of the Year of 2017. The winner is Amy Powney of the fashion label Mother of Pearl.

Powney, a rising star in the London fashion scene, was awarded a large cash prize of $140,000 with the idea that within an eighteen-month timeframe, the designer will present a new fashion collection to showcase at London Fashion Week, September 2018. Powney's desire to make an impact in the fashion world wasn't solely to produce a more unique fashion collection but to think outside the box within the industry. More along the lines of doing something that has never been done before.

Raised in rural England, Powney wasn't privy to the power of conformity in relation to the fashion world until she went to high school. Powney was bullied regularly because of what she wore or didn't wear. She didn't fit in. Powney paid a dear price emotionally for living outside the norm. Desperate to fit in as a teen and young adult she worked several odd jobs to be able to purchase her own cheap, and trendy clothing. Powney observed that fashion had power. Drawn to the fashion industry she began to study fashion design.

While at University, Powney was introduced to a concept by Naomi Klein in her book "No Logo." Klein calls attention to the impact sweatshops and corporate greed have on our environment, not to mention climate change. This was food for thought that fit into Powney's upbringing and challenged her world view.

Powney embarks on a unique journey to use her Vogue prize money to design a sustainable collection of clothing within the eighteen-month process of a new line Vogue anticipated. Her mission was to have a clothing line called No Frills using six criteria: must be organic, trace fabric all the way back to its origin, uses minimal amount of water and chemicals, socially responsible, considers animal welfare and produces a low carbon footprint. Ultimately, Powney's challenge changed her entire business model.

Hutner takes the viewing audience on a journey of intrigue with Powney and her associate, as they travel the world to figure out the steps necessary to create a truly pure sustainable fashion collection never-before realized.

So impressive is Powney's feat, I could hardly wait to go to the Mother of Pearl website to support her endeavor. (KP)