7 Sustainable Fashion Documentaries to Add to your Watchlist

IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY IN AN EASY AND ENJOYABLE WAY, THESE FILMS ARE THE PERFECT PLACE TO START. FAST FASHION, SUSTAINABILITY, GREENWASHING – TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL CAN BE A NIGHTMARE! FEAR NOT, WE’VE CHOSEN SEVEN SUSTAINABLE FASHION DOCUMENTARIES TO BRING YOU SOME THOUGHT-PROVOKING (AND ENTERTAINING) INSIGHT INTO THE FASHION INDUSTRY. WE’VE DIVIDED THEM INTO TWO GROUPS. FIRST, DOCUMENTARIES THAT SHOW THE TRUTH BEHIND THE ENDLESS PRODUCTION OF GARMENTS. SECOND, FILMS THAT OFFER INSPIRATIONAL SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ACTIVELY SEEK TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AND HIGHLIGHT POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY. AND THEY’RE ALL EASY TO FIND ON SUBSCRIPTION WEBSITES SUCH AS VIMEO, AMAZON PRIME, AND NETFLIX OR ON FREE PLATFORMS SUCH AS YOUTUBE AND WATERBEAR. SO KICK OFF YOUR SHOES, GRAB SOME POPCORN AND CURL UP ON THE SOFA. YOU’RE IN FOR A TREAT WITH THESE REMARKABLE FASHION FILMS!

words by HOLLY KELSEY
photographs by ANDREW DAY
creative direction SARAH MARIE FRANKEN

Documentaries SHOWING THE truth behind the fashion industry

THE UGLY TRUTH OF FAST FASHION - PATRIOT ACT WITH HASAN MINHAJ

2019 / Director: Richard A. Preuss

This is one of our favourites from the list. It actually is a part of the tv-series Patriot Act but we couldn’t resist including it. It’s lighthearted and has succeeded in explaining the negative actions of the fast fashion industry with a sense of humour. Minhaj looks at how fast fashion brands use greenwashing to create ‘sustainable’ collections and even sets up a fake pop-up store to hear shoppers’ opinions on these ‘conscious’ garments.
— Watch episode on Netflix / Watch episode on YouTube

THE TRUE COST

2015 / Director: Andrew Morgan

The Rana Plaza tragedy prompted Morgan to expose the destructiveness of fast fashion. This film showed a turning point in the fashion industry and the desperate need for change with the treatment of people and planet. An unflinching mirror that reflects the unwitting, disastrous impact of the modern consumer society. A must-see that will not only make you think of the fashion industry in a different way, but also explains the modern buying behaviors and how we got there.
— Watch documentary on Amazon Prime / Watch documentary on WaterBear

SLAY

2022 / Director: Rebecca Cappelli

There’s a striking lack of conversation about what happens in the production of leather in fashion. The suffering of helpless animals, deforestation, the knock-on effects of health issues for local communities – the silence is deafening. Slay follows Cappelli on a journey around Europe and China as she investigates the fur industry. It shows brands ranging from Mango and H&M to Alexander Wang and Fendi using animal leather or fur. As social psychologist Dr. Melanie Joy asks at one point: “Why do caring people support cruel practices?” Ultimately the film poses the question: is it acceptable to kill animals for aesthetics? But it’s not all doom and gloom. The film shows that there is a positive way forward and gives us hope that one day fashion can be truly animal cruelty free.
— Watch documentary on WaterBear

FAST FASHION - THE SHADY WORLD OF CHEAP CLOTHING

2021 / Directors: Gilles Bovon and Edouard Perrin

Did you know that fast-fashion brand Zara creates a staggering 65,000 new styles a year? Or that workers at  Leicester garment factories in England are paid the wage of £3 an hour? This documentary shows all of this and more. It goes behind the scenes of fast fashion brand Zara, where it looks at how they shamelessly copy other brands’ designs and how they get away with it. It explores workers’ conditions and lack of pay, specifically workers at Boohoo group’s factory in Leicester. One appalling fact that emerges from the film is how the aftermath of garment production has life threatening impacts on humanity, whether that’s from the pollution generated by the factories or even from the materials used to make the garments. A true eye-opener.
— Watch documentary on YouTube

Solution-focused Fashion documentaries

REDRESS THE FUTURE

2021 / Director: Matthew Harmer

This three part series accompanies climate activist Mikaela Loach as she focuses on the solutions for the fashion industry such as buying secondhand, selling old clothes instead of throwing them away, mending garments, upcycling and renting. Loach talks with a range of brands, companies and individuals in the slow fashion movement, who are making really positive changes. Her documentary shines a light on how the fashion industry can grow through sustainability. It shows that fashion doesn’t have to keep moving along the same linear path. The circular model is the way forward! Inspirational.
— Watch documentary on WaterBear

FASHION REIMAGINED

2022 / Director: Becky Hutner

This is THE most highly anticipated fashion film of the year so far. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is just about to go on general release in the UK. Fashion Reimagined accompanies Amy Powney, the Creative Director at Mother of Pearl, and showcases her innovative work in working towards a more sustainable fashion industry. The film follows her journey in creating a sustainable collection, from field to finished garment. It’s the remarkable story of one young woman’s determination to put her beliefs into practice. The result? A brand whose beautiful, truly sustainable clothing has achieved cult status. Some screenings will be followed by live Q&As with director Becky Hutner. Be sure to go if you’re lucky enough to live near one of them!
— Find out about screening locations

WHY FASHION BRANDS ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON SUSTAINABILITY

2022 / Director: Posy Dixon

The founder of Business of Fashion, Imran Amed, inquires into the big fashion companies’ sustainability credentials and how the world of luxury fashion is trying to constantly improve their sustainability efforts. We sit in on his discussions with luxury group Kering’s most influential people - the owner François-Henri Pinault and Head of Sustainability Marie-Claire Daveu. Whether it’s using nearly 4,000 sustainable fabrics, using 100% ethically produced gold in their watches and jewellery, embracing the concept of resale with their purchase of Vestiaire Collective, we get some valuable insights into how luxury is implementing sustainability into brands’ business models.
— Watch documentary on YouTube

Further Reading