I binge-watched Netflix's the Next in Fashion and need to write about it....only took me three days, each episode is roughly 30 minutes long. It is the type of show you can play in the background while tidying up, organizing or cleaning your home/space.
Next in Fashion debuted in January 2020 and was hosted by Alexa Chung and Tan France. It received mixed reviews and as of now will not be returning for a second season. It features eighteen contestants hailing from Mexico, India, China, South Korea, England, USA, Scotland, Puerto Rico, Canada and Italy. All competing to win a cash prize of $250,000 provided by Net-a-Porter.
I didn't have a Netflix account in 2020; now I do... so I obliged myself ....
Disclaimer: I am not a fashion expert, been a fan of Project Runway since season one and I have continued to watch it even after our beloved Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn left the series. It remains one of my favorite old school reality shows, and I can see how it inspired Next in Fashion.
Here's what's different about the Netflix show...
1. I like the way all the filming remained in the design studio. We never followed the designers back to their shared accommodation. The audience never delved deep into their personal relationships or emotional triggers. We watched them working and creating their work and any time they shared any internal insights it was related to their designs and passion for fashion. We never see them fighting over food, beds or bathroom time.
2. There is a live audience when they present their designs at the end of each episode. Some how this prevents the judges from performing in front of each other and showcasing their own personalities. The guest judges are not singers and movie stars, they are people who actually work in the fashion business Monique Lhiuiller, Prabal Gurung, Philip Lim, Kerby Jean Raymond from Pyer Moss, Adriana Lima, Christopher Kane, Adidas, Public School, Tommy Hilfiger, Elizabeth Stewart and Eva Chen
3. Before any of the outfits hit the runaway the judges know who each outfit was made by. What I adore about this is that the judges judge the design and the design aesthetic not the contestant. They are never too harsh to permanently damage the contestant's esteem. In fact episode five one of the contestants, Claire Davis, is clearly upset and emotional when the hosts approach her and her partner to discuss their process, instead of confronting her on camera Alexa and Tan show some profound emotional awareness, they give her space, they don't bring it up later on, and even when she eventually gets eliminated it is never held against her.
4. An intense and interesting discussion that arose across the first four episodes about 'ghost designing' and stolen 'swag' ideas from black designers. The issue is highlighted by the design duo Farai Simoyi Agbede and Kiki Peterson. Kiki is a living legend who has created for famous black-owned fashion brands like FUBU and House of Dereon. However through out the series their talent fails to translate on the runway and they struggle, most of their designs scored low, and the one time they get given the chance to shine in the 'streetwear' category episode, they end up almost being eliminated. Guest judge Kerby gives them another chance by refusing to agree to their elimination. Emotional moment for him, emotional moment for the co-hosts and for the participants. Fame in fashion can be fickle, and may not always translate into long term success, even legends can get unintentionally disrespected. As Heidi Klum says "One day you're in, and the next day you're out!"
5. The designers never visit a fabric store, they have access to an on set stock room but they don't seem to have a budget or a restrictive time limit when choosing items.
6. I have to say the show sometimes needed a 'Tim Gunn.' They could have benefited from someone to guide, mentor and challenge the designers through the creating process while encouraging them to stick to their personal unique brand. Although the hosts are engaging and fun with a dynamic and intuitive understanding of fashion and the latest trends, they are not technically skilled in garment construction and it shows.
7. It's great how the contestants were free to design for men and women under the same category!
8. The contestants work in pairs and until the semi final, when a partnership failed they got eliminated together. Working in twos worked well for some designers namely Minju Kim , Angel Chen, Angelo Cruciani Carli Pearson, Daniel Fletcher and Charles Lu but seemed detrimental for Hayley Scanlan, Nasheli Ortiz-Gonzalez and Julian Woodhouse.
9. Although contestants' family members becoming emotional in the final episode happens on Project Runway too, when Minju's Dad starts crying as her wedding-dress-finale-piece comes down the runway and performs it's WOW-moment ...the tears...so many tears...it just warmed my heart.
10. They use different body size fashion models without making a 'big' thing of it, it is just a normal part of the show.
Dear Netflix please re-consider your decision and make season two!
Pretty please...
Nothing can replace Project Runway, but I enjoyed watching this.
P.S: If you are looking for an informative review about the fashion business, as said earlier I am not the one but Haute Le Mode does a great review which you can click here to watch.
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