Seen as I now have a little bit more time on my hands, I've decided to check out the rival fashion design competitions, and to do a review of how I see these programmes.
First I watched Netflix's Next in Fashion. As a format it pretty much follows a standard skill based competition format with a task to be completed within the time limit, a showcase and judging, a winner and losing candidate who is then eliminated, and at the end of the process a cash prize. The programme is hosted with two celebs in the industry and judges each week are also huge names within each field. What I found shocking about this programme was how in today's world I would say one off the major changes in society is the choices of models and the diversity displayed on the catwalk, and yet each week when it comes to the catwalk the models showing the pieces are all the stereotypical size 0 'perfect' figures. This is so wrong and I believe you should be able to choose your model and catwalk fashion can be styled for whatever size you wish to design for, not this expectation for your work to suit 'mannequin' size.
Making the Cut, however is I believe a much more unique was of following this loose format. With the big prize being a mentor for the projection of their brand, their collection to be sold on Amazon and a massive £1,000,000 cash prize, what makes this show unique is how in each programmes task, the winner has their 'accessible' look to be immediately available to be purchased on Amazon. As a basis for each task, contenstants are asked to make an accessible look and a runway look, both expected to be innovative within reason of who they are being aimed at, and therefore makes what the designers are creating much more relatable for viewers. As with most shows and catwalks the bog standard consumer couldn't afford or wouldn't have an occassion for such pieces, so making each task include something specifically designed to wear rather than for show means the people at home watching can almost be a judge too.
Travelling around the globe to destinations like New York, Paris and even Tokyo, these designers get the opportunity to be inspired by a whole range of cultures and people. This I think works particularly well because of the fact the contestants come from a whole variety of countries too.
This show isn't just about who can create the most perfect pieces or the best designs but it's about designers behind existing independent brands having the chance to display them and their vision for their brand. The competition is about extending their collections throughout the process showcasing their ideas of potential for their own brands and for the judges to choose one to help push forward into a global fashion label. Something that helps the designers with this is that during the night they all receive a seamstress who will be there to bring their day's work to life overnight, ready for them to take over again the following day.
In contrast to Next in Fashion, Making the Cut allows contestants to choose models that represent their clothing and the sort of person their designs are intended for, making it a much more powerful message when the garment communicates something successfully.
Another unique part to this show is how at the end of each challenge judges have the opportunity to call forward any designers to have a conversation about them, their message and their garments which can then influence their decisions as to who stays and goes and who wins each week. I think this is brilliant because as much as it's important that the garments speak for themselves, these people are there to receive guidance as well as prove themselves and this allows them to get professional opinions about how and if they are communicating what they intend to through their clothes.
I personally think that out of these two similar shows, Amazon's Making the Cut has so much more depth to what they are looking for as well as what the show displays from the process and is much more accurate to the industry.
St.
Comments