Aus has realized that the only way to fight against the fashion industry is from the inside. The documentary “Out of Fashion” follows Reet Aus’s journey from Tallinn, through the fashion stages of Europe and the cotton plantations of South America, and right into the epicenter of mass production in Bangladesh. The documentary was filmed from 2009-2014, it is directed by Jaak Kilmi and Lennart Labarenz.
Context
Ever since fast fashion took the stage in the early ‘90s, priority has been given to cheap prices on garments. The goal is to find the cheapest fabric, the simplest cut, and the lowest priced vendor. Take a regular pair of jeans: the raw material is grown on South American cotton plantations, the fabric woven in India and the jeans sewn in Bangladesh. From there, the garment is shipped to stores all over the world. On its journey through the developing world, our everyday pair of jeans experiences physical abuse, child labor and 80Jhour work weeks. And that’s why we’re able to buy cheap garments from stores. True, they only last one season due to poor quality and chemically processed fabrics. But this generally doesn’t bother consumers, as there are new, cheap products always waiting for them at the store. So it’s no wonder that garments have lost their value and people consume them like disposable napkins. This system results in environmental destruction and enormous amounts of industrial waste. Together with fashion designer Reet Aus, we try to find an answer to the question: is there a way out?
Jaak Kilmi (1973) graduated from the newly formed film school of Tallinn Pedagogical University. He has directed numerous short films, awardJwinning documentaries (“The Art of Selling”, “Disco and Atomic War”, etc.) and two feature films (“Meeting with the Unknown” and “Revolution of Pigs”). He has been a member of FIPRESCI since 1995.
Lennart Laberenz (1976) has MAs in history, philosophy and political science. From 2005, he has worked as a freelance filmmakers, author and journalist. His documentary films and television reportages have screened in German and European television stations and international documentary film festivals. From 2008, he has also been working with theatre productions in Europe and South America.
Reet Aus
Reet Aus has worked as a fashion designer since 1997. Since 2002 she has created her collections using the principle of reusing discarded materials to create a product of higher value, or upcycling. This process allows the textile waste produced during garment manufacture to be sent back into production through smart design, thus noticeably reducing the environmental impact of the industry. Reet Aus wrote her doctoral thesis on the possibilities of introducing upcycling into mass production in the fashion industry. Reet Aus is a Senior Research Fellow at the Estonian Academy of Arts and active as a costume designer in theater and film productions throughout Estonia. Honors: TOP 3 European Environmentally Friendly Enterprise (2014), Woman of the Year (BPW Estonia 2014), Noteworthy Young Estonian (TOYP Estonia 2014), Environmentally Friendly Enterprise (Ministry of the Environment 2013), Civil Society Enterprise of the Year (NGO Association 2013), Woman of the Year – Magazine “Anne ja Stiil” (2013), Fashion Motor (2009), Natalie Mei Theatre Arts Annual Prize (2007), Estonian Theatre Prize (2006), Republic of Estonia Cultural Prize (2004), Little Needle (2003).
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Original title: Moest väljas
Director: Jaak Kilmi & Lennart Laberenz
Cinematographer: Lennart Laberenz, Mart Taniel
Producer: Katrin Kissa, Jaak Kilmi
Consultant: Reet Aus
Editor: Liis Nimik
Composer: Jarek Kasar
Sound Designer: Matis Rei
Production Company: Homeless Bob Production
Length: 60’
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Screening Format: DCP
It is also possible to see the film on Sunday 20th of September at 3 p.m. at Tallinn Creative Hub. Film will be in cinemas from 17th of September.
Support
Estonian Film Institute
European Union MEDIA Program
Estonian Cultural Endowment
Contact
Lili Pilt
Homeless Bob Production
Telliskivi 57-68 Tallinn 10412
lili@too.ee
53324618
www.homelessbob.ee