Fresh Dressed by Sacha
Jenkins charts the role of fashion and looking fresh in the Hip Hop game – from
the eighties through to the present day. Featuring interviews and excerpts from
a good range of American Hip Hop artists and other interviewees the documentary
is itself fresh, edutaining and fun.
The documentary goes
from the eighties, through RUN DMC and others, into the nineties, from the West
Coast’s Cross-Colours (the original streetwear label) to Karl Kani, NYC’s Low
Lifes and many others. It pushes on hard through Sean John early forays into
haute couture and ends up in the contemporary Yeezy era. Whilst there is a
swerve to the European fashion houses of France and Italy (this is a solidly
American production) there is no mention of Britain and the international
aspect of fashion or potential futures is not captured effectively as it could
have been as the second half of the documentary progresses.
Nonetheless, this
documentary comes thoroughly recommended and if you’re into streetwear, fashion,
American culture and it’s influence on the world, Hip Hop as a movement that
isn’t perceived as a fad or even just looking fly, then look out for this
screen gem shiznit ‘cause it’s mad nice.
