This one caused already quite a stir in the net. You could say, it’s a very unusual fashion film but it’d still be an understatement. NY Coutiers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, the founders of Proenza Schouler, show some balls in approaching Harmony Korine for their first endeavor into the array of fashion film.

Harmony Korine sure is one of a kind. Most of you do know his breakthrough film “Kids”, for which he wrote the screenplay. He has an obsession with people with handicaps, whatever nature those handicaps are: intelligence, physical deformities, psychic retardation, social marginalization, sick family relations… you name it – Korine has probably made a film about it. And made it always look kind of cool. Really, VICE probably would’t even exist without Korine.

I mean, take a look at the trailer for his latest film “Trash Humpers”

Crazy, disturbing and kind of cool, right? OK, so let’s check out, what Korine did for Proenza Schouler.

The images look very digital, probably shot with DLSR (or even a mobile phone, with Korine you never know). The main thing is, it’s not the glossy DLSR-Images we’re used to from the average fashion film.
And this really isn’t what you expect from a fashion label, which is sold by Neiman Marcus and their likes.
I think this film really achieves something. It succeeds in bridging the divide between the illusionary world of high fashion and the profane authenticity of real life. It was shot at the projects of Nashville. Korine: “I just asked around. I wanted to know who the greatest living delinquents were. Those girls appeared.” It also has a religious undertone, but you couldn’t tell if it’s intentional, like, if Korine tries to subtlety criticize the consumerism behind the fashion industry. What the film sure does, is shine a light on a place and it’s people, which normally just do not exist in the fashion environment. Some critics say, it’s just a marketing stunt, which tries to stir some controversy and “uses” the projects for it. I don’t know, I guess it’s in the eye of the beholder.
I, for myself, want to congratulate Proenza Schouler for taking this bold step and creating a very special “Fashion FIlm”.

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