Fashion shows have always been a hit on television. Not only do people like to see the outfits but also how they are made, and the laborious process involved in making them. In 2020, Netflix couldn’t get enough of putting out different reality shows that were liked by a wide range of audiences. The world of fashion also had its space and at the beginning of that year, the production company launched the program Next in Fashion.
Eighteen designers from around the world competed against each other in a competition in which the winner won $250,000, the talent’s final prize, along with the chance to sell their creations on the Net-a-porter portal. The first edition of the program was won by South Korea’s Minju Kim and had as guest jurors Eva Chen, Instagram’s director of fashion partnerships, and designers Prabal Gurung, Tommy Hilfiger, Christopher Kane and Phillip Lim.
Each chapter, focused on a theme such as denim or lingerie, was a new opportunity to discover the work of experienced designers and follow them in their creative process from the drawing to the catwalk.
Even though the second season of the reality show had been cancelled, a few months ago we were told that this would not be the case. The fashion series is back in our lives and filming has already begun. It is expected that the episodes could be seen by the end of this year or early 2023.
The dynamic is expected to be the same but we already know that there will be a very significant change. Alexa Chung is stepping down from the project and in her place comes Gigi Hadid as co-host. The supermodel will present her first show alongside London-born fashion designer Tan France, who will continue to host the show in the new season.
In a statement to Variety, Netflix’s vice president of unscripted originals and comedy specials Brandon Riegg explained why it made sense for the company to venture into the fashion competition series category:
“Fashion is something that is really appealing and relatable, and so it made sense for us to get into that space considering our viewers around the world … It is also an opportunity to gauge the fashion enthusiasm of fans and showcase some amazing talent and stories [from designers], the struggles and the victories, and help them elevate their own brand to the next level through the show”.
Dácil Palmero