In ‘I Love Boosters,’ fashion is for the people
CNN • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Boots Riley’s film “I Love Boosters” uses vibrant color and bold fashion to portray the chaotic lives of a group of girlfriends who steal and resell clothes, serving as a critique of over-consumption and the fashion industry’s ethical issues.
- Costume designer Shirley Kurata created distinct wardrobes for the Velvet Gang characters, blending Bay-area grunge and Gen-Z rave styles, using thrifted and student-designed pieces to reflect their personalities and disguises.
- The antagonist, retail mogul Christie Smith, is styled with sharp, architectural clothing inspired by real-life fashion figures like Jenna Lyons, emphasizing her cold, off-kilter persona.
- The film highlights serious fashion industry problems such as intellectual property theft and poor factory conditions, urging consumer and designer responsibility regarding workers’ rights, pay equity, and environmental impact.
- Kurata hopes the film inspires viewers to unite and engage with these issues, using its colorful and dynamic storytelling to make a compelling social statement.