About Suited (HBO)

Suited is an American documentary film, first premiered on HBO in 2016. Directed by Jason Benjamin and produced by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner, this heart-touching documentary is about bespoke tailoring company named Bindle & Keep in Brooklyn, New York, which primarily serves members of the LGBTQ community. The film highlights the intimate journey of several of Bindle & Keep's clients as they go through the process of having a custom suit made, showing how these garments help them define their identities more clearly and present themselves to the world on their own terms.

Making / Production

The documentary was made possible by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner who found passion in telling the stories of LGBTQ individuals seeking a sense of identity through thread and cloth. Director Jason Benjamin took the audience into the lives of its subjects and their stories as they traversed the landscapes of gender identity and expression. These stories were effortlessly interweaved with the careful craftsmanship of the tailors at Bindle & Keep.

Actors

• Lena Dunham - Executive Producer, who also made the initial film pitch and brought Jason Benjamin on board to direct.
• Derek Matteson - One of the tailors at Bindle & Keep, who is portrayed as understanding and empathetic towards the unique needs of the customers.
• Rae Tutera - A transmasculine tailor at Bindle & Keep who co-founded the company, and whose deeply personal and poignant journey is central to the film.
• Various Clients - Customers of Bindle & Keep, whose individual stories are the basis for the film, turning their experience of fitting into something far more significant and universal.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film was first premiered at Sundance Film Festival before being shown on HBO.
• Rae Tutera, who is a central character in the film, is also a co-founder of Bindle & Keep.
• The film utilises the process of suit fitting as a metaphor for each individual client's journey toward self-identity and acceptance.

Awards

Suited was widely acclaimed, though it did not win any specific awards. It did, however, make a significant impact at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was first premiered and warmly received by audiences.

Quotes

• "If you're not comfortable in your clothes, it's hard to be comfortable in your skin." - Rae Tutera

Music, Soundtrack

The documentary uses music sparingly, focusing primarily on the spoken word and personal stories. Any used soundtracks or music pieces are there to complement and underscore the narrative, deeply tying the audience into the fabric of the protagonists’ lives.