In an industry built on trends, commerce, and relentless reinvention, threeASFOUR: FULL CIRCLE shines a spotlight on a fashion collective that has spent more than two decades refusing to play by those rules.
Directed by Sean Ono Lennon and Brian C. Gonzalez, the documentary follows avant-garde New York design trio Gabi Asfour, Angela Donhauser, and Adi Gil, whose label threeASFOUR has earned a devoted following through its boundary-pushing designs and unwavering commitment to artistic expression. Their work has been worn by everyone from Björk and Lady Gaga to Rihanna and Mariah Carey, exhibited in major museums around the world, and celebrated for blending technology, spirituality, sustainability, and cultural dialogue into garments that resemble wearable sculptures.
Yet FULL CIRCLE is less concerned with the finished clothes than it is with the people creating them.
Filmed over five years, the documentary operates as a patient observational portrait, exploring the emotional, financial, and philosophical realities of sustaining an artistic practice in an industry that often prioritises profitability over originality. While viewers are treated to glimpses of the collective’s striking collections and creative process, the film’s true focus lies in the relationships between its members and the personal convictions that have shaped their work.
The trio’s backgrounds – spanning Palestine, Israel, and Germany – provide a compelling foundation for their shared belief in unity and peace. Rather than treating fashion as mere aesthetics, threeASFOUR view it as a vehicle for connection, a way of bridging cultures and encouraging dialogue. The film thoughtfully explores how those ideals inform both their designs and their collaborations, creating a portrait of artists who see creativity as an act of optimism.
Fashion enthusiasts will undoubtedly find plenty to admire. The archival footage, runway presentations, sketches, and discussions around upcoming collections offer fascinating insight into a creative process that feels genuinely singular. The documentary also captures the excitement and anxiety that accompany every new project, particularly as the designers navigate an ever-changing industry landscape.
However, audiences expecting a detailed examination of garment construction or an in-depth exploration of the technical artistry behind the collections may find themselves wanting more. While the creation of the clothes is naturally part of the story, Lennon and Gonzalez are far more interested in the emotional and psychological toll of maintaining an uncompromising artistic vision. The film spends considerably more time examining the business realities, personal sacrifices, and creative tensions that accompany such a career than it does breaking down the intricacies of the designs themselves.
Fortunately, those broader themes prove engaging. The documentary’s strongest moments arrive when it wrestles with questions that extend beyond fashion altogether: How do artists survive in commercial industries? What compromises are worth making? Can creative work retain its meaning when measured against financial success? These questions resonate whether you’re interested in fashion, music, film, or any other artistic pursuit.
Lennon’s admiration for his subjects is evident throughout, but the film largely avoids becoming hagiographic. Instead, it presents threeASFOUR as passionate, driven creatives constantly balancing ideals against practical realities. The result is an intimate portrait of artists striving to remain true to themselves in a world that often rewards the opposite.
threeASFOUR: FULL CIRCLE may not delve as deeply into fashion design as some viewers might hope, but as a study of creativity, collaboration, and artistic perseverance, it proves both thoughtful and inspiring. Even for those with only a passing interest in haute couture, its exploration of what it means to create with purpose offers plenty to contemplate.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
threeASFOUR: FULL CIRCLE is screening as part of this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, running between June 3rd and 14th, 2026. For more information on the festival, head to the official site here.
