Project Runway

Project Runway

The television show Project Runway is a reality based show where fashion designers of all different skill levels and styles are given the same opportunity to win the grand prize of 100,000 dollars, to start their own fashion line. To show case their winning collection in a runway show at Bryant Park during fashion week. A magazine spread in Elle. And in recent seasons a brand new car, provided by Saturn.
To win the grand prize the designers must go through multiple levels of challenges. Some of the challenges are very conventional. Some of the challenges can be very forward thinking and even a little out there, and some are completely ridiculous.
They are mentored through the progression of the show by Tim Gunn he is the chief officer Liz Claiborne Inc. and formerly an instructor at Parsons “The new school for design”. Parsons is where the designers do their work for each challenge. The challenges are show cased weekly in a 60 minute episode. The show is based in New York city. Where they are provided apartments they share with the other designers.
There are some basic rules they follow in the time they spend during the taping of the show. A few of the rules are they are not allowed to leave the apartments without permission. They are not allowed unauthorized communication with family and friends. And the big rules are NO Internet research and NO pattern books or portfolios. Tim Gunn and sometimes Heidi Klum announce the weekly challenges. Tim Escorts the designers to buy fabrics and supplies for each project. They are given a budget and a time limit. That differs with each new challenge. Each episode gets harder.
But nonetheless the designers must design, execute, and show their garment in professional runway setting. They have models they must create a look to go along with their garment. To impress a panel of judges that range from professional model Heidi Klum to High fashion designer Michael Kors. Also on the panel is Elle magazine editor at large Nina Garcia. Every week they bring in a guest judge also. These judges range from fashion icons to other successful designers, and even actors or actresses that just seem to know what looks like Couture , and what looks like trash.
This program starts with 12 or more designers and every week someone wins the challenge and someone is out. Heidi Klum puts it Either you are in… or you are out! Heidi congratulates the challenge winners and either gives them immunity on the next challenge or a much more coveted prize, like their garment worn by a star on a red carpet or featuring their garment in a magazine are just two examples of a prize one designer could win . If you are out Heidi gives you the dreaded “double cheek auf wiedersehen air kiss” and out you go. This no mercy judging technique keeps the designers on the edge, pushing themselves and constantly evolving their skill level and testing their creativity.
After all but four contestants remain they do the final challenge, which can often lead to more than one elimination, depending on how many designers are left. The 3 or 4 remaining designers are flown back to their homes with 12 weeks to design 12 garments.
These garments need to have a common flow and work together as a collection. The designers have a 8,000 dollar budget. And be ready to come back to New York to showcase the collections during fashion week at the famous Bryant Park show. After The show a winner is picked by the panel and they receive the Grand prize!

I personally have been watching this show for at least two seasons. I enjoy Project Runway because of the never ending challenges it presents to the designers skill and creativity. It also shows a lot about different kinds of people being thrown into the same situation and how they handle the problems or don’t handle the problems that the challenges present. I also as a fashion consumer enjoy watching the process from beginning to end.
I am always looking for the winning designs on the rack.