Kevin Johnn

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Kevin Johnn was one of the original twelve constestants of the Emmy nominated Project Runway on Bravo.

1 History
2 Bio
3 Project Runway
- 3.1 The Wedding Dress Controversy
- 3.2 The Mustache Controversy
4 Career
5 External Links

[edit] History

Kevin resides in New York City, and is currently designing his own line of high-end, sophisticated fashion, as well as a jean line. He is reportedly nicknamed 'The Enigma.'

[edit] Bio

With a vision that has been compared to “a cross between artist Cindy Sherman and The Brothers Grimm” (Blackbook), Kevin's collections are known to be provocative and sensual, yet determinedly modern. His heady blends of luxurious fabrics and ingenious silhouettes have given rise to a barrage of press on this emerging designer, including an editorial fashion spreads in such magazines as Tatler, styled by Isabella Blow as well as features in Fashion Wire Daily, W, Instyle, Entertainment Weekly and CNN.

This high-end designer has a couture-type mentality and a passion for modern theatrics - which is why his philosophy has led him to create some of the most ingenuous and original fashion collections to date. His perspective that fashion is an experience as well as a personal style-statement has built him a loyal if diverse clientele that includes Mary Kate Olsen, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Nicky Hilton and Suzanne Bartsch. Most recently, Johnn’s appearance on the hit Bravo show Project Runway, lent itself to modern theatrics of a completely different sort. Kevin Johnn was always about the clothes. Host Heidi Klum favored his work and requested him to design her 2005 Oscar dress as well as become her personal designer.

Inspired by his previous collaborations with artist Matthew Barney and athlete/artist/actress Aimee Mullins for the cult classic film, Cremaster, Kevin Johnn developed a keen sense of combining the magical with a classic balance resulting in clothes of modern mixed emotions. While successfully launching his first Kevin Johnn Collection, which found a home in such prestigious boutiques as Bergdorf Goodman, Barney’s New York. Kevin Johnn fine-tuned his extensive experience in couture dressmaking, collaborating at the house of Thierry Mugler. This led Johnn to Paris to continue design for his couture clientele. Kevin then went to Azzedine Alaia to further his work. After a successful fashion show at Le Petit Oiseau Vsortier, Kevin Johnn received the award for Best New Designer at The Venus Awards Paris.

Kevin Johnn has also worked for LVMH lending his talents to the likes of such houses as Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan. Prior to these accomplishments, Kevin Johnn founded Zeronine with his brother and together built a company that became the cycling industry’s second largest sportswear manufacturer, through 2300 active dealer’s world wide with three Patents and eight Trademarks. He furthered his technical knowledge of apparel under the guidance of his father/mentor, who was a menswear designer for Hart Schaffner & Marx in Chicago.

[edit] Project Runway

The sleeper hit Project Runway helped Johnn to get his name across America and in the fashion world. He appeared on the show at age 37 and the contestant with the most experance in season 1. Johnn won the Rock & Roll/Collaboration challenge for Sarah Hudson.

[edit] The Wedding Dress Controversy

In the fifth challenge, Johnn chose model Olga Kononova as his model. She then became his client as she gave input and design for the wedding dress. Internet theory circulated that Johnn and Kononova's relationship went beyond designer/client. (It has been said that Johnn has a preference for European women). Some believe that Johnn purposely left the lining out of the dress (causing itchiness and discomfort), others believe that the dress was simply unfinished due to time restraints.

[edit] The Mustache Controversy

During the postal worker challenge (immediately following Johnn's elimination), designer Wendy Pepper found a photo of her young daughter vandalized with a mustache drawn across her face. During the pre-finale reunion, the issue was brought up and none of the designers confessed, but rather expressed their disappointment in whoever had done it. Johnn was silent.

According to Realityblurred and Justjared, Johnn has reportedly admitted to having vandalized the photo. He admitted it in a conversation at a party and also in a magazine interview.