Project Runway

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Project Runway
Image:PRLogo12.jpg
Genre Reality, competition
Creator(s) Eli Holzman
Starring Heidi Klum
Country of origin Flag of United States United States
No. of episodes 38 (as of October 18, 2006)
Production
Running time 60 minutes (including commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel Bravo
Original run December 1, 2004 – present
Links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Project Runway is an American reality television series on the Bravo network that focuses on fashion design. Its contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are usually restricted in their time, materials, and theme. Their designs are judged and one or more designers are eliminated each week. The third season winner received a spread in ELLE magazine, a mentorship with INC (Inter-National Concepts) Design, a year of representation by Designers Management Agency, a 2007 Saturn Sky Roadster, and $100,000 to start a clothing line furnished by TRESemmé professional haircare.

Contents

[edit] Format

Project Runway is hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and judged by a panel that usually includes Klum, American designer Michael Kors, ELLE magazine fashion director Nina Garcia, and a fourth judge - typically a fashion designer (e.g. Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang), critic (Teri Agins of the Wall Street Journal) or model (e.g. Iman), a celebrity (Nicky Hilton, Nancy O'Dell) , or a professional from a related industry. Tim Gunn, Chief Creative Officer for Liz Claiborne Inc, acts as mentor to the designers. Mr. Gunn has proved to be so popular that his role has been expanded. Project Runway takes place in New York City (and a short stop in Paris in Season 3) with designers using a workroom at Parsons School of Design, shopping for materials at a fabrics store in New York's Garment District (usually Mood Designer Fabrics on W. 37th Street — unless the challenge calls for an unusual material or the fabric is provided, as in the Banana Republic challenge from Season 1), and living together at Atlas New York (an apartment building near Parsons).

At the beginning of each challenge, the designers are given the outlines of their assignment, usually to create a garment from non-traditional materials, such as recycled materials (Season 3) or items from a grocery store (Season 1) , or to design for a certain person (such as figure skater Sasha Cohen or Miss USA Tara Conner), corporate fashion line (Banana Republic or Macy's INC), or specialized theme (such as a "cocktail party"). The designers are given a stipend and limited amount of time to finish each garment. Often the designers work independently, although on some challenges contestants must work in teams. Once the deadline is reached, the designers must dress their models and select their hair, make-up, and accessories. Each model walks down the runway, and the garment the contestant made is judged by a panel of judges. The judges then interview the designers and share their opinions before conferring as a group and selecting winning and losing designers. Generally, the loser of each challenge is eliminated from the competition.

Episodes featuring challenges, winners, and eliminations continue until only a small number of designers remain. These finalists are then given 12 weeks and $8000.00 to complete an all-new, 12-piece fashion collection to present for judging at New York's Olympus Fashion Week at Bryant Park. Again the judges—including Klum, Kors, Garcia, and a guest judge—evaluate the collections and select one of the designers as the winner.

Fashion models who work with the designers throughout the season are also in the competition. Each week, as the number of designers dwindles, the number of models is also reduced, with one model remaining at the end. Included in the prize package for the winning model is coverage in the American edition of ELLE magazine, featuring the winning designer's designs as part of his or her prize.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details about results of episodes already aired follow.

[edit] Season 1

Further information: Project Runway (season 1)

In its first season, Project Runway received critical acclaim, including an Emmy nomination for outstanding competitive reality series. Growth in audience popularity was also dramatic from its debut to the season finale, making it a sleeper hit. Project Runway gave Bravo one of its most successful series since Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

The winning designer of the first season was Pennsylvania-based designer Jay McCarroll. As his prize for winning the competition among 12 designers, McCarroll won $100,000, a mentorship with Banana Republic to aid in developing his own fashion label (which he turned down), and display of his work in the American edition of ELLE magazine. The winning model of the first season, selected by McCarroll, was Julia Beynon, who beat out models Jenny Toth (for Kara Saun) and Melissa Haro (for Wendy Pepper).

[edit] Season 2

Further information: Project Runway (season 2)

The series' second season began on December 7, 2005. Following a nationwide search earlier in the year, sixteen designers were chosen as semi-finalists and brought to New York City in June, 2005. After the first challenge, called Road To The Runway, fourteen went on to compete as finalists. The winning designer, Chloe Dao, received $100,000 in seed money to help launch her own line, a one year contract with Designers Management Agency, a 2007 Saturn Sky roadster, a spread in ELLE magazine, and a mentorship with the Banana Republic Design Team. Michael Kors and Nina Garcia returned as judges for the second season. The final judging seat rotated each week, based on the challenge. Tim Gunn, fashion chair at Parsons The New School for Design, returned as a mentor for the designers. The winning model paired with designer Chloe Dao was Grace Kelsey, besting out models Rebecca Holliday (for Daniel Vosovic) and Heather Brown (for Santino Rice), and landed the spread in ELLE Magazine.

Kara Janx, who placed fourth in the competition after having been eliminated in the "Iman Challenge", produced a decoy collection which served as a distraction at Olympus Fashion Week before the finale aired.

[edit] Season 3

Further information: Project Runway (season 3)

Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia, and Michael Kors returned for season three, which began airing on July 12, 2006. Guest judges included Vera Wang, Kate Spade, and Richard Tyler. Season 3 also introduced a new set of sponsors, notably Macy's replacing Banana Republic, in advance of Macy's conversion of former May Company department stores. The episode Road to Runway Season 3 featured casting auditions at Macy's stores.

In this season, designer Keith Michael became the first designer to be asked to leave the show for multiple rule violations. He was found in possession of prohibited pattern-making books and left the production for several hours, during which time he used the Internet. Also, for the first time, all four designers were selected as finalists (Jeffrey Sebelia, Laura Bennett, Ulrike "Uli" Herzner, and Michael Knight), with no decoy collection to serve as a distraction before the finale aired, and allowed to compete at Olympus Fashion Week.

In a "Reunion" episode that aired on October 4, viewers voted Michael Knight as their favorite designer, earning him a $10,000 prize. Contestants and winners from the previous seasons discussed events that occurred throughout the season, watched outtake reels, interviewed the judges about their procedures and decisions, and expressed who they thought would or should win that season.

The season finale aired on October 18, 2006 with Jeffrey Sebelia voted winner by the judges. Winning alongside with designer Sebelia was his model, Marilinda Rivera, edging out models Nazri Segaro (for Ulrike "Uli" Herzner), Camilla Barungi (for Laura Bennett), and Clarissa Anderson (for Michael Knight), to take the coveted ELLE fashion spread.

Jeffrey Sebelia was allowed to continue to Fashion Week despite accusations from fellow competitors that he had outside help finishing his garments. The issue was investigated, and it was determined that he had followed the guidelines and did not violate any rules that would prevent him from continuing in the competition.

[edit] Season 4

This article or section contains information about a scheduled upcoming television program.
It may contain non-definitive information based on commercials, a website or interviews. The information may change as the date of broadcast approaches.

Season 4 of Project Runway has been announced. Tim Gunn will be returning for season 4 of the series saying "Do I have even one iota of a doubt that I'll be back for season four? No. Not one iota." He has been named Chief Creative Officer for Liz Claiborne Inc., leaving his position at Parsons. [1] Locations for casting auditions have been set and auditions will begin in April 2007.

[edit] International versions

[edit] References

  1. ^ Tim Gunn confirms his 'Project Runway' return, show's Parsons return. Reality TV World. Retrieved on February 1, 2007.

[edit] External links

Seasons of Project Runway
Season 1 (December 2004-February 2005) - Official site Season 2 (December 2005-March 2006) - Official site Season 3 (July 2006-October 2006) - Official site
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