Loading ...
« Shopping Discounts For You! | Home | Links à la Mode »
Don’t Tell Me To Go On Project Runway!
By admins | December 17, 2008
In honor of our newest poll, ”What is your favorite guilty pleasure fashiony TV show?” we’ve decided to write about one of our favorites, Project Runway. More specifically, regarding a particular pet peeve we have in relation to that show. You may have been in this same predicament over Thanksgiving or are dreading it in the upcoming holidays, the ever popular question, “Why don’t you tryout for Project Runway?” This question often comes from a well meaning relative back home or an old friend not in the business. It’s a frustrating question only topped by the, “You know, you should just launch your own clothing line” statement. So here are our thoughts on the Project Runway issue:
Project Runway has given the false impression to millions of Americans that becoming a successful designer, or having your own label, is something that can just be awarded to you, like a record contract or extreme makeover. Fashion really doesn’t work that way. It’s an ever evolving business that goes beyond one individual’s talent; it requires business skills, sales contacts, production capabilities, and lots of financial backing. Explaining to somebody not in the business, that 100k to make a line of samples does not beget your own line of designer clothing. Until Project Runway’s prize is, the production and sale of a line, the prize is really in the publicity. This brings us to another irritating issue in the Project Runway question. Why does everyone believe that we all want to be famous? Many designers just want to do good work that fulfills them creatively whether or not their name is on the label. Additionally, even if your desire is for your own label, that does not equate with wanting to be a reality TV star or D-list celebrity. Then of course, there is the question of money. In order to compete in Project Runway you will, no doubt, have to quit your current fashion job just for a chance to win 100k (which with NYC taxes is only about 60k). Giving up a good job and regular salary in the most expensive city in the country is a luxury many NYC fashionistas can not afford to take. Not to mention that, as talented as many of the PR designers have been, moving up in fashion on their own would have certainly been possible. So what real advantage does going on Project Runway provide?
This brings us to our original inspiration, an article in the NY Times the other week featuring the apartment of Project Runway alum Daniel Vosovic. As talented and as famous as Daniel is now, his life and career are not much different than those of us not on reality TV. Daniel is currently a freelance fashion designer, recently designing hotel uniforms, and living with four roommates in a 5k a month Manhattan apt with a typical tiny NYC kitchen (see pictures below). Working in the garment center we spot Project Runway alum working in our buildings at the same kind of jobs we are all struggling through. What about the big winners of PR? Winner Jeffery Sebelia already had his own label Cosa Nostra, before beginning the show. After winning, he used the prize money to pay off some bills and the cost of all that fashion show sampling. He received one order from Fred Segal for 8 pieces, and since he already had his own company and production capability, he was able to deliver. But the prize money was not enough to expand his business or even support him, so he had to take on another designing job. What was his first post PR commission? He is the costume designer for the Bratz dolls. There was also winner Chloe Dao, who before winning PR owned her own boutique in Texas, and after winning, runs her own slightly larger boutique in Texas. What about the larger than life, first ever PR winner, Jay McCarroll? After winning PR, Jay spent the next 2 years basically homeless living with various friends in NYC trying to figure out how the business of fashion actually works. It was only this year that he was finally able to get his clothing made, albeit mostly t-shirts and accessories (not the avant-garde pieces he loved) through an online boutique.
We are not the only ones to see the flaw in Project Runway’s purpose. Who can forget, all the difficulties they had last season recruiting enough talent to compete on the show. All around NYC they were begging for designers to tryout but most preferred to keep their jobs. So next time somebody says, “You are so fashionable, you should go on Project Runway.” Just say, “Thanks, but I’d rather work in fashion than be a reality TV star” and then hand them a copy of this article.
**Don’t forget to visit our forum, and share your rants and raves with us**
Here is more related scoop;
Topics: TV, designers, fashion industry, fashion shows, garment center | 25 Comments » 
Email This Post
December 17th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Thanks a lot for this again.
It’s very educational for amateaur people like me to know what do people in the industry really think of these kind of subjects. it really opens your eyes and make you think that things in fashion and clothing businnes are not as easy as everyone believes. it makes you work harder and be better.
December 18th, 2008 at 7:37 am
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”! [...]
December 18th, 2008 at 9:40 am
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”! [...]
December 18th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I think of this every time someone on the show talks about winning as it will actually change there career. That’s just not true. It takes so much to be able to make a living as a designer, a well know name is not what’s most important.
December 18th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”! [...]
December 18th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
great article. PR isnt quite the cinderella fairy tale it seems. It is really good with getting publicity i think. but for the designers that arent as talented, it’s for them to become some sort of celebrity.
i really hope christian really focuses on designing because it would be a waste of an enormous talent
December 18th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”! [...]
December 19th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Great article!.
December 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
this is a great article. I have been working in the industry for over 20 years, starting out with my own contemporary collection, and now own a private label clothing company. I have NEVER watched even one episode of project runway…
December 19th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Thank you for this great article. I’m sending this to all my friends and family who think my job (independent designer) is easy. I’ll also take your suggestion and print out a few copies to hand over to those well meaning people who suggest I apply to PR.
December 19th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”! [...]
December 19th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”! [...]
December 19th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Aw,thanks everbody! We figured we weren’t the only ones who felt this way about PR.
For anybody who has tried to use our “email to a friend” function, after last week’s platform upgrade it stopped working. Until we can fix this, just copy the link,sorry.
December 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
BRILLLLIRANT !!
December 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on [...]
December 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Oh my goodness – I get this ALL the time! It’s so frustrating trying to explain all the little details to people who think that you can just design a couple of outfits and go to the top. Yeah right. lol. ;)
Great post! So nice to hear some of this exposed!
http://www.amandabethonline.blogspot.com
December 21st, 2008 at 1:49 am
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on [...]
December 21st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Very cool blog!
December 21st, 2008 at 5:36 pm
This was such an interesting article; I do watch it sometimes.just to see how much I disagree with the judges!
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”! [...]
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Very enlightening article! It’s the same with ANTM, like where did all those pretty winners go? Even with the exposure these shows give, they aren’t enough sometimes to make it “big”, which is unfortunate.
December 26th, 2008 at 2:37 am
i think this is the flaw of most reality tv contests; they lack that realistic element to over simplify everything, as if all a designer has to do is work hard and have the talent/great ideas and then, voila, they win! ha! that said, i do watch pr for the drama the characters create. i also rememeber in one of the reunion shows like a year after jay mccarroll had won (he didn’t take the prizes) he talked about everyone asking when his collection would debut or when he’d put on a show and he was frustrated about how people don’t really get the rest of the process. I can’t find the quote, but he explained how he wanted to be the one behind the designs and the construction details, and choosing the materials, and making sure his clothes weren’t being made by children in third-world countries and (as i was also watching this with a rather cluseless-about-the-fashion-industry friend) i think it sort of underscored the whole supply chain/logistics/sourcing element of producing apparel, not to mention finding the money to make all that happen because it’s so, so, sooo much more than being inspired by something, sitting around sketching out ideas, and then picking out fabric. but even before pr we have to admit of course, that the fashion industry’s “glamorous” reputation doesn’t help matters…
March 26th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – What really happens to Project Runway alumni and why we are sick of hearing, “You should go on Project Runway”! [...]
November 19th, 2009 at 2:08 am
i get disturbed watching that show and somewhat upset. watching people’s struggles as entertainment is a bit harsh even for my sometimes jaded heart. though i think i’ve only seen 2 episodes.
January 13th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
i get disturbed watching that show and somewhat upset.