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Do Not Tell Me To Go On Project Runway!
By admins | August 14, 2009
(In honor of Project Runway’s long awaited debut on Lifetime we are republishing the below post. This was originally posted in December 2008 but its message still holds true today. Despite our frustrations with some aspects of the show, we will of course be tuning in for the August 20th premiere. And next week we will be live blogging during the EST premiere episode so check it out. Until then, enjoy…)
Inspired by our 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.
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Topics: TV, rant | 6 Comments » 
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August 14th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Wow, I can sooooo relate to this post. If I had a dollar for everyone who has told me that I should try out for Project Runway, or “why don’t you just start your own line”, I would actually have enough money to do so! And it is usually people that haven’t a clue how this industry runs…It’s good to hear someone else say this :)
August 15th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Great great post. I too have answered this question countless times. Look for a retweet from my twitter account: aliciafashiona.
August 15th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
So well said!! Look for a retweet from: aliciafashiona!
August 16th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Stitcd-Well said! Glad you agree.
Alicia-Thanks so much!
August 17th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
ooh darlings, I freak’n love this!
August 18th, 2009 at 1:18 am
Interesting but sadly true. I think If half the people understood the down side and hustle part of this industry they would look at it a little differnt.