15x00 - Road to the Runaway

[bunniefuu]

♪ ♪

TIM GUNN: Welcome to New York
City and Project Runway's

Season 15.

This is the Road to the Runway.

We're about to reveal exactly
what the designers go through

to make it here,
to this very stage.

It takes talent and tenacity

to secure a coveted spot
on Project Runway.

But what you may not realize

is that the journey to get here
is almost as challenging

as making it
to New York Fashion Week.

The selection process begins

with a nationwide casting call

where thousands of aspiring
fashion designers

submit their portfolios
and home videos.

I eat, breathe, [bleep]
fashion every day.

Just having the idea
of Project Runway

has pushed me so much
as an artist.

I'm here to push some boundaries

and I'm here to take you on a
ride that you've never expected.

From there,
the most promising designers

are invited to audition
before a panel of judges.

-How you doin'?
-Hello.

Even after 15 seasons,

there's no shortage of
amazing talent out there.

This is my army behind me.

Picking just 16 designers
can be tough.

Our judges have their work
cut out for them.

Thankfully, there are moments
of pure comic relief.

-DESIGNER: Hi.
-Hi.

I make my living
designing dog clothes.

-Wow. -What is the biggest
challenge right now, for you?

With this show, or just in life?

[laughs quietly]

Is wearability
ever a concern?

[laughter]

How do I even put that on?

-Over here, Britney.
-Why would I put that on?

Happily, on the opposite end
of that spectrum

were 16 gifted designers
who were over the moon

to find out
that they made the show.

Here are a few
of their reactions.

PRODUCER:
You've been cast on the show.

Oh, my... oh, oh...

Okay. Wow. Great!

PRODUCER: You're gonna be on
Project Runway Season 15.

Shut the [bleep] up. [laughs]

[stifled laughter]

[laughing]:
Oh, God!

That's amazing!

No!

Oh, my God, are you serious?

Today has been
the best day of my life!

Their excitement
is so contagious!

First up, designers
with a healthy dose

of unbridled enthusiasm.

♪ ♪

NATHALIA:
I try not to compare myself.

It's better to stand out.

♪ ♪

My name's Nathalia Jeronimo
Magalhaes,

but I go by Nathalia JMag.

I was born in Colombia

and I came to Framingham
when I was seven.

I get inspired by the future:

What will someone be wearing,

like, five years from now?

I'm gonna ask you
to pick two pieces

off your rack that really
define who you are.

I love using faux fur.

I like doing outerwear
and doing hoods

and I like doing, like,

a little bit of a mohawk
when I do fur.

This represents me as a designer

because
it's a zero-waste garment.

Can you explain what
"zero-waste" is?

Zero-waste is you-you use the
whole entire piece of fabric.

For me, it's really important
to create a brand

that's sustainable.
I like designing

menswear and womenswear,
but I like to take

a unisex take on it.

I love using clear plastic.

I like doing rain jackets.

And you can still see your
outfit underneath it, right?

-Yeah. Yeah.
-Mm-hmm. -[chuckles]

So I also like the whole, like,
take on, like, being nude

-but not really being nude.
-Mm-hmm.

-Like this mesh jumpsuit.
-Mm-hmm.

So I usually have
the models wear, like,

a nude... nude shorts
and nude bra.

JUDGE: Where does the passion
come from?

I want to create, like,
a fashion empire.

I want to make the world
a better place.

I want my brand to be, like, an
eco-conscious brand that, like,

helps people,
cares about their...

its employees, cares about
the Earth and animals

and, like, I want to die
and I want it to still be here.

I love animals.
I'm a vegetarian.

But if it really came down to it

and my client was like,
"You need to use real fur,"

I would make sure
that it came from, like,

an animal that was hit
on the side of the road...

and that, like, you know, it
wasn't k*lled for that purpose.

Overall, the whole package

is very impressive

and I'm gonna say yes.

I think you have a very strong
point of view.

You're wearing it.

I like you
and your blue lipstick.

I think you're a firecracker.

I love your energy and...

[laughter]

I got a designer in Boston
that, like,

goes and finds it, so...
[laughs]

I got you with that jacket.

What's up?

I'm Erin Robertson for
Project Runway Season 15.

Welcome to Cambridge.
Come on in.

♪ ♪

Originally from Provo, Utah,
but I live

in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
right...

right in Central Square.

How are you guys?

Tell us about your work.

Pardice is wearing

my most recent work.

In the Pacific Ocean, there's,
like, all this plastic trash,

'cause plastic never goes away,

and I wanted to make clothes,
but then also be able to

reach an audience, so--

and I think
that fashion is, like,

a really great way to do that.

This is laser-cut

New York Times bags.
I ironed them

and I laser-cut them
in the shape of coral.

And this is to sort of show,

like, live coral
and then bleached coral.

-Very cool.
-ERIN: It's pretty,

and then there's also
this kind of darkness to it.

I grew up in, like,
a Mormon family.

Growing up in Utah,

it's a hardcore bubble,

so there's a lot
of these things

that I was taught growing up.

Not being ignorant.

Like, being powerful
as a female.

My mom was like,
"Please, like,

get out of Utah.
Don't get knocked up."

She wanted us to, like,
see things outside of Utah.

My dad was living in Boston,

so he got me out-- saved me.

PRODUCER:
Describe your design aesthetic.

I like texture.

I do like to add in, like,
that element

of humor into my work.

Whether it be,
like, very obviously

humorous or if
it's just kind of like...

like, whimsical.

So I do like color.

I think that's one of...
definitely one of

my, like, stronger points.

Bananas. I love them.

The sluttiest outfit.
No, I'm just kidding.

I think I would probably wear
the Paul & Joe.

This looks really great
under skin, but it's polite.

On a Saturday night,

the shortest shorts
and the highest heels.

I love this jumpsuit.

I like to layer it, belt it.

The drama.

I work with a painter,
and this is

laser-cut leather
and then she painted on it

and then we put it on top
of this leather foil.

And then I wove the sleeves

and she did these
naughty sketches.

And this was
the-the same artist.

This is from a painting
that she did

and then I put the pattern
into Illustrator

and then I lined up
where it could be printed.

I really like

your use of textures
and materials

from more formal, traditional,

to kind of crazy,
over-the-top sarcastic.

I love it.
I'm gonna say yes.

-Yes.
-[laughter]

[clicks tongue]

Hi, I'm Sarah Donofrio,
from Portland, Oregon.

♪ ♪

My aesthetic,
it's fun without being

impractical or over-the-top.
Like, almost like

an edgy basic.
I'm all about practicality.

Um, and it's also about
the way you style it.

You're a fast talker,
aren't you?

-Yeah, yeah.
-Is that the nerves, or...?

This is kind of, like,
a job interview, but not really,

so I don't know, really,
where to start.

Let's talk about your work.
Pull out your favorite piece

-that you brought us.
-This dress, here.

I also do tex...
like, textile design.

That is a commercial piece.

Oh.

-This...
-SARAH: Yeah.

-...is fantastic,
-Thank you.

...because this is
a runway piece.

-Yeah. Okay.
-That is not.

I... sweat profusely,
'cause I'm Mediterranean.

If somebody else
is being mean to me,

that's when I'm like,
"Ah! Go away! Stop it!"

Maybe a little crying, but...
Positivity journaling.

Writing calms me down, so...

"Dear Diary,
Today somebody said

-that my work was commercial."
-Commercial... commercial...

commercial... commercial...
commercial...

People saying I'm commercial:

I think it's a good thing,
because I can see, like,

what sells and what people
want to wear every day

so I know how to sort of

fine-tune garments to make them

translatable.

So now we're coming
to my studio,

which is my favorite part
of the house.

The one thing I love
about this space

is that everything
is in one place.

This is my husband, Brandon,
and my son, Grizzly.

They tolerate me
and all of my, uh,

creative messes
on a daily basis.

Let's see those jeans.

Yeah. I love bright colors.

-Um, I love prints.
-I like you a lot. -Yeah.

-Okay. [laughs] -I think you're
wacky, but you are great.

I, personally, would like to see

what you have to do from here.

-Mm-hmm.
-Good luck, Sarah.

-Thank you.
-Okay.

I like her.
Technical skills.

Did you hear
the way she was talking?

Like, she has a million things
going on in her head at once.

-Oh, yes.
-She's great.

I was at work.
My phone vibrated.

And he told me...
I was like, "Huh?

"Huh?

-Are you [bleep] kidding me?"
-[producer chuckles]

I said, "Oh..."

I can't... Ah!"

This is my destiny.

This is my life, okay?

I'm not gonna put it on hold.

And I don't know
how to drive a car,

but I know how to drive life.

-Tell us about yourself.
-I'm a dad

-and I'm a fashion designer.
-Yes! -[chuckles]

I've been designing
since I was 11 years old.

Taught myself how to sew.

So my first piece is...

it's kind of like a vest.

It's yellow burlap

with treated denim and ivory.

My wife is my model,
so I had to make

everything in her size.

JUDGE:
Is your wife your muse?

MAH-JING:
Yes, my wife is my muse.

We've been together
for eight years.

-We just tight like glue.
-[judges laugh]

PRODUCER: Describe your
aesthetic in a sentence.

MAH-JING:
I love making women sexy.

I love... denim is
my secret weapon.

This is another dress.
I call it the Apron Dress.

Zipped down the front for
a little cleavage to play with.

What's the fabric?

This is denim. Pink denim.

Mah-Jing's about the denim.

Yeah, I'm all about the denim.

Like, the pink is so good.

So if you go with that
and try different silhouettes,

that would groundbreaking,
good for your customers

-and respect in the industry.
-Okay.

All right, I understand
what you guys are saying.

PRODUCER: So tell me what
yesterday was like for you.

I thought I was going home.

I said, "Well, I'm gonna try
again next year."

And then I got stopped
in the hallway

and they told me
to come in today.

I was like...

"Oh, my... oh, my God!

Yeah, yeah, yes! Yes! Yes."

I have so much riding on
the experience.

My daughter...
we watch the show.

She said, "Daddy, you're gonna
make it on that show

"and you're gonna make me
a beautiful dress

"and I'm gonna walk down that
runway just like that model.

Go, girl!"

Now I have another generation
that's looking up to me.

What am I gonna do?

I have to show her
you go for your dream.

You never give up.

Up next:
they own their own business

and they mean business.

In a competition,
there's no time for consoling.

Every minute
that I'm spending with you

is another minute that I could
be putting in a seam.

And later,
what doesn't k*ll you

makes you stronger.

Never in a million years

thought I'd be able to sit here,

that I was even worthy enough
to be here.

Welcome back
to Project Runway Season 15.

This is the Road to the Runway.

You might wonder
why Project Runway

is such an invaluable experience

for already established
designers.

The answer is simple:

the show gives them
the chance to gain exposure

and, if they win,
increase their cash flow.

Meet this season's
heavy hitters:

♪ ♪

Roberi, why don't you
tell us about yourself?

I'm from Caracas, Venezuela.

I went to Central St. Martin
school in London to study.

Do you have a job day to day?

Or are you designing full-time?

Actually, back home,

I had a job.

I had a very large studio

in the center of the financial
district in Caracas,

and the situation in Venezuela

became very difficult to live
and I got

robbed in my... in my studio,
three times.

I had to close up my workshop

and sell all my materials

and came here with two bucks.

And I'm starting here,

um, on a... artist visa.

Pick your favorite thing
that you brought us.

My favorite, for me,
is this piece.

This piece I've been doing
for quite a long time.

Back in Venezuela, we don't have
expensive materials

and I had to make something

with scratches of fabrics.

Wow.

-Yes.
-That's cool.

When I received the notification

about "you have been selected
for an interview,"

I was like,
"Oh, come on, that's amazing!"

Oh, my God! [laughs]

But also was...
what I'm going to do?

I don't have much here

and I'm living
in a very little couch

with my friend in Miami.

Can we see the navy and orange?

ROBERI:
You need Windex to wear this.

[laughter]

All the lace is sewn by hand,

because I think is...
it deserve to be sewn by hand.

I have this piece.

And... it is a beautiful dress.

I just love this kind
of bulk, uh, silhouette

with very utilitarian aspects.
Yeah.

You're my favorite person

I've ever seen come in here.

And if you're ever in New York,

please come by
the Marie Claire office

and bring your stuff,
'cause we would love to see it.

Um, it's a huge yes for me.

-Thank you.
-I love your work.

-Thank you.
-I especially love you

and the way you approach
your work.

-That's it?
-Yep.

-Ah!
-[laughter]

I was very nervous!

-[laughter] -Don't be nervous.
-No, you're good.

PRODUCER:
Could you win Project Runway?

I completely see myself
winning it, yes.

I'm in America.

This is where
everything is possible.

This is an amazing opportunity,

to-to just show
what I'm able to do,

what I'm capable to do.

♪ ♪

Hello. My name is Rik

and this is Project Runway
Season 15.

We are in Los Angeles,
California.

Welcome to the Utiliae.

This is the showroom/workspace.

It's a live/work loft.

This is where all
the production happens.

These two machines
are actually vintage.

They were from my grandmother,

passed down from my grandmother
to my aunt and given to me.

I kind of grew up with it.

One of my aunts did lots of,
like, bridal wear, beading,

and so we would go, like, to the
swap meet when I was younger.

When I was younger, I would
always play with the machines.

I would make, like, toys.

I would make little pillowcases
for my trolls

and sleeping bags for them;
use my cars on them.

I never really had a choice.
It was kind of something

that was always in me, I guess.

I auditioned, like,

five years ago, as well.

I was barely starting off
as a designer

and really didn't know
who I was.

And now... I've been working

in the business
for five years now,

doing my own label, so I think

I've learned a lot since then.

What I've been making
right now...

It's kind of like this
army kind of, uh,

redone surplus stuff.

So this is a old Army bag

that we kind of just transformed
into a Army jacket.

-Who's we?
-Me.

-Okay.
-[chuckles]

We don't want to say "me" or "I"

so I just say "we."

This was part of

the first runway show
that I've ever did.

It's based on the dollar bill,

which was... the collection
was called "Are You the One?"

My girl?

She is... the girl that wants
to dress like a boy,

for the most part,
and be comfortable.

But then she's also
very sexy at night.

This is, like, another... kind
of like a b*mber parachute

that we... "we"... did.

Some more of, like,
the reconstructed

Levi's 501 denim.

So everything's
a little conceptual.

It's always, in the end,
very wearable.

-I love it. -Thank you.
-[laughter]

It can go high-end
red carpet Grammys or

-everyday street wear.
-Yeah.

I actually want to buy, like,

everything on that rack.

-[laughter]
-It's very, very cool.

Um, I'm just gonna say yes.

-That's it?
-That's it. -Yes.

PRODUCER:
Give me, in a sentence,

"I could win Project Runway
because..."

RIK:
I do have the talent.

And I've kind of been doing this
for a long time

business-wise and...
[sniffs]

You know, I think it's time.

♪ ♪

Oh, my God,
he has three lines

and owns his own
manufacturing company.

Hi, my name is Alex Snyder.

Why don't we start with
your favorite piece

-that you brought today?
-It's this one.

This one's kind of a really
personal one for me.

Um, the print is actually
from my tattoo.

I've always been inspired
by the art of dressing,

so I've always had this

eye for elegance with a little
bit of something rebellious.

I did try out once before

and Tim Gunn told me
that I was half-baked.

I didn't take it lightly.

So I ended up
going back to school

finished my Associate's,
my BFA.

I'm receiving my MFA.

I teach now
and I own a business.

So I've laid out
some of the things

that I absolutely love to wear.

I like really
minimal stuff on me,

and this is one of
my basic outfits

that I like to do: a T-shirt,

a great vest
and a great pair of jeans.

And this is one of my favorite,
favorite jackets.

It was made in London.

It's absolutely
beautifully tailored

and fits really nicely.

It's great for a good night out.

However, because I have two

-stunningly beautiful cats
-[cat meows]

cat hair gets all over,
so needless to say,

I have 3,000 of these
around the house.

[cat meows]

I'm very, very,
very temperamental,

but I don't cry.

When other people cry,

part of me wants to console,
but in a competition,

there's no time for consoling.

Every minute that
I'm spending with you

is another minute that I could
be putting in a seam.

And it's not
that I'm heartless.

I mean, everybody likes
to call me heartless,

but it's, like,
feel bad for two minutes

and then I'll snap right back

and execute.

-Is that linen?
-Uh, yes.

It's almost like a waxed linen.

And I kind of fell
in love with it,

'cause it has just
this little bit of...

Are those little, like, darts

-at the hem there.
-It just kind of pulls back.

So it's actually just
one piece of fabric.

-Very cool.
-It's really cool.

-Yeah, cool.
-I had fun with this one.

-Mm-hmm. -Everything on
your rack is so you.

-You're a very,
very thoughtful designer. -Yes.

-Thank you.
-This is very fresh. Yeah.

-So there you go.
-I love this front dress.

-It's my favorite one.
-It's beautiful.

It tells your story.

-That's great.
-Yeah. That's me in a dress.

[laughter]

-Thank you.
-Okay.

-Thank you so much.
-Good luck, Alex.

Up next, what doesn't k*ll you

makes you stronger.

Never in a million years

thought I'd be able to sit here,

that I was even worthy
enough to be here.

And later, you don't necessarily
need formal training

to win Project Runway.

Sometimes, experience
is in the "jeans."



Welcome back to
the Road to the Runway,

Project Runway's Season 15
casting special.

Sometimes, life has
a way of interfering

with our best-laid plans.

But these resilient designers

refused to let setbacks
stand in the way

of realizing their dreams.

Here are their stories.

♪ ♪

KIMBER:
Hi.

I'm Kimberly
and this is New York City.

♪ ♪

I'm originally
from Houston, Texas...

but I moved to New York City
three years ago

to come to school
for fashion design.

So let's, uh, talk about
what you brought us.

KIMBER:
I did a shibori

dying technique,
the Japanese dying technique.

This is, like, so free.

I gave it pockets and just...

Every woman sometimes, is like,

"I don't want
to pack a bag today."

I just felt really good
about this piece.

I did the same thing...

I'm a girly girl,
but I'm a tomboy at times.

I really wanted something that
I could still feel like a girl

but still put on my kicks

-and just leave the house...
-I love the weight of it.

-That's suede, right?
-Yeah, can I touch that?

I'm going to Coachella this
weekend and I want this.

[laughter]

My grandmother and my mom,

both of them were seamstresses,

and I've always loved fashion.

I've always been into it.

But I ended up...
getting pregnant,

being a young mom,

gettin' married,

and I was at home one day
and I told my kids,

I was like, "You know,
soon as you guys graduate,

I'm leavin'."
And they were like,

"Are you serious?"
And I was, like, "Yes, why not?"

You know? It was like,
it went so quick.

I graduated December the 18th.

This is where...

I make it all happen.

PRODUCER: What would
Project Runway do for you?

It would make my kids say,

"That's my mom on TV"

and I feel good and...

I'm the type of person
that I believe

you can only stop yourself.

Here's a couple of things

that I'm gonna take with me
to Project Runway.

These pants are definitely
going with me,

because I think you should
always be street chic.

This is probably one of the
ugliest skirts in the world,

but I so love it.

Boom. This is me.

All day, every day,
even on Sunday.

-For me, it's a definite yes.
-Yeah. -Same.

Ha!

I took care of my kids,

so now, I've lived

all my life for them.

It's time to live
my life for me.

♪ ♪

PRODUCER:
Linda Marcus.

-JUDGE: Hi, Linda.
-Hi, how are you?

-Welcome back.
-Welcome back.

Thank you.
Thank you for having me.

Give us a little refresher.

A little refresher.
I've been sewing

like a crazy person
for the last year.

I've done a lot of
kind of self-reflection.

You can see it in my clothing.

The first couple things
I'll show you

are about androgyny.

This is a dress/shirt

for both a man and a woman.

And the same thing goes for

this tie and shirt that I did.

Earlier in the year,

I was doing more things with

drop waist pants with a cute
little b*mber kind of jacket.

PRODUCER:
And so where do you think that

that kind of intuitive cool
came from?

Well, I...
Born and raised in L.A.

If you look at my stuff
closely,

it's always got a little bit of

an L.A. vibe to it.

Linda, how do
your daughters feel

about you pursuing your dream?

-They love it.
-Yeah?

They love it.

I don't know if you guys

remember my story,

but I gave up my career

as a newscaster
to raise my family.

It's so hard, when you are
doing a job that you love,

and then all of a sudden,

boom, there's a kid.

I had to give up what I loved
to raise the people

I love.
I went from an audience of

a quarter of a million
to an audience of two.

And my husband would call

and he's like, "How's it going?"

I go, "Well, I got spit-up
on my back

and I haven't taken a shower."

I don't want to discourage you
from having kids!

Now they're 19, 17 and 14

and they're just like,
"Mom, go for it!"

So...

I am very proud of you

for sharing your voice
and you continue to do so

in a very strong, confident way.

And I'm going to say yes today.

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

-[laughs] -And I agree.
-[choked up]: Thank you so much.

-You have no idea.
-You're gonna make me cry.

I don't cry very often.
That's the funny part.

-You're gonna mess up my makeup.
-Yeah, I know.

Thank you very much.

♪ ♪

Hi, I'm Latasha.

And welcome to beautiful
Savannah, Georgia.

This is where I live.

Everybody call me their mama.

Mama T, Mama T, 'cause I'm
the one giving the advice.

'Cause I'm-I'm so
straightforward with people,

and they feel like if I ask her,

she's going
to tell me the truth.

I'm fixing people clothes,

getting stuff out their hairs.

Hey, your fly is down--
zipping it up.

Latasha Henderson.

-Hey, y'all.
-[both]: Hey.

-Hey, Wendell.
-You brought your crew again.

Yep. And these are cupcakes

-for my other looks on there.
-Oh. -Oh, man.

Oh, look what she brought us.

-This is my army behind me.
-[laughter]

Start with your favorite.

Uh, I hand-painted this jacket.

Um, I actually made this
from scratch.

-This is canvas material.
-Awesome. I love that coat.

-That's cool. That's cool.
-She's pregnant, by the way.

My aesthetic is more

of the arts in street wear.

Speaking for
the everyday people.

JUDGE: He tells me you have
a pretty hard backstory.

Yeah, I do.

Um, I've been homeless.

Me and my husband
trying to live

out our dreams, moving to L.A.

Having to sleep out of a car.

Dennis, my husband,

has been there for me,

[voice breaking]:
and he has not left my side.

-You like making me cry.
-[producer laughing]

And he helps me sew, sometimes.

This is his original artwork.

A lot of my inspiration

for my designs
comes from that.

And this is the outfit
that I will wear

going out with one
of my friends,

so I have to look cute
and be comfortable,

'cause everybody likes
to walk me to death.

I've been really strong
with menswear.

That's just a little
blown-out knee.

-Is that a finished vent?
-Mm-hmm.

It's awesome. I-I love it.

Um, it's a moleskin,
collarless jacket.

And moleskin jogger.

PRODUCER:
And when you win,

is there like, a...

Girl, I'm doing the Nay Nay.

I'm doing the Dougie.

And then I'll want
to hug everybody.

I want to give her a hug.
She's being so nice.

JUDGE: I also love that you're
such a positive person.

Don't let anybody ever take
that away from you.

Never in a million years thought
I'd be able to sit here,

that I was even worthy enough
to be here.

And I said I wasn't going
to cry today.

[laughing]

Coming up,
you don't necessarily need

formal training
to win Project Runway.

Sometimes experience
is in the "jeans."

-100% free and super stylish.
-And later,

feisty and talented--
two necessary traits

to make it in the unforgiving
world of fashion design.

My pants might be made
for a rock star,

your pants might be made

for an average Midwestern girl.

Welcome back.
This is the Road to the Runway

for Project Runway,
season 15.

Sesame Street Muppet
Kermit the Frog

may not be a designer,

in fact,
I have it on good authority

that he doesn't
even wear clothes,

but he can relate
to our next group

of up-and-coming designers
in a completely different way.

♪ ♪

Giddyap, boy.

Giddyap, boy.

Hey, guys, what's up?
I'm Brik Allen,

and welcome to Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

I'm here to show you my home,
so come on in.

-[pig snorting]
-Piggy Sue!

Piggy.

-Come here, Piggy.
[pig snorts]

Piggy, come on.

Come on, Piggy.

So this is my studio/bedroom,

or creative laboratory,
if you will.

It's where all
the magic happens.

I really like working
with denim.

I like denim
because it's everywhere.

To make a nice pair

of re-purposed jeans.



PRODUCER:
Hold that in front of your face.

BRIK: I'm originally
from Baton Rouge,

and I've been living
in New Orleans

for about three years now.

I moved to New Orleans

and did makeup
and saved up money,

and then quit my job,
'cause I was like,

"This isn't what I'm supposed
to be doing."

And I used that money
and bought fabric,

and was like, "I'm going
to make a collection."

This is your first collection?

Yes,
this is my first collection.

Let's start with your favorite.

I really love
this denim bolero.

It's my take on like a,
a modern matador.

And it's paired with
this, like,

high-waist pant.

I don't do the whole
frilly, girly thing.

My girl is more intrigued
by intelligence.

Like, her idea of sexy isn't
wearing something revealing,

it's more about being
put-together,

and feeling strong
and confident.

This is like a drapery fabric,

and I've burnt out the squares,

and then hand-stitched
all of them,

to where it, like,
covers the nip,

and the, the little cranny
back here.

[laughter]

And then the frontal fanny.

It's all taken care of.

What would one wear
under that?

Nothing, just one of those

-little thong-y things, like...
-[laughter]

-Little thong-y things.
-Yeah.

Me, I think, like,
you deserve to be on it.

I think you have the talent.

-Thank you.
-For me it's a yes.

I like a good Southern
point of view,

and I think the show
always needs that.

You're technically very,
very strong,

and you have some very
interesting ideas.

Hey, thank y'all so much.
I'm excited.

My name is Jenni Riccetti,
and this is my roommate, Pico.

We're going to show you our
house in San Francisco.

This is where I spend a lot
of my free time.

One of my hobbies is to sketch
and illustrate.

It's a meditative process
for me, and with that

I like to look out at the city.

I have an amazing view.

You look adorable.
Let me see those nails.

Pretty.

Is this one of your designs?

This is one of my pieces
that I'm wearing.

I did do a little photo sh**t,

so you can kind of see
how the garments are worn.

-I like the textile a lot.
-Mm-hmm.

It's a wool/poly blend.

You should touch it.

-It's kind of cool.
-Yeah.

Did you go to school for this,
or are you self-taught?

I'm self-taught,
as far as my sewing abilities.

-Mm-hmm.
-I did end up

going to school
for fashion design.

I'm trying not to laugh.
It's a...

it's a nervous thing of mine.

It sounds like a dying whale.

Like if I start laughing...

-I think you should.
-[laughing]

There.

I'm into the whole...

documenting my outfit
of the day,

and I kind of blog it,

so the mirror is a huge portion
of that.

Sometimes you can get
kind of low.

My style is very simple,
minimalistic, street style.

I like to have
the pop of color.

And the other part of me

is obsessed
with chunky textures.

This is my little
b*mber jacket.

I'm super-excited
about this one.

It's a little
Instagram boutique-y.

And I think that your
color palettes

-are really on trend...
-Mm-hmm.

but they can come across
kind of basic.

-Okay.
-I love this piece.

It is, by far, my favorite.

I do like you, and I think

that there is a romance
to your work.

PRODUCER:
You have been cast on the show.

[gasps]

What?

No.

Wait.

Wait like two seconds.

[laughing]

Dad.
[Jenni laughing]

Okay.

PRODUCER:
Congratulations.

Thank you so much.

[laughing]

Ian Hargrove.

I'm a firstborn son,

and I have, like, a serious
Napoleon complex.

Hi.

I, like,
have to make myself heard,

like, very often.

Tell us about yourself.

I'm definitely not
a shrinking violet.

My first time applying
for Project Runway.

Um, I've been designing
for seven years.

I never have been
a scholastic person.

Like, I'll teach myself
all of these skills.

And, I mean,
YouTube was like a lifesaver.

We did like this,
and it's hand-cut.

This is the lining;
it's double-face.

This is actually based
on an albino peacock.

Aesthetically,
I like kind of simple.

This is gold scuba.

And I'm like kind of obsessed
with this, like, Olsen Twin,

like, super slouchy and big.

My personal style is, like,
pajamas meets, like,

old man meets little kid,

if that makes sense.

-It does make sense, yeah.
-Yeah.

Let me show you some stuff
that I like to wear.

This is like my go-to, like,
wedding or New Year's blazer.

Plaid is awesome.

I have a thing for unicorns,

so my baby sister
bought me a unicorn onesie.

The hood has a unicorn face
on it.

Really can't go wrong with that.

Probably wear it on the runway,

just to be like ironic and fun.

And I'm, like,
pretty impatient.

I don't know, people that don't
have a sense of urgency,

like, drive me up a wall.

Like, glacial pace, like,
I don't understand it.

I'm sort of easily annoyed.

I also have a very foul mouth.

I like print mixing.

T-shirt--
very, very comfortable.

Really easy, breezy.

We're having a lot of fun
looking at your clothes.

Your love for what you do

really translates
through your clothes.

-It's fun without being
gimmicky. -Cool.

Like, your coat that you're
wearing right now...

-Yeah, the back, can we see.
-Awesome.

-Yeah.
-We love that.

-That is so cool.
-"Now or never."

Weather's beautiful.
I think I'm going to jump in,

so I'll see you guys
on Project Runway.

Up next, feisty and talented,

two necessary traits
to make it

in the unforgiving world
of fashion design.

My pants might be made
for a rock star.

Your pants might be made

for a average Midwestern girl.

And later, 16 designers
in less than four minutes.

Your final recap
before Project Runway

season 15 begins.

Welcome back to Project
Runway's casting special,

the Road to the Runway.

You're about to meet
a group of designers

who are in it to win it.

They're gifted,
they're determined,

and they're... friendly, as long
as you don't get in their way.

♪ ♪

PRODUCER:
Gorgeous.

I've been practicing.

My name is Corey Ortiz,

but I also go by Cornelius.

The regular Corey,
who's a little bit basic,

but when Cornelius comes in,
he comes in.

I design women's ready-to-wear
clothing,

and I like to segment
my outfits,

so I call myself
The Segmentator.

I rip them apart and I pull them
back together.

So, you know, I'm here to...

turn it up.

And I'm really, really

into Japanese cutting now.

W-we're gonna ask you to pick
just two things on the rack

that you think are
your strongest work.

This one right here.

So, you have that Japanese
cutting where it eliminates

the seam lines to create

new ones, and then we have some

cutting here with a little bit
of gathering,

and then you also have, like,
this awesome...

Faux hood. Yeah.
[laughs]

Hey, guys.

Welcome to my home
in Worcester, Massachusetts.

This is my family room.

This is where I usually do
most of my sewing.

I'm really big into
Japanese cutting,

so I do a lot
of studying here.

I also have
my butterfly, 'cause I like

my people to be very majestic.

Um, there's, like,
a little hidden pocket

that you can put
your hand inside.

-Did you make that fabric?
-[laughter]

They're actually two different
fabrics put together.

My best friend,
um, would probably say

that I am [bleep] crazy.

[high-pitched]:
Cornelius, watch your mouth!

Why should you be
on Project Runway?

Honestly, because this out...

It speaks for itself.

I'm pretty fabulous
at what I do.

You definitely command a room,
you know what I mean?

Like you stand out.

In the beginning,
I wanted to be a doctor,

uh, a surgeon, actually,

so moving into, like,
fashion design

-it's literally...
-Just cut different things.

Cut it up and put it
back together

and, bam, voilà!

[laughs]
I will win

the competition,
and I'm just here for myself,

so at the end of the day, we can
make friends and we can be cool

with people,
but... it's all about me.

LAURENCE:
Hello.

My name is Laurence Basse.

I'm 41 years old.

Bienvenue à mon château.

I am from Rouen, Normandy.

I've been a fashion designer
for officially three years.

Laurence Basse.

So, I work a lot
with leather.

Do you guys want me to show you
the clothes or...

-Yes, please.
-Yes. -LAURENCE: Okay.

I made this little baby
here last night.

I decided last night that
I wasn't gonna sleep.

-[laughter]
-So, this is, um...

it's like tapestry.
I can use this for, like,

um...

Upholstery?

Thank you very much.

I wasn't a runway girl 'cause
I'm only five-eight.

My first show, I was right
behind Kate Moss.

I was like, "Yeah!"
She's a little smaller than me.

I was doing magazines.

I did Cosmo.

I did French Elle.

I was doing Essence a lot.

I did first
makeup campaign for IMAN.

People think that I'm a model

that became a designer.

Yeah.

I think I was born to do this.

This is Miss Victoria.
My big baby.

She's 24,

and that right here
is my little boo.

Mr. Marley.
He's six years old.

This one right here,
the request from my son.

He wanted his little

jacket, so I made him
his little leather jacket.

He can wear anywhere
but not to go to school

because he always forgets
his jacket there.

So, this is a leather tank.

Can I see that up close?

Yes, of course.

BRADON:
Beautiful.

I love this aesthetic.

-The jackets are gorgeous.
-Thank you.

I think everything
looks so expensive.

-Thanks.
-Like, I would buy everything

on that rack.

Um, I'm just gonna tell you yes.

[laughs]
Cut!

See you on Project Runway
season 15.

Peace out.

Hey, guys.
Welcome to

Oakland, California.

I'm Dexter.

This is Cheeks.

This is what a living room
looks like.

Come on in.

[humming, laughing]

My love is more like

the avant-garde and doing things
that are a little bit more like

performance art.
Love me some Grace Jones.

-Dexter Simmons.
-I have no

delusions of grandeur, wanting
to become a famous person.

I just want a job.
[laughs]

I want a job and I want to work

in my industry and be able
to make cool [bleep].

So, let's talk about, uh, the
looks that you brought us today.

This is Lexi.

-Hi.
-Hello.

Silhouettes are
my favorite thing.

I typically don't do color ever,

but I was coming out of a darker

design period and
it just felt really nice.

And then these are
the pants that go

with the suit.

It's not saying that my pants

are gonna be better
than your pants,

it's just the difference
that my pants might be

made for a rock star and

your pants might be made
for a, like,

a average Midwestern girl,

which is fine.

All right, Project Runway.

This is my closet.

Not a lot of people
get to see it.

It's kind of like
a-a private thing for me, but...

obviously, I like shoes a lot.

Small platforms,
punk platforms,

and cowboy boots.

Extra pointy, mid-pointy,

mildly rounded.

The front of my closet right now
is actually my,

"I think I might wear it
to Project Runway" stuff.

A little jogger suit that
I think'll be really fun.

One of my T-shirts

that I've been working on.

I think it's time
to wear it out in public.

So, my new thing's embroidery,

so I've been slowly picking up,

like, new embroidery skills.

And right now I'm working

on the Dexter World Tour series.

I also sometimes
make dog clothes.

It's like a fully lined poncho
situation here.

I don't have patience
for ignorance,

for racism, anything having
to do with gender

because I don't believe in it.

If you come at me
on any of those issues,

I will hit you
with some hot verbal karate.

"This saucy heifer."

"No, actually, this, this,
and this," and then

I'll probably make it
a little personal.

I'd say, like, 90% of the time

I'm, like, sweet as apple pie.

This is Tiana.

I love upholstery material.

Sometimes it works really,
really well for me

doing my interesting suits.

I would love to live
in iconic moments

my entire fashion career,
if I could.

-It's not possible all the time.

You got to-- you have to make
some of the stuff

that's more chill.
I get it.

-[laughter]
-I'm not an idiot.

I know my stuff
is over the top,

and there-there aren't a lot
of me's running around.

For awhile it was
like a bad thing for me.

Like it made me sad and now
it makes me happy.

I just kind of have to,

like, find my lane, get in it,
and just start going.

MONDO: Dexter, I really
like you. You know,

some of the construction can be

a little wonky.

Did you print
your T-shirt?

Yeah.

Where do I get that?

[laughs]

Well, guys, it has been
a blast, so...

I'll catch you guys
on the boob tube.

[whispering]:
You can't say boob, can you?

-Is that bad?
-GUNN: Up next...


than four minutes.

Your final recap before Project
Runway season 15 begins.

GUNN:
Welcome back.

Project Runway season 15

is about to begin,

but first, here's a brief
recap of each designer

to help you hedge your bets.

Who will be in, who will be out,

and which one of these talented
designers will win

Project Runway season 15?

I want to make the world
a better place.

Something comfortable.

I don't just want
to be a designer.

I want to create

a fashion empire.

My best friend, um,
would probably say

that I am [bleep] crazy,

like, a wackadoo.

I call myself The Segmentator.

And I try to make my people
look majestic, so...

At the end of the day,
we can make friends

and we can be cool with people,

but it's all about me.

I've been working in the
business for five years now,

doing my own label.

Everything's a little
conceptual.

It's always, in the end,
very wearable.

I do have the talent.
It's time

to get some recognition.

Everybody call me The Mama.

Mama T, Mama T.

My aesthetic is more of
the arts in street wear,

speaking for
the everyday people.

This is a dream come true.

I'm so grateful for life.

I will never be
a railroaded person.

Like, I'm a first-born son

and definitely not
a shrinking violet.

My personal style

is, like, pajamas meets, like,

old man meets little kid.
You know,

I am, like, have
to make myself heard.

My family is Mormon,

so there's a lot
of these things

that I'm kind of like
unlearning

that I was taught growing up.

Like, I do like to add
in, like, that element of humor

into my work,
whether it be

very obviously humorous

or whimsical.

My aesthetic, it's fun

without being over the top,
like almost like an edgy basic.

Under pressure,
I'm not a tantrum person.

I'm more just
like a shaky, cry-y,

sweaty person.

I guess I'm selfish
'cause I want

my name to be
on the stuff that I do.

My girl isn't wearing
something revealing.

It's more about
being put together

and feeling strong
and confident.

I'm a perfectionist.

Good is not enough for me.

I'm, like, casual and chic
together.

I think I have a good heart,

but don't mess with me.

My design aesthetic tends
to be a little

on the edgy side.

I gave up my career as a
newscaster to raise my family.

I had to give up

what I love
to raise the people I love.

I think I'm always gonna
be a kid at heart.

I'm a girly girl
but I'm a tomboy at times.

I was a young mother.

I took care of my kids.

I've lived all my life
for them.

It's time to live my life
for me.

I love pop color.

I love denim.

My wife is my muse.

I love making women sexy.

I'm a dad of a four-year-old.

I have to show her
you go for your dream.

You never give up.

Fashion is

the way people communicate
with each other.

The person who wears

my clothes is someone

who doesn't care about trends.

I completely see myself
winning it, yes.

I'm in America.

This is where everything
is possible.

I'm talented, different,

and I'm dressing the modern
woman who's on the street

who wants to look different,
but not stand out

to the point where everyone

is turning heads.

As a working professional,

I love the art of dressing,

so I've always had this eye
for elegance

with a little bit of something
rebellious.

I live and

I work as a fashion designer
all the time.

I'm a conceptual designer.

I'm performance art based,

but I know my stuff
is over the top.

I just kind of have to, like,
find my lane, get in it,

and just start going.

Thanks for joining me.

Project Runway season 15
starts now.