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>> Welcome to the Project Runway

Season Nine casting special.

Project Runway 9x00 Road to the Runway Original Air Date on July 28, 2011

== sync, corrected by elderman ==

This is the Road to the Runway.

This is the glimpse of the

journey the designers had

getting here.

>> I was born in Michigan, and

raised in a fundamentalist

Christian cult.

>> When you're from Twin Falls,

Idaho, nobody goes out and just

says, "Hey, I'm gonna be a

fashion designer."

>> I look forward to seeing all

the designers.

And I am so excited about

revealing this process to

everyone.

Our auditions are held all over

the nation, because we wanna

cast a wide net to find the next

great American fashion designer.

You have your divas...

>> I hate those people.

>> You have your drama Queens...

>> I'm gonna kill this woman.

>> You have some shrinking

violets, but not very many...

>> I still don't think you've

put anybody on that's, like, as

glammy as me.

>> And you have people who just

live on the edge...

All the time.

>> I can't help it, to be

fierce.

>> It's fashion, everyone.

>> I think we need to give you

a maybe.

>> Oh, please!

Don't do that to me!

>> That's talent.

>> Can you, I mean...?

>> , man.

>> You're a yes.

>> You're a yes, man.

>> Ah!

>> At the Project Runway

auditions, we get everything

from the sublime to the complete

and total ridiculous.

While these individual will

never get on the show...

Well, they're good for comic

relief.

>> So...You like cupcakes.

>> I do.

>> It is candyland.

Rashad, the showman.

>> Have you auditioned before?

>> Um, no.

>> Did you bring any clothes

with you?

>> Will you look at my portfolio

or no?

>> Does it have clothes in it?

>> Yes.

>> Tell us about your aesthetic

as a designer.

>> Something that makes people

look and say, "This is

interesting."

>> This I made for a music

video.

>> I would have preferred if you

had brought in, you know, maybe

one crazy thing.

>> So no rack?

>> I don't think my clothing

should be on racks, really.

>> The rest of these...

>> Are dated.

>> I kind of wish we hadn't seen

these because they--

>> thank you so much, Baron.

>> So that means "get out?"

I'm done?

>> Yeah, basically.

>> All right, well, I've been

thrown out of better places by

worse.

>> We're about to give you a

sneak peak into our selection

process for the show.

What do we look for?

And how do we choose our

talented designers?

To tease this up for you,

we've asked Seth Aaron Henderson

and Zanna Roberts-Rossi to give

you their points of view about

the designers.

One thing you can always count

on on Project Runway is drama.

It's natural.

And season nine is no exception.

Meet Cecilia.

>> Hi.

>> Hello.

How are you?

>> Hello.

I look at things as a war.

You need to survive and you need

to make it.

This is my tailoring.

This is a coat that is made--

commissioned for a client.

>> What's the price point on

that?

>> Um, I sold it for 950.

>> Well, good for you.

>> I thought it was too little.

Even if I'm down on the ground,

I will, you know, fight with

my spear until the last drop of

blood.

This one I called "The Wild

Rose."

It was inspired on the African

Ladi and Queens.

These are my favorite pants.

I wanted to wear these, but I

also wanted to show this dress.

We were very poor, so my mom

couldn't buy me new clothing.

So I always got the hand-downs.

And everything was so big, so

I remember one day I decided,

"Well, I want a dress.

Pretty, like a little girl's."

I only wear clothing that I

make.

This is a sheath dress that I

have, like, for years.

I really don't care for other

people's opinions.

They don't have names.

But they are very loud, just

like their owner.

There is people you need, so you

have to lick their butts.

Please, Laura, please?

>> You stand up for yourself,

and that's really important.

>> That's important.

>> Well, it is, because I've

seen so many designers.

And everybody's knocking off and

just copying whatever everybody

else is doing.

And I hate it, I'm

sorry.

>> Your fighting spirit took me

from a no to a maybe.

I think she probably scared me

into a maybe.

>> Thanks.

>> I have no idea how she's

gonna cope in competition

circumstances.

Maybe she's gonna be all-out

rude, maybe she's gonna be

back-stabbing, maybe she's gonna

be an incredible designer, or

none of the above.

I'm kind of looking forward to

finding out.

>> This is a competition and I

respect, you know, my

competitors.

But if I have to kick you down,

I will.

It was quite annoying.

There was this girl before me,

and she had this high-pitched

voice.

>> How are you?

>> Hello.

Cecilia is talking about

Amanda Perner.

>> The type that I never hang

out with.

>> I'm kind of a chatterbox, so

I go a mile a minute all the

time.

>> And she wouldn't shut

up!

>> My friends are all like,

"You're a machine, shut down."

>> I'm gonna kill this woman.

>> We'll get to Amanda later.

But now, here's our resident

sarcastic.

>> Hello, my name is

Julie Tierney.

I feel I perform best when I'm,

like, up creek.

This is my sewing room.

It would be nice to have a

chair... or a table.

>> Hi, Julie.

>> Hi.

>> Hi, Julie.

How are you?

>> Hi.

I'm a competitive, 'cause I've

competed a lot, whether it's

snowboarding or karaoke.

>> From the pictures we have

here, I think are fantastic.

>> Can I show you my shrug?

>> Okay, sure, please.

>> Show us your shrug.

>> You know, it's just like...

Do you guys like it?

>> I love it.

>> I think it's great.

>> This one has, like, a secret

belt loop.

>> I love this.

It's so unique to me.

And it just makes--it--

just, this is a runway show

right here.

I was super-duper impressed

with Julie.

It just felt so raw, so organic.

And her clothes in person lived

up to the portfolio...

If not better.

It was very, very cool...

trucker hillbilly.

I've seen enough.

For me, it's a yes.

>> Absolutely.

>> It's--yeah, 100%.

>> Well, I won't pass judgment

on people's work so much.

Like, maybe I don't get it.

Why people march around like

pretty, pretty princess.

A pretty, pretty princess is,

like, these girls that walk in

and they wanna be, like, the

prettiest girl in the bar.

>> I grew up privileged.

I'm pretty.

Um...

People wanna see pretty.

Pretty sells.

Everyone likes looking at

something pretty.

>> Come on.

Like, who are you foolin'?

>> I'm ready.

>> They're a little

condescending.

>> I still don't think you've

put anybody on that's, like, as

glammy as me.

You need a privileged pretty

girl.

>> Hey, sweetie...

Yeah, you don't know what the

you're talking about.

>>

Hi, I'm Laura Kathleen Planck.

I'd like to invite you all to

come into my boudoir.

My degree is from Western

Kentucky.

Just to be honest, it really

wasn't hard to be, like, a

stand-up student at Western

Kentucky design program.

I'm half-artist, half-business

woman.

And businesses make money.

This is more what I'm doing now.

Where you can see, like, I'm

overlaying prints to make

different things come out.

>> I'm sure people think to

themselves, like, "Oh, it's

a pretty girl, she's getting

her way."

Th has nothing to do with it.

I could give a damn less about

that.

Yeah, what you're wearing,

that's--I really like that.

>> Thank you.

>> I do, yeah.

>> I think what will piss me off

is if another contestant tries

to tell me what to do.

I've actually started seeing a

therapist because I'm too

competitive.

I like to use a lot of bold

prints, or just something that

catches the eye in a simple--

you know, a more simple

silhouette.

I mean, I think I'm always just

real.

Like, I kinda say what I'm

thinking.

>> All right, well, let's quit

around, yes.

>> I think you're a yes.

>> Yay!

I like it.

Okay.

>>

I know that I'm intimidating.

I can't help it, to be fierce.

That's my matador costume, but I

love to wear it once in a while.

I'm not just a designer, I also

have a little muscles.

In Mexico, Guadalajara, Jalisco,

my mom sews.

And living with that, it's

always in your mind.

And you see what they do, how

they cut it, how they produce

it, blah, blah, blah.

So I moved to New York,

I started shooting fashion

photography.

And then I saw how some

designers, their stuff was kinda

like ugly and not cute.

So I started working on my own

line and making it happen.

And yeah, I started going up,

and up, and up, and just getting

better and better.

And I've been doing it for five

years.

>> Hello, Victor.

>> Hi, guys, how are you?

I like to do my own things.

And if you grab me, and touch

me, and push me to what you

wanna do, I'll scratch.

I'm very eclectic.

I like to experiment, so my

clothing always changes.

This is a babydoll.

And it's kinda lace, a little

see-though here.

>> That's so simple, the design,

but it just really makes a

statement.

>> Yeah.

>> I'm a huge fan of the punk

rock wave.

And I see a lot of those

elements in Victor's work.

I could see myself actually

wearing a men's version of

Victor's jacket.

>> You know, I'm pretty in

control.

I know how to convince people.

I know how to work things.

So if they're talking about

doing something that's not

working out, or hippy, I'll be

like this, "Girl, you need to

beef it up here."

It's not being a bitch.

It's being, you know, forward.

>> We are putting you through as

a maybe.

It's really nice.

>> Very nice.

>> Thank you, Victor.

>> Very strong.

>> I know what I'm doing, I'm

an expert.

>> I don't feel connected to

people's negativity.

That's not my problem

my name is Anya Ayoung-Chee.

I am from Trinidad, in the West

Indies.

I just decided one day to enter

a beauty contest.

And lo and behold, I became

Miss Trinidad and Tobago.

Because of Miss Universe, I have

learned how to be competitive in

a way that's not destructive to

me.

I am a fashion designer, I have

my own clothing line.

It's designed really for the

Caribbean woman.

Keeping in mind that our

lifestyle is very easy-going--

a lot of partying, lot of

events.

And that's what I've been doing

for the last two years.

In 2007, one of my brothers died

in a very tragic car accident.

When he died, everything about

it shocked me to the core.

And I realized, you know what?

Life is short.

I designed a collection, and I

named the line after him, Pilar.

>> Is this you?

>> Yes, it is.

>> Very cute.

>> That's a romper jumper.

Show everybody, it's a romper

jumper.

>> And it has pockets.

>> Nice.

>> You know, Anya was very

different to me.

She has some foreign flair.

Miss Trinidad, if you will.

I liked that I got that real

vibe from her.

Exactly her roots, where she's

from--the whole thing just

worked.

>> This is another romper.

Same kind of thing.

It's easy to wear, but it's

still sexy.

>> You design for your climate.

>> I totally, yeah.

>> You just started selling

these.

Been selling for about two years

now, I think?

>> No, I've been selling for

about maybe three or four

months.

>> Oh, wow.

How do you think you're gonna

hold up?

>> I will not sleep until the

middle of June.

I've always felt confident about

my design direction.

Different people have different

energy.

I get up in the morning and I

can't believe this is what I do

for a living.

You know, it's just a joy.

>> I'm gonna say yes.

>> I'm gonna say yes.

>> Well, then it's gonna be

a yes.

>> Thank you.

>> Coming up next...

Project Runway is tough.

But these designers just might

be tougher.

>> I had testicular cancer.

You're never the same after

something like that.

All these dreams you wanted to

have, and there's all these

things you wanted to do...

And it's like, "Well, I may not

survive from this."

>> Every season, we meet

remarkable and resilient

individuals who've overcome some

of life's greatest challenges.

And I believe that that strong

spirit fuels their talent and

infuses their work.

They're inextricable.

>> Hi, my name's Bryce.

This is my apartment in

southeast Portland.

Come on in.

Up on the wall here, I have a

map of Manhattan, 'cause this is

where I wanna go.

I've circled Bryant Park on it,

right there.

When you're from Twin Falls,

Idaho, you don't hear about

that.

Nobody goes out and just says,

"Hey, I'm gonna be a fashion

designer."

Because I come from such

a Mormon background, and my

whole extended family's Mormon.

The only part that's a little

weird is the gay part.

Here's my boyfriend and I, in

New York as well.

I came out in high school, at,

like, 17 years old.

I got, like, death threats.

I got my windows shot out one

time at a party.

There was a while too I got

prank calls of just people

calling me randomly, and act--

having a gay voice and hitting

on me.

>> How would you describe your

aesthetic?

>> I like rock 'n' roll.

Kind of like something that

a rockstar would wear.

>> Well, show us what you

brought.

>> So I took a cape that can be

worn as a babydoll dress and

a skirt.

So it's got the hood here.

>> Oh, is it a drawstring?

>> Yep, and then you flip it

this way.

>> Yep.

>> See?

>> A skirt as well.

>> I like that concept.

>> Down here, she's draped in

all different types of fabrics,

wraps all the time.

I wasn't allowed to have Barbie,

but some of my friends did.

I would fold toilet paper, and

tape toilet paper around them

and make dresses.

This one, I call it my Grace

Jones blouse.

It's got this similar hood, but

it's just, like, a scarf.

>> Okay.

>> Oh, cool.

>> It's shorter because I paired

it with a high-waisted

one-legged jean.

>> That?

>> A one-legged jean.

That's a nice little jean.

>> I like to keep it balanced.

But definitely, like, I like to

add a little asymmetry.

>> That will definitely be

pointed out on the runway with

Michael and Nina.

You either go way far...

>> Right

>> so there's no mistake that

it's intentional.

But when there's a slight bit of

difference, it looks like

a mistake.

>> Okay, I got you.

>> One thing that was really

incredible was his tailoring

skills, finishing skills.

They were really, really

well-done.

>> I li--I mean, I like your

stuff.

>> You know what, I'll move him

forward and we'll see how it

pans out.

>> We're gonna send you through

to the next round.

>> Yeah.

>> Congratulations.

>> Congratulations, they'll li--

>> thank you so much.

>> Nicely done.

>> Hi, this is designer Rafael

Cox from Atlanta, Georgia.

And welcome to my humble abode.

Here's my cutting table that I

cut all of my fabrics out on.

Yeah, and clearly you can see

it's been through a lot.

We grew up with my mom's family.

She ended up getting sick when

I was in high school, and we

ended up selling our house and

being homeless for, like, two

years.

It was really hard.

Like, I think that's where I got

my backbone now.

I actually had two families that

really helped me.

They kinda knew of my struggles,

so they would feed me, they

would do whatever they could to

help me.

I just needed, like, out.

I have my marching band jacket

that I don't wear per se, but

I'm very proud of.

I got chastised in high school,

you know, people called me gay.

And it's almost like I was in,

like, a zone where I did not see

or hear anything, because I had

so much going on.

Thinking about, where am I gonna

sleep at when I leave here.

The sad thing is is that I went

through it all alone.

>> Says you have designed a lot

of clothes for hip hop and R&B?

>> Yeah, actually, um, the

latest I worked with was Kalenna

from Dirty Money, Puff Daddy's

new little "It" girls.

Rhianna was kind of the

inspiration for the pieces that

I've brought.

I just really love doing

geometric pieces, making the

pattern.

>> You sold us on that.

Let's go to the next one.

>> Thank you.

And this is the party dress for

the girl.

It's sheer, it's sexy, it's fun,

very form-fitting...

It's Rhianna, hello?

>> We need to call her.

>> I have my own line, which is

the Rafael by Rafael Cox line.

And it's gonna be in southern

stores in Atlanta.

And I did all of the work

myself.

>> I appreciated that he's

a flat-pattern maker,

that he really enjoys

structured, geometric shapes.

I was very fascinated with his

skill set.

>> I love everything that you

showed us today.

>> Absolutely.

>> You're a yes.

>> You're a yes, man.

>> Ah!

>> When you're doing something

and you don't know what the

outcome can be, of course

there's self-doubt.

But I'm here.

>> Thank you, have a great day.

>> Thank you!

>> Good job.

>>

Laissez les bons temps rouler,

Project Runway.

My name's Anthony Ryan Auld, and

I'm from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

This is my

snuggly bear voice.

I studied in France.

I learned Nuno felting, and

filling it with something like

this.

You know what I mean?

>> Yeah, does that,

it's crazy.

>> I love texture.

I'm actually colorblind.

There's two types.

There's red-green, and there's

blue-yellow, and I'm both.

My style, to be ready-wear with

a twist, fashion-forward and,

you know, runway appropriate.

But still marketable and a sense

of, you know, separates.

>> I like your graphics

together, and the colors.

Because they're not typical.

>> Right.

>> But they work.

>> I'm wanting to start a

campaign in Louisiana.

It's called "I'm rocking one."

I had testicular cancer in 2008,

and so I want this whole aspect

of it's okay--you know with

testicular cancer, you know,

some are removed, whatever the

case may be--it's okay to be

yourself and just rock one.

So this is a version...

>> All:

>> I like that.

>> Anyone that's been through

that much in their life, with

testis cancer, and to boot

colorblind--

hello, I'm a fashion designer

and I'm colorblind.

It's like, he's battin' against

all odds.

And somehow he's pulling it off.

>> You're never the same after

something like that.

Everything comes into

perspective, you know?

Like, there's all these dreams

you wanted to have, and there's

all these things you wanted to

do.

And it's like, well, I may not

survive on this.

I've always felt, even as a

young kid, I was meant to do

something really great.

And I feel like, at this point,

fashion is how I'm gonna do

that.

>> I'm a yes, I think it's--

>> absolutely.

>> Really, really wonderful.

>> Thank y'all so much for your

y'all's time.

>> Thanks.

>> Like, I'm not gonna talk

, you know.

I'm gonna show you what I can

do.

I aim to win it.

I gots to go.

>> Everyone is always asking me,

"so when are you gonna be on

Project Runway?"

And my answer's always the same.

"I'm not gonna do it."

Coming.

Ooh.

Biggest clothing rack in the

world.

>> Yes, that's what I told them.

>> I know.

I was born in Michigan, and

raised in a fundamentalist

Christian cult.

And just for the record, I am

no longer a cult member.

I never drank the kool-aid.

"Women aren't to cut their hair,

pierce their ears, wear jewelry,

wear make-up, get tattoos.

No television, no movies, no art

on your wall."

I was discouraged from going to

art school.

Because, you know, get mixed up

with those crazy art people.

And yeah, I have, you know,

a religious upbringing, but you

know what I got from that?

I'm a hard-worker, I'm honest,

and I know what's right and

wrong.

This is the culmination--

I'm gonna cry, oh, my God.

There's always a crier on the

show, right?

My goal with having my own line

is to create clothing with real

bodies in mind.

I think fashion belongs to

everybody.

My personal style, and the

things that I like to design...

One part pin-up girl, one part

rock 'n' roll, and one part

classic.

And this little jacket is my

favorite piece.

Mostly because of the lining!

>> You know, one thing I really

liked about Becky's design was

she wasn't so loud and out

there, but she put little pops

of color, like, in the lining,

you know, that really made it

special.

>> I'm good.

>> So we're gonna put you

through.

>> Yeah, put you through.

>> Sound like a plan?

>> Yay!

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you!

>> Yeah.

>> He's nice.

>> Hello.

>> Welcome, Bert.

>> Hi.

>> I recognize you guys.

I've just started designing

again after quite a few years of

being out of the business.

And these plaids have inspired

me, it's like a Japanese men's

cotton kimono plaid fabrics.

And after working with it a

while, I came up with this

short, little cocktail dress.

>> Love.

>> Thank you.

>> Love.

>> It's simple, it works.

>> The dress that Kary has on,

it's like a chain link print.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> Bert, what made you come back

to this world?

>> I love it, and I was--had a

very promising career.

It was great.

Went to work for Arnold Scaasi,

Bill Blass, and Halston.

My partner at the time, John--

he was the love of my life--

he was diagnosed with AIDS.

And then he passed away.

And it was also the time my two

friends, Dave and Gordon, died.

And that was sort of my cue to

leave Halston.

And it just was really a rough,

rough time for me emotionally.

And I used the alcohol to change

the way I felt.

I'm sober now by almost three

years.

It was just very serendipitous.

I was having dinner with a

friend, and she's a very wealthy

woman, and we were talking about

I used to design.

And I said, "You know, it would

be a long time before I can

afford a machine, a mannequin."

And she said, you know, "Bert,

I wanna help you.

I believe in you.

You go out and buy those things

tomorrow and I'll pay for it."

It was scary, because I haven't

done this for years.

I mean, I went to Parsons and

graduated in 1977.

So it was a bit of a challenge,

thinking, "Am I up to this?"

I'm probably old enough to be

their father.

And I think I can give some

insight to some of the

contestants.

It's a strapless.

This is double...

>> That is so beautiful.

>> Georgette.

It's is double-face georgette.

They're actually woven together.

There's two--

>>

Soft.

Seeing he was designing in

the '70s, I have to admit we

were a little bit worried.

It was all completely on-trend,

really fashion-forward, and

absolutely gorgeous.

This guy is amazing.

>> You know, life is a journey,

it's not a destination.

I believe in taking every day as

it comes, and be grateful for

what you've got.

>> Double thumbs up from me.

>> Thank you.

>> Can you, I mean--

>> that's talent.

, man.

>> Coming up next...

Self-taught designers.

>> I wanna promote girls going

out, doing stuff, taking

control.

Like, empowerment through

clothing.

>> Of course self-taught

designers can be successful.

It's critically important,

though, that you have an

openness to criticism, and a

receptiveness to it, and that

you learn from it.

>> Hi.

>> Hello, Kimberly.

>> Hi.

>> Hi, Kimberly.

>> Hi.

>> You're looking fabulous this

morning.

>> Hi.

My name is Kimberly Goldson,

I'm 35 years old, and I live in

Washington D.C.

I am originally from Brooklyn,

New York.

And I've actually am self-taught

designer.

Here's where I make the big

bucks.

I actually just picked up

a sewing machine about maybe

five years ago.

I had the book that came with

the sewing machine.

It wasn't how to sew for dummies

but something like that.

The rest I just figured out

myself.

I like to do stuff with a little

glitz and glam, girly pieces,

you know, ruffles.

I love bows, so I made this bow

as one piece of the dress.

>> I like the fact that you love

bows.

You're not just sticking a big

bow on someone's ass or head.

They're actually creatively

woven into your designs.

>> Thank you.

>> Being self-taught, I was

really impressed with her

construction skills, and the way

it was polished, it was

finished.

>> You know, Heidi and I have

legs, so I love a mini.

Yeah, I have a few pieces that

i think that Heidi would love.

I am uber competitive.

My friends no longer play games

with me anymore because I talk

trash.

Someone gives me attitude, then

yeah, they get attitude back.

My mom used to design when I was

younger.

She passed away, but she's what

motivates me and inspires me

to design.

>> So it kinda runs in the

blood?

>> Yes.

>> And this here...

My inspiration, my muse, my mom.

She passed away from breast

cancer when I was 17.

She always sewed.

Just doing this without her

being here is tough.

But it means a lot to know that

she would be proud of me.

>> Love you, love you.

>> Thank you.

>> Love it.

>> Thank you!

Yay!

>> Hi, I'm Gunnar Deatherage,

I am 21.

I learned to sew from my

grandma when I was really,

really young.

Just the basics of sewing.

I feel like one of my strengths

as designer is my vision.

My construction's very, very

good.

But am I an Oscar de la Renta

at this point?

Probably not.

Hello.

>> Hi.

>> Hello, Gunnar.

>> I'm from Louisville

originally.

I'm self-taught.

I started off with, like,

straight down dresses for my

younger cousin.

And then it moved up to evening

gowns.

And now it's moved up to these

crazy creations.

This is my brown evening gown.

It was actually featured as

the must-have dress of Derby

this year--the Kentucky Derby.

>> I like the brown dress.

I think it looks really nice on

you.

>> It's original.

There's not another one out

there like it.

>> Exactly.

I've been called arrogant a few

times.

I have to be confident for

people to not walk all over me.

I feel like that if I don't

stand up for myself then nobody

else is going to.

I graduated with about 100

people, and the only gay one in

the school.

Which, like, I'm thankful for

now, but I caught a lot of crap

growing up.

I mean, it was a constant thing,

whether it be them or my dad.

It was always one of them.

It's a little feminine, but I

think if you throw a rough edge

with it...

>> But a woman can wear this

also.

>> Oh!

I think a little of everyone has

worn it.

And then I'll put a belt with

it.

>> So for me, it's definitely a

good maybe.

>> Nice, no problem.

>> Hi, I'm Danielle, and this is

Francis.

Welcome to our home in

Minneapolis.

This is my studio and living

room.

My grandma sewed, but she sort

of taught me some tricks.

I first hand-sewed 'cause I was

really little, probably seven or

eight.

So I just kept progressing.

And then as a teenager, I just

hated shopping, I could not find

anything.

So I started making my own

clothes, like, in order to avoid

shopping.

So I've taught myself

everything.

>> Hi.

>> Hello.

>> Hi.

>> Hello.

>> I've been interested in

wearing suits lately.

I did a whole collection last

spring that had to do with suits

and sort of women's reclamation

of menswear.

But then I have also been

working with some sheers, to do

more...Exposure.

You know, and like beauty of

the garments themselves.

So that's what my work is all

about--empowerment through,

oftentimes, androgyny.

>> She reminded me of Amelia

Earhart, ultimately.

She's just this little birdy

little thing.

And very confident.

A lot of that comes because

she's self-taught.

She's not distorted by "This is

right, this is wrong."

>> So that's a yes.

>> Wonderful!

Thank you.

>> My name is David Chum,

I'm 29 years old, and I live in

Arlington, Massachusetts.

I actually work full-time as

a waiter in Boston.

The rest of my time is spent in

here, in my studio, at home

working on my clothing line

Selah D'or.

I'm really big about getting as

close to perfection as possible.

I'm a self-taught designer.

Actually went to school for

fine arts.

Got bored of painting,

basically, and three years ago,

I just decided to get some

textbooks to teach myself how to

draft patterns.

It's like, if I can do this,

let's launch this.

And the reception's been pretty

good.

>> So you're selling?

>> Yes.

>> Take us through.

>> Okay.

Just a little wool coat.

>> Be a nice coat, it'd be a

nice dress in the winter.

>> And little pockets.

>> Pockets, it's great.

So practical.

>> Fantastic.

>> That's my favorite look.

>> He clearly knew what he was

doing.

He was very eloquent about

fashion, he had a design

aesthetic which I liked, and he

could construct a garment--

which, hey, that's what it's

all about.

>> Positive thinking, I'm

telling you, it's everything.

>> I'm gonna thumbs up yes.

>> Both: Yes.

>> You're a yes.

>> That's a yes?

>> It's a yes.

>> Thank you.

>> Coming up...

The designers who took a chance

in their audition, and the

judges who loved them.

>> So I brought my menswear

collection that I'm working on.

>> I'm convinced on the product,

we just need to make sure you

can translate it into women's.

And if you can, you'll be

successful.

>> Sometimes a designer presents

a collection to the audition

panel that, while impressive,

leaves them wondering whether

they're really right for the

show.

Still, you feel that there's

something there.

There's some intriguing, and

the judges wanna see more.

>> You know, I find it really

odd that people bring menswear

to a Project Runway audition,

when I think there's only been

one menswear challenge in the

history of the show.

>> We may put menswear design

through, simply because the

tailoring is exquisite.

And that is such a huge part of

the craftsmanship that goes into

making any garment.

>> Hi, Joshua.

>> How are you guys?

>> Hello.

>> Rack here?

>> Perfect.

>> Yes, just like that.

>> All right, so I brought my

menswear collection that I'm

working on.

I do womenswear during the day,

so I figure when I get home

at night, I can work--

>> do you have a womenswear in

your portfolio?

>> Yes, I do.

>> Okay, we'll check that out

real quick.

>> All right.

>> Your sketches look beautiful.

>> I like how you have

everything laid out.

>> Well, this is really just

something that is a passion to

me.

And I wanted to show you guys,

you know, the great construction

that I'm working on.

>> Your style is really great,

I love it.

>> Some great textures, you

know.

>> Oh, that's very fun.

>> That's great.

It's just hard to tell what it

would be if it were for women.

>> Of course.

>> As you know, almost all of

the challenges are for women.

>> These are gonna be some of

the pieces that I will be

bringing to the show with me,

because it's summer and it's

hot.

I wanted to go with something

that was really building

a collection, and that I'm

actually passionate about and

really working on.

>> Well, I admire that.

He was determined.

And he was like, "This is what

I do, I brought menswear."

But at the same time, it was

easy to see his menswear

translated to womenswear

because they were really

flamboyant.

>> If you ask most of my

friends, my mouth would be the

thing that gets me in trouble.

>> If you come back and apply, I

think you'll--

>> that won't be happening.

But it's supposed to be third

time's the charm.

You know, it's coming up on two

years that I lost my mother.

She told me that I could do

anything that I wanted to do.

And I will do it.

How about I try it on?

>> Hey.

>>

>> I'm really confident in what

I do.

And you know, I know that I

brought menswear, and that kind

of in the beginning was not in

my favor.

This is actually a piece that I

made when I was in high school.

Business in the front.

But the minute you walk away,

party in the back.

>> Yeah, I'm convinced on the

product.

We just need to make sure you

can translate it into womens.

And if you can, you'll be

successful.

I think we need to give you a

maybe.

Because I'm seeing it.

Now that you explain it, I'm

really seeing it translate into

womens...

>> Yeah, especially, like, the

last half of this rack I can see

that.

>> Thank you, I appreciate it.

>> Thank you, Joshua.

>> Thank you guys.

I'll probably win it.

I mean, I can see myself at

Lincoln Center right now.

>> My name is

Joshua Christiansen.

I have been designing menswear

for the past couple years,

but have always had a special

interest in women's clothing.

>> Well, how are you, Joshua?

>> So good.

>> Welcome.

>> Our first male model.

>> Yeah.

>> Yes!

>> And it says that you're still

heavily involved in your family

church, the Mormon church.

>> Yeah.

>> So how does that affect what

you do today?

>> You know, you grow up a

certain way...

And obviously, it affects the

way you think.

I think a lot of just who I am

comes into my clothes.

You know, I love a very clean,

you know, proper look.

>> So you can do womenswear and

menswear?

>> Yeah, I've been focusing

mainly on menswear.

>> Uh-huh.

>> But I do, every so often, I

put together womens clothing.

>> Uh-huh.

>> I love white shirts.

But I wanted to do something

different, obviously.

And so, what I did was I just

took the collar and I created,

like, a wing that goes out.

>> Oh, my--

>> well, yeah, it's fantastic.

>> And, um...

>> Oh, I wanna wear that damn

shirt!

>> The second he walked in,

likeable.

But his clothes walked in,

I wanted them.

They were so crisp, they were so

polished, they were so

beautifully made.

And he had the surprise wow

factor in there.

They blew me away.

That's enough for me.

I'm done.

>> My faith really drives me to

be a better person.

I would really like to find the

right girl to marry and start a

family with some day.

I was engaged once.

And I was broken for a couple

years after it didn't work out.

I'm not about, like, tearing

people down to get to the top,

but I'm definitely about working

harder than everybody else.

>> Okay, good.

>> Okay, maybe.

>> Okay, sounds good.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you.

>> Hello.

My name is Olivier, I'm 22, and

I currently live in New York

City.

>> Hi, Olivier.

>> Hello.

>> I hear you just moved to New

York.

>> Yeah, I just came here in

February.

>> And how is it treating you?

>> It's been exciting.

I'm getting used to everything.

>> Where do you find your

inspiration for fashion?

>> It's inspired by, like,

playing with lines and different

shapes.

>> Sure.

>> I love the fact you've used

the transparency of the material

>> and I made them all.

I plan on doing my own project

in the next few months, and just

to build up a new collection.

I've got so many ideas ahead.

I'm driven and passionate about

fashion.

>> Well, I love the tuxedo

lapel, but then it has little...

>> Actually, like--

>> is all these for guys?

>> Yeah, 'cause I focus mainly

in menswear.

>> Olivier kind of won me over.

Even though he brought menswear,

he had these great suits.

And the suits were almost

androgynous.

They'd be certainly something

that I would've worn.

And I fell hook, line, and

sinker for that English hybrid

accent that he has.

>> When I was about 16, I went

to London by myself to attend an

art course.

>> Which college did you go to

in London?

>> Um, Chelsea.

I fell in love with England and

Europe right away.

And when I went to Italy, it's

much about techniques

and in Italy, they perceive

fashion as a business rather

than an art form.

>> Can we see?

>> The geometry in it...

Yeah, it's got netting, and then

it's backed with...

>> Started from scratch, and I

did patterns so I can make them

all.

>> The craftsmanship is just

beautiful.

>> I have been inspired by so

many things, people, buildings,

art, culture.

Those three are my fuel for

design.

>> I think you're fabulous.

I think you've got an amazing

taste level.

I love these jackets, and I want

you to make them in womens.

>> Thank you.

>> Yeah, so that's a yes.

>> That's a yes, by the way,

yeah.

>> Oh, thank you so much.

Oh, I didn't know I'm gonna

realize it so soon.

>> It was when you walked in.

>> You had us at hello.

>> Oh.

>> We've all heard, "If at

first you don't succeed, try,

try again."

It's true.

It's important to be persistent.

Sometimes when a designer

doesn't make it through the

audition process, they return

a year later to do it again.

And with a good deal of

frequency they in fact succeed.

>> I mean, look at Seth Aaron.

He tried out four times, I

think, before he made the show.

And now look at the success.

>> Hi, my name's Seth Aaron.

My name's Seth Aaron, I'm 37

years old.

Hi, my name's Seth Aaron.

Hi, my name's Seth Aaron.

This is one of my little...

Inspired jackets.

I never gave up.

And you know, I even had

friends and family say, you

know, "Maybe this just isn't for

you."

And I told them to

themselves, this is exactly for

me.

And I came back and I won.

>> Hi.

>> Hi, Fallene.

>> Hi.

>> Hi.

I'm Fallene from Denver.

And you might remember me from

last year.

>> I do.

>> Yeah, I remember you from

last year.

Last year was a huge year for

me.

I actually got the chance to

design a dress for the Grammys.

And then I was a semifinalist

for Project Runway.

>> Hello, Fallene.

>> Hi.

>> How are you?

>> Good, how are you?

>> Good, thank you.

>> Last time, they said that I

needed to grow up and that I was

lacking sophistication in my

clothing.

>> I think that that print is

really...

I mean, are you trying to skew

young?

Like, super young, junior?

>> Let me just tell you, I was

pretty pissed when I left here.

>> Oh.

>> That's a good thing.

>> Oh, my, oh, my!

>> It's a good motivator.

>> And then, you know, I was

like, "Actually, they're kinda

right."

Last time on Project Runway,

you saw me bringing things like

this...

Just kind of '40s styles.

Like, this is one of them.

Now I've designed something more

like this...

Which is very mature, and rich,

and beautiful.

This was kind of more of a '20s

take on Art Nouveau.

>> Yeah.

>> It's cool.

>> I love it, it's fully lined.

>> Oh, cool.

>> Oh, I like it.

>> This dress was actually

inspired by an old lamp post

lighting up a pine tree.

So I cut out 2,000 of these silk

squares.

>> It's cute.

>> Yeah, it's totally cute.

>> Thank you.

This was inspired by The

Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.

>> Yeah, love it.

>> And I really like the kind of

dirty carnival look.

>> It's cool, I like that.

She definitely had something to

look at.

She had something to say.

Not quite sure what it is, but

there was enough interest there

to make you wanna find out.

Your clothes speak for

themselves.

>> Don't ruin something good,

just keep it.

>> Awesome.

>> So you're going through, yes.

>> Love it.

>> So thank you.

>> Awesome.

Cool, thank you so much.

>> Thanks.

>> Thank you.

>> Hi, Serena.

>> Hello.

>> Do you think you're more

ready for the show now then

than you were...?

>> Ten years ago.

>> Ten years ago?

>> Yeah, for sure.

Most definitely.

>> Makes sense.

>> I think I have that thing.

Like, I have the "I'm not afraid

of failure, I'm afraid of

success."

But I think that the show is,

like--it's such a great

opportunity to, like, to have

the things that I want.

This is, like, a little bit

older.

But it's finished really well.

This little guy's like a fun

cocktail, silk charmeuse, low

back again.

>> It's very pretty.

>> Thanks.

>> Really gorgeous.

>> Her clothes were really,

really nice.

She had this very elegantly chic

vibe about them.

She incorporated lingerie

details, which was the best

thing for me.

So here's my workroom and my

closet.

This is where I get dressed

everyday and where kind of like

all my inspiration and the

design stuff comes out.

I'm not an aggressive person,

but I'm definitely, like, an

analytical thinking, like,

competitive person.

Now I'm trying to do something

that's sexy.

As sexy as lingerie.

Like, you'll get laid if you

wear it.

But you can wear it out at

night.

Since I'm gonna be on

television, I wanted to step up

my game a little bit in my

sleepwear department.

You may recognize from my

application video...

It's a tulle dress with a fun

cummerbund.

>> You currently work for

Beyonce's line?

>> Yeah, right now I design

the Miss Tina line.

It's kind of like a mass market

rolled-out...

Everything's under 20 bucks.

It's, like, sexy.

>> What do you design for them?

>> I do the whole thing.

It's me.

>> Well, that's great.

That's a good spot to be in.

>> Yeah, I can definitely make

something out of nothing.

>> I say yes.

>> So yes.

>> All right!

Thanks, guys.

Thank you so much.

>> I think it's quite incredible

that someone can come back ten

years after the first time.

It's kind of amazing.

It shows the power of the show,

it shows her determination.

She is gonna be one heck of a

competitor, I imagine.

And of course, we can't forget

Amanda Perna.

>> Hi.

>> Cecilia's nemesis.

>> I'm gonna kill this woman.

>> Hello.

>> Hi!

How are you?

My name's Amanda Perner, and

this is my dog, Bruno.

And we are currently filming

from my home town of Coral

Springs, Florida.

>> Amanda had tried out for the

last two seasons.

>> Please pick me because I

really can't do another one of

these videos.

Third time's the charm.

>> She probably failed a couple

of years ago because of her

immaturity.

And you can sense it still in

the room, slightly--

the junior-esque design, the

pretty little things on the

hangers.

>> But the dress she was

wearing, it had--

it had a lot of interest.

Tell us about what you're

wearing, I love that.

It lit right up in here.

>> I grew up in South Florida,

so the colors were very South

Florida.

>> What's the back on it?

>> I really like that dress.

>> I think it's a great dress.

>> I love the fact that it's

kind of sophistication with the

fun, and it's--

the neon thing is so relevant.

>> I am very competitive.

Like, not in a mean sort of way,

where I'm gonna, like, slash up

someone's dress or something.

Like, you know, if somebody next

to me got an 'A+', and I had

the 'A', I was like...

"Come on, like, what the hell?

Like, what did I do wrong?

Like, why did you get that 'A+'

and I didn't?"

This one has really bad hanger

appeal.

Really, I think I made this in a

total of four hours, maybe,

including all tacking time.

And I hand-tacked all this in

here, too.

>> Sometimes it can look like

you made it in four hours too.

>> I like it.

>> Okay.

>> I am completely on the fence

with Amanda.

One minute she's got some chic,

cool, fabulous dresses, the next

minute, she's got some arts and

crafty skirt.

>> So it's not a yes, it's not

a no.

>> Okay, well, I can handle it.

A maybe's better than a no, so

I'll take it.

>> That's better than a no, I'll

tell you that.

>> Absolutely.

>> Thank you so much,

have a good one!

>> Bye.

>> Coming up next...

20 designers in less than five

minutes.

Your final recap before

Project Runway, Season Nine

begins.

>> When we're selecting the

final group of designers for

Project Runway, we're looking

for diversity.

Diversity of point-of-view as a

designer, diversity of

background as a designer, and

diversity as an individual.

The last thing we want is a

homogenous workroom.

All right, now you've seen

all 20 designers.

To help you keep track, here's

a recap of each of them.

>> I've had so many people say

"You should try out for Project

Runway."

And I kept saying, "Oh, no, are

you crazy?

I wouldn't do that."

Then I realized a lot of it was

just fear.

>> I believe in my work.

I put a lot of love in what I

do, and a lot of thought into

what I do.

I tried out young because I know

that I can do it.

>> If I have to kick you down,

I will.

I look at things as a war.

I will fight with my spear until

the last drop of blood.

>> I think that I always design

for a superego.

Like, this badass chick.

You know, like I want women to

feel powerful when they wear my

clothes.

>> I can read people very well.

I'm learning you without you

knowing it.

And it's almost--everybody like,

"You're so nice."

I'm very nice, but I know your

weaknesses and your strengths.

>> I'm not about, like, tearing

people down to get to the top.

But I am definitely about, you

know, working harder than

everybody else.

>> My view on fashion, a little

untraditional.

I value feminism as a beauty

statement.

Like, empowerment through

clothing.

>> I don't--I try not to hurt

people's feelings.

But I'm definitely competitive.

And I definitely wanna be with

the top of the top.

>> This is what I do!

I'm a designer!

Like, I think a lot of people

are like, "oh, it's--you know,

you wanna be on TV."

No, like, this is a great

opportunity to be surrounded by

interesting, creative, artistic

people.

>> I'm really a natural at this.

And I'm really confident.

I'm not gonna let fear win.

Plus, I really believe that you

put stuff out there, it'll

happen for you.

>> When I'm stressed out, I

might be on the brink of tears.

But when you leave your comfort

zone, that's when the magic

happens.

>> I think there's an

opportunity to, like, really see

other people's work and, like,

bounce that stuff off of each

other.

But at the end of the day, like,

I'm not gonna listen to any of

them.

It's, like, me and my work.

>> You need a privileged pretty

girl.

There's never been anybody

that's, like, I live from my car

and I can barely eat, and da,

da, da.

I'm like, when I have that, I

call my mom and dad.

>> I don't know, I was always

kind of geeky.

Like, I-I really tend to come

off, I guess, as an airhead to

people, I guess, because I'm

bubbly.

>> I sing when I sew, and I

start dancing.

When it starts coming out good,

I'm like, "Oh, yeah!"

>> Anything that I do, I put my

heart and soul into.

And I'm not gonna let it go to

You know, I'm not gonna put

something out there that I'm not

proud of.

>> I can't believe this is what

i do for a living.

You know, it's just a joy.

'Cause if it wasn't for that

kind of spirit, I wouldn't be a

designer, I'd be an oncologist,

you know, so.

>> I don't want to come off as

arrogant, but I think if I put

my heart and soul into what I

do, I have what it takes to

achieve what I want to achieve.

>> Plus, I'm obsessed with

Tim Gunn.

But a friend and I decided we're

gonna start a band called

"Yum, Yum, Tim Gunn."

And our first album's gonna be

called Made at Work.

>> I'm the perfect bubbly

blonde fashionista to be on your

show.

I'll add a little sass and

spice.

And I will not disappoint you

because I'm gonna win.

See you on the runway.

>> Now that they've made it

through this process, let's see

how they do on the show.

Enjoy one of the best seasons of

Project Runway ever.

== sync, corrected by elderman ==