12x01 - Road to the Runway

[bunniefuu]

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪

[Horns honking]

♪ ♪

Welcome to new york city and

Project runway season 12.

This is road to the runway.

♪ ♪

This is a glimpse of the journey

The designers had getting here.

Of course, ultimately it's their

Talent that gets them past the

Panel of judges, but making it

To that point, well, that's

Truly a challenge in itself.

The selection process begins

With a nationwide casting call,

Where thousands of aspiring

Fashion designers submit their

Portfolios and home videos.

I hope that you would choose

Me this time.

Third time's a charm.

From there, the most

Promising designers are invited

To audition before a panel of

Judges, present company

Included.

We're sold.

These are amazing.

Yeah.

Do a pirouette.

Thank you.

I was so excited and honored

To have a hand in selecting the

Incredibly gifted designers

You're about to meet.

Suffice it to say, it was a

Tough decision made even tougher

By the fact that we had only 15

Slots to fill, because this

Season you, the fans, chose our



Yes, we gave you the opportunity

To vote and bring back one of

The three former designers.

The three you voted for were

Ra'mon-lawrence coleman from

Season six.

It's really important to

Remain on top.

Valerie mayen from season

Eight.

I loved it.

And kate pankoke from season



I'm pressing every seam

Twice.

I need it to be perfect.

♪ ♪

Who did you choose to receive

A second chance on the runway?

Well, you'll find out very soon.

But first, allow me to introduce

You to the 15 new and fabulous

Fashion designers of season 12.

Who are they, and who has the

Best chance of winning?

Yes!

To help you hedge your bets,

We've asked project runway

Season 11 winner,

Michelle lesniak, and

And project runway alumnus

Nick verreos to give you their

Point of view.

If I had to walk a red

Carpet, I would want to walk in

That dress.

I think that that's what made

The judges sit up and take

Notice.

First up, when it comes to

Their love of fashion, these

Designers just can't say enough,

And we mean that literally and

Figuratively.

♪ ♪

Hey, there.

My name's timothy, and welcome

To my milwaukee apartment.

I usually sleep about six hours

A night.

You want to see unicorn

T-shirts?

I'm just really excited about

Everything.

"Real men love unicorns."

I kind of, like, wake up in the

Morning.

Like, my fingers are, like,

Talking to my eyelids and

They're like...

[Gasps]

"Guys, we--look, we got another

One!"

Like, "whoo!"

Like, "let's do it again!

Yay!"

Oh, my unicorn necklace.

I don't know where I put it.

Timothy westbrook.

[Claps]

Hello.

Hi, timothy.

How are you?

I am fantastic.

So tell us about you.

The thing that I do is

Repurpose materials, um, all

Coming from a place of

Sustainability.

So all of this shirt is made

Out of repurposed materials, um,

So you're seeing bed sheets

Here, and then you're also

Seeing curtains that are made

Into the collar and the yoke.

This is still really funky and

Dressy, um, but it's an art

Piece.

You are such an evangelist

For sustainability.

Where did this come from?

It was--when I got to

College, dug through the

Garbage every single day for a

Week and took out all of the

Recyclables and made them into

A piece of clothing.

So how do I create garbage to

Look like something new?

And that's actually cassette

Tape that's woven into fabric.

What?

I would have never known

That.

To me, when he picked it up,

I thought those were swarovski

Crystals.

And this is where I used the

Cassette tape in the background,

And these are just vintage

Velvet curtains.

This one is really great.

This is actually four vista

Umbrellas that are made into the

Raincoat, and this is woven

Plastic grocery shopping bags,

Woven into cloth.

And are you doing all the

Weaving?

I am, all of it on a

Four-shaft floor loom.

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪

It all started with my

Grandfather, who's legally

Blind, and the idea of a book on

Tape.

A book on tape takes something

Visual, and it makes it audio,

And by weaving with it, I can

Take something audio and make it

Back into a visual experience

Again, and that's what

Repurposing is really about, is

Taking the story of where it was

And incorporating that into the

Story of what it will become.

I want to walk into mood with a

$50 Budget and say, "I have an

Aversion to buying virgin

Materials," so I want to go buy

All of the fabric rolls.

I want all of the fabric that's

Been returned.

I think it's gonna be great

When timothy's gonna be at mood

And tim gunn is gonna be like,

"Timothy, timothy, where are

You?"

Look in the garbage!

I'm impressed.

I thought--for me, it's a yes.

I mean, it's--it's--

I'm--i'm throwing all the

Cards in.

Yeah.

I want to hug all of you.

[Laughs]

I will see you on the runway,

Designers.

Surprise unicorn tail!

[Laughs]

My name is

Alexandria von bromssen.

En garde!

And I'm from san mateo,

California.

I'm funny.

I mean, I'm not normal.

I'm normal, but, you know--

Yeah, I'm crazy.

Forgive me--i've had too much

Coffee.

Hello, alexandria.

-Hello.
-Hello.

How stunning are you?

Yeah.

Wow.

This is amazing, huh?

No, you!

Oh, me!

Oh, thank you.

Like, yes. Wow.

When I was 13, I started

Modeling, so I've lived in

Italy, spain, greece, and that's

What I did for four or five

Years.

I hated it.

It was a weird environment.

I wanted to go to school and

Have some brains, you know?

Because, you know, the face goes

Away.

I went to nyu, and I got a

Master's degree from the academy

Of art.

So tell us what you've been

Doing.

You're running a couture camp?

A thing called camp couture,

Yes.

I teach kids how to sew and

Design.

So it's exploded.

I get tears.

They're awesome.

So I've had them as young as

Four, sewing on the machine.

Four?

Yeah, but seven is--

Sewing on a sewing machine?

And it's awful.

They've just gone--[stomps]

[Laughs]

You could tell, when she talks

About camp couture and all the

Little kids, she has such

Passion for that, and I think if

She just really injects herself

With that passion on the show,

She'll go far.

What did you bring with you?

I have this b*mber jacket

From a double-bed knitting

Machine.

Did you make everything?

I've made everything and the

Patterns as well.

So my point of view as a

Designer is edgy, modern,

Strong.

I think that clothing is your

Armor, and you should say

Something when you wear it.

This is my closet.

I love strong jackets.

[Camera shutter clicking]

If I were to define my personal

Style, I think I'm a "jeans and

T-shirt" kind of a girl.

Don't be a fashion victim.

This is a vest that's been one

Of the top seller--this.

And what would this retail

For?

$120 At my store.

And I make it myself.

Thank you very much for coming

To my home, but it's time

That you go so I can finish

Packing, but I will see you on

Project runway season nine.

What season is it?

Oh, 12!

[Laughs]

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪

I'm karen batts.

Hello!

I'm 23, and I'm from rego park,

New york.

[Laughs]

And by 23--

I mean 29.

Yeah.

[Laughs] wah-wah.

Ta-da!

♪ ♪

This is the sewing machine that

I learned how to sew on when

I was about nine years old.

My aesthetic is kind of

Commercially based, but I love

Color.

I love neon.

I love prints.

♪ ♪

[Claps]

Hi, karen.

Hey, how are you guys?

Good. How about you?

Good.

So let's get to the good

Stuff.

This print, for instance.

Like, this is a take on a map.

It's aerial images of the

Florida everglades that I played

Around with the color to give it

A sort of ambiguity, and it

Almost looks like camouflage.

I dig it.

How do you make your prints?

Well, I actually studied

Photography as well as fashion

In college, and so it's very

Photography-based.

Like, I'll either take pictures

Or use, like, for instance, this

Print--

It's the new york times

Travel section.

What I loved most about karen

Was her making of textiles.

I mean, she actually made these

Prints, and they have just a

Really beautiful, interesting,

Unique quality to them, and

I think that's the most

Successful thing that she does.

Lenny, boots!

[Gasps] yay!

So now I'm gonna talk about my

Cats, 'cause I'm obsessed with

Them.

So this is lenny.

Smile for the camera, lenny.

This is your 15 minutes of fame.

Cutesy.

This is my other cat, mr. Boots.

He has an extra thumb.

It's kind of cool.

And here's my amazing husband,

Steven.

Hi.

Yeah.

I decided to make my own wedding

Gown, 'cause I'm crazy.

So this is the gown that I made.

It has a fishtail to kind of

Give it that retro glamour.

It'll be two years this august.

So, babies.

Yeah.

[Laughs]

Is that the plan?

No, no, no, like, we're

Babies in our relationship.

Oh, I thought you were like--

No babies, no babies.

No, we're on the 20-year-never

Plan.

[Laughs]

And then this is my yellow

Submarine coat--basically,

You know, fully-lined winter

Coat with the option to

Have the collar up for those

Cold winter days, or if you

Want to just kind of have it

Fall back down, and a sweet

Buckle system.

I mean, I love you.

Yay. Me too.

I quite like you.

For me, it's a yes.

For me, it's a yes as well.

Awesome.

Thanks, guys.

Rock on.

Thanks so much for stopping

By and seeing what's going on in

My world, and make sure to check

Me out on project runway this

Summer.

And have a great day.

Bye.

Up next, from

Inspirational...

I want to be able to show

People that deaf people are

Capable of doing something like

This.

To confrontational.

My work is gonna make you go

Home and cry.

Like, it's gonna destroy you.

I'm sorry.

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪

Welcome back to

Project runway season 12.

This is the road to the runway.

Our next two designers are just

A couple of nice guys who aren't

Accustomed to finishing last.

♪ ♪

I don't think you can be

Successful without being

Competitive.

I'm kind of an all-or-nothing

Kind of guy.

I'm bradon mcdonald, and I'm

From lowville, new york.

So tell us about you.

I'm a retired professional

Modern dancer.

I went to fidm 12 hours

After my last show, 'cause

I wanted no down time.

The new york times wrote a

Retirement article on me and...

Wow.

Yeah.

I was a--you know, not to be

Too forward--but I was a

Fantastic dancer with this

Company...

This is the time to say it.

Yes.

And, you know, traveled

Around the world.

I met my partner at juilliard



Oh.

He grew up in l.a., So...

Bicoastal for a long time.

So I moved out here, 2010.

So that's when you went to

F.i.d.m.?

Yes.

I started dancing when I was

Five--tap, jazz, competition

Dance.

Along with the dance background,

I've had an amazing fine-arts

Background--composition, color,

You know, painting, drawing,

Sculpture--so I'm carrying

Through the fine-arts

Perspective into fashion.

Wonderful.

Well, talk to us about your

Collection.

This piece is particularly

Interesting, I think.

It's faggoted rouleau.

I hand-stitched everything.

Good--

It's got about



God.

You hand-stitched that?

Yeah.

Can you bring it?

This is, um--it's rouleau

Strips that are cut from some

Jacquards.

It's a work of art.

Yeah, it is.

Thanks.

This is all hand-ruched.

It's all blind stitching behind

On the two-ply silk crepe,

Gathered and steamed and

Stretched to get it--

It just feels great.

You have to feel it.

It does, yeah.

Technically amazing.

This is where the madness

Happens.

I'm a little untidy right now.

This is actually only about



It gets a lot worse, believe me.

This look--i screen-printed the

Fabric.

Good heavens.

I worked with a textile

Designer.

I loved bradon's peacock

Jacket.

I love peacocks, and I loved the

Placement that he had with them.

I thought it was just really

Stunning.

And you know the other thing

That I love about you?

You're authentic.

This is one of the highlights of

The whole audition season.

Oh, my god.

Did you hear that?

I did.

I'm telling you, it's like--

Do a pirouette.

Ah!

Thank you.

My name is justin leblanc.

I'm 27 years old.

I'm from raleigh,

North carolina.

I'm completely deaf.

I mean, I have this little

Device right here, but the

Minute I take it off, I don't

Hear a thing.

I want to be able to show people

That deaf people or people

Who have a disability like me

Are capable of doing something

Like this.

Hi, justin.

So why don't you start

Talking to us about some of the

Pieces that you brought us

Today?

I'd love to see that up close.

From pennies?

Yeah.

J'adore justin.

The penny technique--holy cow,

Justin.

His love of felt.

I love felt!

I think that he could win this

Whole thing.

Let's talk about the pins.

It's actually really heavy.

I want to feel it.

Beautiful.

Thank you.

I adored the pin dress.

It was like armor, but then at

The same time, it almost looked

Like silk spice.

There was a softness to it.

When I put this implant

For the first time, I was able

To hear birds chirping when

I was 18 years old.

I wouldn't change anything about

Myself.

I mean, I can sleep nicely at

Nighttime.

I don't hear anything.

[Laughs]

I think your designs are

Gorgeous...

Thank you.

As in, I want to wear them.

I want to see people on the red

Carpet wearing them.

I can see nina going crazy for

These dresses.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Thank you.

Bye.

I'm, like, all giddy inside

Right now.

Oh, yeah.

And now a few feisty

Fashionistas who refuse to

Measure their words.

♪ ♪

Are you naturally a

Competitive person?

Yeah, it's probably, like, to

A really ferocious level too.

My work is gonna make you go

Home and cry.

Like, it's gonna destroy you.

I'm sorry.

♪ ♪

My name's helen castillo, and

I'm from union city, new jersey,

And I'm 25 years old.

I graduated from the fashion

Institute of technology with a

Bachelor's in special occasion

Design.

I have two black cats, a lot of

Tattoos, and I feel like my

Designs don't really reflect

How I look.

So, helen, what did you bring

With you?

Lace applique on power mesh

With no--not much stretch.

This look that you just

Showed us, though--what is she

Wearing underneath that?

Pasties and a flesh-tone--

Come on, give her a slip.

Tim gunn was a little

Concerned with not so much--

I guess, discretion, because

I like to do a lot of netting

Bodies with applique and stuff.

He was like, "how are you gonna

Send that down the runway?"

I'm like, "um, with a

Flesh-tone bra probably,"

'Cause I'm not trying to send,

Like, boobies down the runway.

You know what I mean?

Hey, that's my aesthetic, and

I'm not gonna change it, so...

Yeah.

Sorry.

This is my good side, though.

[Laughs]

♪ ♪

So this--all the work on the

Rack is work you've done since

F.i.t.?

Yes.

Okay, why did you--why did

You bring anything from your

Student days?

Why did i?

Mm-hmm.

Because it's beautiful!

Oh, sorry.

I didn't mean to yell.

[Laughs]

I think helen's a badass

b*tch.

I think she's the type of girl

I want to hang out with.

I think that we need to go rent

Some motorcycles and go up to

The local dive bar and just tie

One on!

It's a yes for me.

Helen, it's a yes for me.

It's a yes for me.

I think what you're doing is

Gorgeous.

Yeah.

I'm frightened.

[Laughter]

Oh, no.

I worry about the range that

The judges on project runway

Would expect.

Well, when I'm told to do

Something, I do it, and

I execute it phenomenally.

Can I go?

Yes, now you can go.

[Laughs]

Well, she's a scrappy one.

If you really want an honest,

Good, terrible critique, like,

You could get it from me.

I'm gonna say it like it is.

I never mean to be mean, but

I'm just very blunt and very

Honest, and I only accept

Perfection.

My name is angela bacskocky.

I'm 33, and I live in richmond,

Virginia.

My designs are really clean,

Classic, tailored, but with a

Little rock-and-roll edge.

That comes from your

Rock-band roots.

That's right.

I was still 17 when I got

Married.

We were in a band together.

I thought we were gonna be rock

Stars the whole time.

It was like I had a midlife

Crisis at 22.

The whole monogamy thing was

Difficult, so I had to leave the

Band and leave him.

I thought I was a l*sbian for a

While.

I tried to date a girl.

[Laughs]

That was unsuccessful.

It turns out I'm straight.

Well, let's talk about what

You brought us today.

Yeah, yeah.

So I've got the leather and

Sheep shearling jacket that's

Kind of moto inspired...

These little shorts, which

I ended up selling to several

Stores.

This is sort of, like, the

Signature dress with, uh, camel

Wool and leather piping on all

The seaming, and again,

I really like, you know,

Tailored, structured, detailed.

I like that you kind of hid

The style lines.

I'm a genius patternmaker.

[Laughs]

You are?

Excuse me.

One of the pieces that

I loved from angela was the

Camel-wool dress with

Red-leather piping.

I love that construction and the

Accents, and it really

Highlighted the body.

It was almost like an x-ray.

You've done such a great job

For yourself, and...

Thanks.

I'm gonna give you a yes.

Awesome.

Good. Thanks.

You got three yeses.

Thank you.

Good job, good job.

[Bird singing]

You don't do all this [bleep]

And get to new york just to drop

Out.

Like, who doesn't know how hard

Project runway is when they

Apply?

Like, I was like, "[bleep]

Baby."

You've got to be [bleep] me.

You seem kind of feisty.

My boyfriend jokes that

I, like, don't have an off

Switch.

I'm dominique streater.

I was born in west philly.

I was born in west philly, born

And raised.

I'm african-american, native

American, french, and cuban.

My personal style is a little

Bit of flirtatious kind of

Clothing, but still a little bit

Edgy.

Dom streater.

[Claps]

Hello, dom.

Hi, dom.

Hi.

How are you?

I am great.

How are you?

Good.

You're adorable.

Hey.

[Laughs]

And what did you bring with

You?

So I love to design

Outerwear, so I like to do,

Like, things with shearling

And, like, layered looks.

Also, this is something that was

Kind of resort-wear inspired.

So I designed it like this

Chiffon duster.

It's two different textiles that

I hand-pieced together.

I also have, like, a sweater for

Wintertime, and I actually made

This brooch.

It's made from red paper clips

To look like sea coral.

I liked the sweater.

I liked what could be done with

The toggles and the fact that

You could adjust it.

I think it had great hanger

Appeal.

Did you design the vest that

You--that you're wearing?

Yeah, this is one of my

Designs.

You know, even the v-neck

Thing that she has going on...

Oh, it's a yes, yeah.

Listen, we stopped you before

You got to the end of the rack.

[Laughs]

You've got a lot of great

Ideas and a lot of excellent

Execution.

Thanks, dudes.

You can get a look as I'm

Walking away.

Oh, yeah, girl, you know it.

[Laughter]

Up next, learn more about

These designers' tough road to

The runway.

I've been homeless four

Times, and it just pushed me to

Survival mode, where no matter

What happens in life, as long as

I'm still breathing, I can still

Survive.

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪

Welcome back to

Project runway season 12.

This is the road to the runway.

They've been through a lot, but

Their resilient nature helped

These designers overcome a

Difficult past with almost

Impossible odds.

My guess is, making a dress out

Of candy might just be child's

Play for this group.

♪ ♪

Let the door close.

Hold on, hold on.

When you wear your uniform

And you walk out on the street,

You look like a hero.

This is my class "a" uniform

Jacket.

This one is for grenade

Throwing, and this one is for

sh**ting m-16s.

Pretty cool.

When w*r ends, fashion begins.

This uniform shapes and molds

Every design that I make.

This, for example, is made from

A military wool blanket--the

Same blanket that I slept with

During basic training.

My name is miranda levy.

I'm 29 years old, and I'm from

Milwaukee, wisconsin.

And she's got three models.

[Claps]

Hello, miranda.

Hi.

So can you talk to us about

The pieces that you have here?

My interest is definitely in

The idea of a uniform because

I wore a man's uniform for eight

Years.

I was kind of just thinking

About this andrews sister

Character.

That's what I'm trying to

Create--this--this postwar,

Strong woman that's maybe a

Little militant but feminine

Too.

I use a lot of the floral print

As a substitute for camouflage.

Did you design the dress that

You're wearing?

I did, yes.

I liked miranda's dress.

It looked really well made and

Well tailored, and I liked the

Uniqueness of the yoke piecing

That she did with the floral

Print.

She looked great in it.

What is your tattoo all

About?

I'm very curious.

My brother passed away three

Years ago, and it says the

Words in reverse, "I don't have

Much time," as a reminder to

Myself to live each day to the

Fullest and follow my dreams.

Oh, my.

Wow.

My parents always fought.

My mom left when I was 15.

So I pretty much took care of

Him.

He was like my baby.

Well, your clothes are a very

Nice counterpoint to that.

They're happy.

They're happy.

Yeah.

So, project runway, you should

Pick me because if there's a

Zombie apocalypse, I can

Probably save you.

Signing out.

I'm alexander pope, and I'm

From new york city.

I'm very much into the

Avant-garde, high fashion,

Runway couture, all of that.

[Claps]

Hi, how are you?

Hi, alexander.

So tell us about yourself.

The past five years, I've

Been working in costume

Construction.

For the lion king, I made scar

And rafiki.

Wow.

So you had a lot of engineering

Things to deal with.

Can you talk to us about what

You brought?

Sure, I just made some--

Little outfit--

Um, high-waisted pants, ankle

Length, out of antique satin

With accent pockets.

I first started sewing probably

When I was 13 or 14.

When I was a preteen and a

Teenager, I kind of got into the

Death-rock and gothic scene.

They didn't have hot topics in



I started sewing myself stuff to

Go, you know, to the gothic

Clubs.

And then it's just a simple--my

Little take on the simple black

Dress.

It's a nice combed-cotton

Stretch.

This is a coat that I wanted to

Go with this.

Wool plaid, and this long collar

Kind of wraps around and ties

Into a bow.

A little dropped, puffed sleeve,

Elizabethan with a little bustle

In the back.

Party in the back.

A party in the back.

I loved alexander's work.

I thought his jackets with the

Bishop sleeve--i mean, it's

Clothing I want to wear.

It's got a really "renaissance

Meets this century."

It's just fantastic.

So give me sort of a

Timeline--where you were born

And all that.

I was born in hollywood,

California.

Our mother left when I was two.

They divorced.

And then my dad did remarry.

I resented her and resented him

For basically choosing her

Over me.

We would get in huge, huge

Screaming matches.

I mean, he had a temper.

So I rebelled and snuck out

And, you know, did drugs and

Listened to dark music.

You weren't dealt an easy

Hand.

No, I wasn't.

Who do you see your customer

Being?

She is definitely confident.

She is definitely daring.

The big thing about her is

She's feminine but loves to

Cross the gender line.

I used to dress up, too, for

Decades.

My drag was always put together

'Cause I always made all my

Stuff, and I did my own makeup.

So I looked pretty polished,

I would say.

Just a huge, exaggerated,

Accentuated clutch that you can

Hit people with if they get in

Your way.

And this is my version of the

Power suit--

A little wink-wink right there.

Do you feel it's pushing at

The boundaries of costume?

Definitely.

In terms of for

Project runway, you would have

To tone it down a little bit.

I can definitely tone it

Down.

I'm a yes...

Yeah.

Definitely, with enthusiasm.

I love the idea of having a

Costume designer on the show...

Right.

But not just any costume

Designer--you.

That's great.

Get out of here.

Aah! Thank you so much.

My name is ken laurence.

I live in birmingham, alabama,

And I'm 24.

This is my signature tattoo.

I'm always dressed for the

Occasion.

I watch project runway from a

Different standpoint.

I listen to what the judges say,

And I apply that back to my

Work.

I've been "secretly

Competing"...

[Laughs] for the past 11 years.

I've mastered sewing, design,

Patternmaking.

I love this big baby.

I'm ready. I am.

[Claps]

Hello.

Hey, hey, how's it going?

Welcome back.

You've been shoe shopping, huh?

Let's see those.

Oh.

Yes, fabulous.

I love those.

So let's talk about what you

Brought us today.

I have a little thing for

Creating structural pieces.

So this here--it's vinyl fabric

Here with a power shoulder,

And this is a cotton and nylon

That's woven together.

I love that.

I think the fabric adds power

And edge, but the silhouette

Of it keeps it really feminine.

Let me tell you, if you've

Ever sewn vinyl, it ain't easy.

And the way it looked--you could

Spot a ripply seam, and there

Wasn't a ripply seam.

So he knows construction.

This is just a basic pencil

Dress.

The fit is really amazing.

My favorite part about it is

The neckline.

It's asymmetrical.

Do you make your own

Patterns?

Yep, absolutely.

Absolutely.

I taught myself all of those

Things.

Give me the lifetime one--all

The major things that kind of

Have shaped who you are today.

I've been homeless four

Times.

Everything that I owned was in

The backseat of my car.

I worked in a mall, and I would

Get ready in the handicap

Bathroom.

And it just pushed me to where,

No matter what happens in life,

As long as I'm still breathing,

I can survive.

Looking back on the previous

Season, did you see when andrea

And kooan walked off?

Season ten--

That pissed me off.

I could have been in that spot.

I don't care if my fingertips

Are stabbed and bleeding

From sewing, I'm gonna sew and

The judges are gonna have to

Say, "ken, it's time for you to

Go home."

For me, it's a yes.

And I think you're adorable and

Cute.

I think everything is really

Powerful.

I'm so glad you came back.

You can go out there and tell

Them you got three yeses.

Thank you very much.

I sure will.

Thank you so much.

Up next, project runway

Season 12 goes global.

Why you always have it too

Close to my face?

I get sweat.

I'm not that close.

Okay.

[Bleep] you.

[Bleep] you.

[Bleep] everyone.

I want to get the [bleep] out of

Here.

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪

Welcome back to

Project runway season 12.

This is the road to the runway.

These designers hail from all

Over the globe.

Well traveled, they're sure to

Bring a certain je ne sais quoi

To the runway.

Take a look.

♪ ♪

Hold that up just for a few

Seconds.

Don't cover your face, though.

Pull it down.

Hi, my name is

Sandro masmanidi.

I live in new york city.

♪ ♪

Please don't forget where I came

From.

Tell us a little bit about

Your childhood and growing up.

Okay, so my childhood was

Not really great because I was

Born in russia at a time when

There was, like, really

Difficult moments.

I start modeling when I was





I've got cancer.

And all my plans--you know,

Like, almost crushed.

I survived cancer.

It make you focus and understand

Why you here.

So talk to us.

So, as much as you see, I'm

Trying to play with construction

And some details by hand work.

Did you create the shoe?

Yeah.

I from russia, guys, you know?

[Laughter]

From russia, you have to make

Shoes, bags, dresses, jewelry,

Everything.

You have to be very

Independent.

I liked sandro's c*ck

Dress.

I liked how he styled the model.

I liked her hair.

Go figure.

I liked her shoes.

[Speaks russian]

I love russians.

And this is my closet.

First, I show you one of my

Favorite brands.

Looks good.

Oh, I have versace leather

Pants.

Do you want to see?

Yeah.

I think they're really fun.

You see the gold in the back.

It's kind of a little tacky,

But I like it very much, no

Matter what.

Why you always have it too close

To my face?

I get sweat.

I'm not that close.

Okay.

I have a lot of problems with

People because not a lot of

People ready to hear the truth.

[Bleep] you.

[Bleep] you.

[Bleep] everyone.

I want to get the [bleep] out of

Here.

[Breathes deeply]

How about the knit dress?

Yeah.

This dress, actually, I did for

Around, like, two weeks.

It's magnificent.

Thank you very much.

Now, let's talk about the

Coral crochet dress.

I thought it was an interesting

Dress, but I couldn't get my

Eyes off of this right here.

I'm sorry.

I'm a maybe.

I'm a yes.

Yeah, I think I am--

Yeah, I think it's a yes.

I'd like to explore more.

So, like, "top gunn" says

Yes.

This with crazy hair says yes.

And that girl says, like,

"Maybe."

I'm like, "oh, you like make my

Nerves, huh?

You are so spicy.

I can tell."

God bless america.

Let's go.

I was born in uganda, and my

Father was a diplomat, so he was

Congolese, and my mother was

Congolese.

After the w*r started there,

My parents moved us to kenya and

Put us all in boarding school.

I've always loved fashion, but

I never thought it would be an

Option as, like, a career

Choice.

So I started working in

Marketing, and I got laid off.

And it just came to me.

I was like, "let me go back to

School and get a fashion design

Degree."

And from there, everything just

Started coming into place.

How are you?

I have a cold, so excuse my

Sexy, deep--

It's actually a very sexy

Voice.

Yeah.

So I've been designing

Modahnik, which is my clothing

Line, for six seasons now, and

I just use a lot of prints,

Geometric prints.

I love bold colors.

This is synovia.

This is adorable.

I love using parts of the

Print as part of the whole

Design.

My favorite dress was the

Printed dress with the t-back.

I thought that it was very cute,

Very summer sexy, but elegant.

I really design for that

Woman who walks into a room and

Commands attention.

♪ ♪

This was from my first

Collection, and I kind of wanted

To show you guys how I think

I've really evolved as a

Designer.

You have evolved.

Under pressure, how do you

Work?

I make up these songs in

French sometimes and in lingala.

They don't make any sense.

[Singing in lingala]

♪ ♪

I can definitely win

Project runway.

I'm up for the challenge.

The fourth time, hopefully, is

A charm.

This is my fourth time.

Is it?

Well, I think it's time.

It's the sexy voice.

[Laughter]

It's sexy work.

Thank you so much.

I really appreciate it.

[Claps]

Yep.

You want to do this one?

Sure? You did it so well.

Jeremy brandrick.

[Claps]

Hello, jeremy.

Hi, jeremy.

Nice to meet you.

I'm originally from birmingham,

England, and I became an

American citizen last december.

Congratulations.

So, yeah, and I've been here

About eight years.

So what are you doing right

Now?

I run my own bridal-wear

Business.

This one's quite interesting.

This is a handwoven leather

Front with a warm cashmere

Blend.

Impeccably made.

Mm-hmm.

We have an updated safari.

A pair of shorts, again very

Unstitched, very clean--

A kind of safari-esque blouse.

Nice counterpoint.

You're a family man.

Yes, yeah.

So I've been with adam for



We got married in the u.k. Six

Years ago.

Right from when we first met,

We knew we both wanted to have

Children.

[Babies screaming and crying]

There you go.

Vintage couture.

Having children completely

Reinvented our lives.

And I know you just want to

Spend the rest of the afternoon

Upside down now.

This picture here was the

Babies' very first scan, which

Was the most exciting point of

Our life, when we kind of

Realized that we were having

Twins.

Half are linton tweeds.

We do all of the boucles for

Chanel.

This here tailored jacket here,

So...

Sure.

This is a traditional british

Worsted mill.

You know, it's all fully lined.

It's got the vent, working

Cuffs, inside pocket.

We're--we're--

Stop.

We're sold.

Jeremy is an incredible,

Talented tailor.

It changes the whole way a dress

Drapes and sits on a female

Figure, and he has that in his

Back pocket.

Thank you, project runway,

For coming to meet me and my

Family in new york.

I really look forward to meeting

You all on the show.

We're gonna spend the rest of

The afternoon up on our roof

Terrace, so you can all wave

Bye.

[Laughter]

You monsters.

[Funky music]

♪ ♪

Hey, everyone, I'm sue.

Welcome. Come on in.

Let's do it again.

[Laughs]

Hey, welcome. I'm sue.

Welcome to brookl--no, sorry.

Okay, one more time.

Well, I've never acted before.

Ready? Hey, I'm sue.

Welcome to brooklyn.

Come on in.

♪ ♪

Most of the pieces I make are

One of a kind, and as far as

Style goes, I'd like to think

That the lines are clean,

Relatively pure, with a little

Bit of complexity, and

Definitely the handmade aspect

Is what I think makes it

Special.

Sue waller.

[Claps]

Hi, sue.

Hi, everybody.

How are you?

So what's your technical

Background?

Where'd you go?

I studied filmmaking.

Okay.

I did not study fashion, so

I'm totally self-taught, and

I actually moved to france a

While ago, and I was in the

Middle of the medieval
countryside.

I remember one day, I thought,

"There is no film work here."

I looked at my left hand.

I looked at my right hand, and

I thought, "I have so many

Ideas.

I'm gonna start making things."

And did you start

Manufacturing there?

I mean, if there was--

This is it.

This is--this is the factory.

Okay.

You've got so much up here.

Show us some of your favorites.

Impress us.

Well, this is what I wear.

It's basically like my pajamas.

I wear it every day, so it's

Beaten to death.

But this is just something sort

Of typical of my jackets.

Did you design the tunic that

You're wearing?

Yes.

I just want to see how the

Jersey pieces fit.

Oh, it's quite nice.

I think my work is a real mix

Of urban and organic.

All the leather I use, it

Doesn't look anything like this

When I start working with it.

My supplier calls me sue the

Alchemist because it always

Comes out, you know, nothing

Like it looked like in the

Beginning.

I think that sue has her

Aesthetic down pat.

The leather, the chic, the

Little bolero jacket, the

Jersey.

I've seen that woman in paris.

One critique, sue--

The next time you show your very

Expensive designs, do not show

Them on wire hangers!

Please?

Hey, thanks for coming to

Visit.

Be sure to check me out on

Project runway season 12.

Up next, 15 designers in less

Than five minutes--your final

Recap before project runway

Season 12 begins.

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪

Welcome back to

Project runway season 12.

This year we decided to give

One former project runway

Designer a second chance to

Compete on the show--a runway

Redemption, if you will.

We invited you to cast your

Vote for either

Ra'mon-lawrence coleman

From season six, valerie mayen

From season eight,

Or kate pankoke from season 11.

Which lucky designer will be

Back by popular demand?

The answer when project runway

Season 12 begins.

But before we leave you, here is

A brief recap of each designer.

Who will be in, who will be out,

And which one of these talented

People will win project runway

Season 12?

[Upbeat music]

♪ ♪

I'm kind of an all-or-nothing

Kind of guy.

I mean, I don't think you can be

Successful without being

Competitive.

And I love to mix different

Fabrics and patterns together

In the same outfit, and I think

It comes from the fine-art

Perspective.

Well, I just love to

Experience new and different

Cultures and incorporate a

Little bit of each in my design

Aesthetic.

And, you know, I love matching

Fabrics and using prints in a

Different way.

The reason I'm interested in

Repurposing materials is that

This childhood playfulness of

"Anything can be anything else."

And with using repurposed

Materials and moving forward

With sustainability, you're

Constantly innovating, so that's

Very motivating.

I feel like my aesthetic

Is kind of commercially based,

But I love color.

I love neon.

I love prints.

And creating collections and

Finding the fabrics and kind of

Building that story, that's what

Inspires me and makes me want to

Do it more and more.

You see my style,

You see my look.

You see my signature.

You deal with that, yes or no.

I came here, start from zero.

All designs and handwork and

Style, what I do, people

Appreciate that, they understand

That, and they can see I have a

Big potential to be a big

Designer in this country.

Yeah, I want to win.

I play to win.

I don't have time to waste.

My point of view as a designer

Is edgy, modern, strong.

I think that clothing is your

Armor,

You should say something when

You wear it.

This is my life, and I give all

That I have into it.

I'm very driven, in terms--

I see a goal, and I want it, and

I go for it as hard as

I possibly can.

I do sexy, modern sportswear

With a very european slant.

I want to grow my business from

What it is now, and america is

The place to do it.

England is too small.

I only accept perfection.

My designs are really clean,

Classic, tailored, but with a

Little rock-and-roll edge.

I am girly, and I like a girly

Touch, but I dress it down so

I feel like I can hang with the

Boys.

I do like minimalism, but

I also like the silhouettes of

The romance eras.

I'm very much into the

Avant-garde, high fashion,

Runway couture, all of that.

I'm pretty comfortable with who

I am now, and it took me a lot

Of crap to get there.

The next step is career.

I think my work is a real

Mix of urban and organic, and as

Far as style goes, I'd like to

Think that the lines are clean,

Relatively pure, with a little

Bit of complexity.

The more I work, the more I get

Ideas, and I'm a perfectionist,

So I keep going, keep going,

Keep going until I drop,

Basically.

I'm trying to create this

Postwar, strong woman that's

Maybe a little militant but

Feminine too.

I use a lot of floral print as a

Substitute for camouflage.

When w*r ends, fashion begins.

I watch project runway from a

Different standpoint.

I listen to what the judges say,

And I apply that back to my

Work.

I've been "secretly

Competing"...

[Laughs]

For the past 11 years.

I'm ready. I am.

I know I can win project runway.

I love design.

I live for it.

I breathe for it.

Like, I make these beautiful

Gowns, and you would never

Expect someone like me to create

Something like that.

My work is so exquisite, and I'm

Like this really raw,

Rough-looking, intimidating

Girl from jersey.

I don't like to sugarcoat

[Bleep].

I'm very straightforward.

I like designing new lines and

Shapes on garments.

I know what I'm doing.

I'm confident in how I design,

And I feel like I have a really

Fresh and innovative look.

I definitely think that I have

What it takes to win.

Thanks for joining me.

Project runway season 12

Starts now.