Project Runway Finalist to Compete in Charleston Fashion Week 2018

Charleston Fashion Week

12th ANNUAL LEXUS CHARLESTON FASHION WEEK® ANNOUNCES THE TOP 12 EMERGING DESIGNER COMPETITION SEMIFINALISTS

Showcasing fashion designers, retailers, and models, the 12th annual Lexus Charleston Fashion Week® (#LexusCFW) is one of the premier fashion weeks in North America. Named a Top 20 Event for March by the Southeast Tourism Society, this multimedia event presents high-end runway shows, interactive entertainment, chic after- parties, and press events. The 2017 event featured more than 40 runway shows with 8,100 attendees. Lexus Charleston Fashion Week® 2018 is scheduled for March 13 – 17, 2018.  

Lexus Charleston Fashion Week® is proud to announce the top 12 Emerging Designer Semifinalists for the 2018 fashion competition. This year, Emerging Designers hale from a diverse collection of cities around the country, include a former Project Runway contestant (Kenya Freeman) and features the competition's youngest designer ever–she's 12 years old.

Each Emerging Designer will compete for the top prize March 13 – 17, 2018 under the tents in Marion Square in the heart of historic downtown Charleston. Tickets are now on sale for the hotly anticipated fashion event of the year. Visit the CFW website to purchase runway tickets, nightly passes, VIP packages and more.

“We were overwhelmed by the number of talented applicants of all ages, skill sets and education,” said Pauline Nakios, CFW fashion panel judge. “Each up-and-coming designer chosen will showcase his or her collection on the nationally-recognized runway before leading fashion insiders, influencers and media.”

“Charleston Fashion Week gives aspiring fashion designers the opportunity and platform to present their collections on a professional runway and share ideas with true industry professionals. I am pleased to be a part of the event for the seventh year!” - Fern Mallis, author and creator of New York Fashion Week.

The Lexus Charleston Fashion Week® 2018 Emerging Designer Competition Semifinalists chosen to debut their collections include:

  • Tygerian Burke // Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Kelly Callaway // Scottsdale, Arizona
  • Kenya Freeman // Atlanta, Georgia
  • Tina Gancev // Atlanta, Georgia
  • Sharae Hines // Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Heather Rose Johnson // Charleston, South Carolina
  • Tierra Macon // Los Angeles, California
  • Joan Madison // Columbus, Ohio
  • Kimberly Millar // Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Patresea Peppers // Atlanta, Georgia
  • Emilie Schroeder // Brooklyn, New York
  • Patrick Tai & Terrence Henderson // Charlotte, North Carolina

The 2018 Emerging Designer Grand Prize Winner, selected by a fashion panel of judges at the Saturday night Fashion Finale, will receive an enhanced prize package worth more than $40,000, including the following:

  •  $10,000 cash
  • Once-in-a-lifetime lunch with Fern Mallis in New York City in 2018
  • Mentorship with L2 Apparel and Lilia P. CEO, Pauline Sokol Nakios
  • Featured Designer event or show at Charleston Fashion Week 2018
  • $10,000 website or search engine marketing package from F22 Internet Solutions

The Emerging Designer Competition began eleven years ago and serves as a platform for undiscovered talent, connecting them with top fashion trendsetters including New York Fashion Week Founder and international fashion consultant, Fern Mallis, and CFDA members and top designers like David Hart, CADET, and Tracy Reese. Previous winners and contestants have been featured in VOGUEMarie ClaireELLEWomen’s Wear Daily and on CNN.com, along with other major media outlets; and their collections have been picked up by stores including Anthropologie, BARNEY’s New York and Neiman Marcus. For more information, including tickets and availability, visit charlestonfashionweek.com or @chasfashweek.

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Project Runway SPiN NYC & Susan Sarandon

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The best part of last week's Project Runway: Academy Award winner, Susan Sarandon. The worst part: Susan Sarandon. The challenge was dreadfully boring, thanks Susan! The designers were commissioned to re-design staff uniforms for ping pong social club, SPiN NYC, co-owned by, you guessed it, Susan Sarandon. While I appreciate bringing real-world  fashion work to the show, I don't watch Project Runway to be entertained with the practical. I want to see the creative and avant garde. The innovative and brilliant. The triumphs and defeats. Thank goodness that hot male models were thrown in the mix, otherwise I would have totally fallen asleep. 


TEAM KEEPING IT REAL




[caption id="attachment_19290" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designer: Stanley"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_19291" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designers: Kate & Patricia"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_19292" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designers: Joseph Aaron & Richard"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_19294" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designers: Daniel & Layana"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

Daniel and Layana won the challenge for Team Keeping It Real. The judges also liked Joseph Aaron and Richard's design, especially the graphic print on the front pockets and the holder strap for the ball catcher. I'll agree, it was pretty cool. But the coolness only lasted for 30 seconds... and then we were back to bleh...


DREAM TEAM




[caption id="attachment_19295" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designers: Benjamin & Matthew"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_19296" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designers: Samantha & Tu Suthiwat"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_19297" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designer: James"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_19298" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designers: Benjamin & Cindy"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_19299" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="designer: Michelle"]project-runway-fashionado[/caption]

The Dream Team was the losing team, again. The look on their faces was saddening. I actually felt for them. James Martinez was sent home. He was not a good team player, so no great loss. Benjamin's ego is starting to occupy a lot of space in the workroom. That's going to be a problem. Benjamin and Matthew got a lot of flack for their kilt design. I admire their willingness to think outside of the box, but guys aren't going to wear kilts. The judges also felt the "Balls are My Business" slogan over the crotch area of the kilt was inappropriate. I completely disagree with their pretentious judgement. The placement of the slogan was witty and edgy. Wonder what they think of Hooter's?

With Dream Team two designers short, will Project Runway will balance off the teams?? In this week's Project Runway, gorgeous but high-maintenance Heidi Klum is the client... Now that will be entertaining...

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Project Runway embraces Social Media...

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Inspiration via Social Media... Yup. Project Runway took to Twitter to conceptualize this week's challenge. The

Project Runway Allstars

were given a selection of images which were tweeted by Project Runway fans to choose from and create a look "inspired" by the image. Some designers were too literal while others were floating in outer space. 

The Bottom 3:

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Joshua McKinley

, you know I'm rooting for you, but girl, you need to step it up, like a lot! Tim Gunn would definitely scream "make it work, bitch!" Joshua, you have all this talent and insanity flowing through you but all you're giving us is the insanity! Find that balance between the two and kick some Allstar butt!!

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One would think that Project Runway would be the perfect platform to experiment, try new things and take risks. NOT!

Althea

, this is a competition and you need to be certain of what you are doing. The drapey trouser didn't work because you were lacking the skills set to create it. I totally appreciate the aesthetic you were trying to achieve but try it at home, not in the workroom.

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It's hard to be mean to

Andrae

because he's so adorable. But his charm and zany personality couldn't save him from elimination.

The Top 3:

[caption id="attachment_18141" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Anthony Ryan"]

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[caption id="attachment_18142" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Laura Kathleen"]

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[caption id="attachment_18143" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Emilio Sosa"]

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This is where it gets confusing for me. I don't know what spell

Anthony Ryan

has over the judges, but it's not working on me. I don't really care how wearable his dresses are. I don't really care how great they fit (they don't always)... I

do

care that they are fucking boring! Yet he continues to get so much praise from the judges. Whatever!

Both designers,

Laura Kathleen

and

Emilio Sosa

presented beautiful dresses that possessed movement, fluidity and wow-factor.  I was disappointed when they didn't win the challenge. One of them should've rather than the sausage in heels Anthony sent down the runway.

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and the Project Runway winner is...

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Dmitry Sholokhov

, you are the winner of

Project Runway

Season 10! No surprises here, nor complaints! For a minute, the judges had me in suspense during deliberation because

Fabio Costa

could just have easily won too. I believe that if Project Runway could have gotten away with calling it a tie, they would have. Both designers were terrific. They listened to the judges' critique and they "brought it."

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Christopher Palu

cracked. He couldn't handle the pressure, was disorganized and whined about everything. The judges were spot on with their criticism and observations. Christopher struggled with his own identity as a designer, hence compromising his artistic integrity.

Nina Garcia

and

Michael Kors

both commented on the fact that Christopher makes "pretty" dresses and rather than pursuing those instincts, he chose to go "dark." He needs to find a middle ground between the dark and the romantic. (SO get you're shit together Christopher!)

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Melissa Fleis,

too, listened to what the judges said and presented a rockin' collection. Cutting the sleeves / cuffs off the white leather jacket made a huge difference. The red leather dress was incredible. And you know Melissa loved it when guest judge,

Jennifer Hudson

, told her that she could have been one of the models.

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Fabio Costa

is sitting pretty in the number 2 position. He evolved the most as a designer, challenge after challenge. It's almost like he found himself. At the end, Fabio achieved what the judges, especially Michael, kept wishing for, and that was, to design clothing based on your personal aesthetic. Fabio has such a distinct personal view when it comes to his fashion sense and style. With this collection, he finally brought it forward. The trick is now to keep it up!

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A triumphant

Dmitry Sholokhov

, in his sexy black leather pants. Michael Kors kept saying all season long that Dmitry's sewing skills were the strongest and all the judges agreed that the problem was his styling was just a little dated. Dmitry listened, always remained cool and kicked ass at the end!

*READY to do it all over again?? Project Runway All Stars begin this week on Lifetime TV!

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