California Apparel News

Who: Fashion Group International of Los Angeles, former cast members of hit Bravo TV reality series “Project Runway”What: Panel discussionWhen: Aug. 15Where: Museum of Television & Radio, Beverly Hills, Calif.

The scene: Fans of “Project Runway,” the sleeper hit reality show that challenges designers to create fashion in a pressure-cooker environment, gathered at the Museum of Television & Radio for the opportunity to listen to some of the show’s alums discuss their experiences on the show and their career endeavors since. Designers Nick Verreos, Andrae Gonzalo, Daniel Franco, Raymundo Baltazar and Kirsten Ehrig—all from the show’s Season 2—fielded questions from the panel’s moderator, Alison A. Nieder, executive editor of California Apparel News, and from the audience.

The dishy evening got started with the Los Angeles–based designers revealing what they’ve been up to since getting the “you’re out” from the show’s host, Heidi Klum.

Franco will show his eponymous line during New York Fashion Week in September. His collection will be sponsored by camera maker Nikon Inc. and Hachette Filipacchi Media, publisher of Elle magazine. Also showing at the Spring 2007 Fashion Week will be Season 1 alums Los Angeles designer Kara Saun and winner Jay McCarroll.

Ehrig announced that she had quit her day job as an attorney to focus on her design work. Formerly focused on sexy swimwear, Ehrig revealed that she would debut a travel luxury apparel line for Spring/Summer 2007. The as-yet-unnamed line will include swimwear.

Gonzalo (who inspired the catchphrase “Where’s Andrae?”) has hired a manager and is pursuing a television career as a fashion and makeover maven. He is in negotiations to work for a resort/active lifestyle line and is designing for private clients. Inspired by fans’ feedback, Gonzalo also is writing a book titled “Where the Hell Is My Chiffon?” to inspire women to make their own fashion rules.

Verreos continues to teach at Los Angeles’ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and to design for his contemporary line, Nikolaki. An avid blogger, Verreos’ musings can be found on the People magazine and Bravo TV Web sites. The designer also is in talks with a mall-based mass merchandiser to design a line of prom dresses under his name.

Baltazar has shifted gears from fashion design to costume design, currently working in the ABC Walt Disney costume department. Since the show, he also has worked designing costumes for films and The Jim Henson Co. Baltazar’s line of streetwear, Young Balls, has found a Japanese market and is selling in Osaka and Tokyo. The designer also announced a new deal for a book that explores the ethnic dynamics of fashion.

The lively panel dished out some gossip and refuted comments by other cast members that the show was edited to show them in the worst light. “It may not be reality—but it’s definitely the truth,” Gonzalo said.

The designers were careful not to overstep the boundaries of their Bravo contracts, but gave plenty of behind-thescenes insight.

“Here’s a secret that I do not mind letting out of the bag,” Verreos said. “They say there are 12 hours [to work on a challenge], but there are really more like eight or nine. They would pull us out [for interviews], and it could take an hour.”

Former lawyer Ehrig had this to say about the notorious contract cast members sign before joining the show: “The confidentiality clause is huge and overarching, and it comes down to scaring the ’peewad’ out of you. As a lawyer, I’m not sure it is enforceable, but there is a big dollar amount in there. When we got back in town, we were all very, very quiet.”

The panelists were quick to say they were delighted by viewers’ investment in each cast member, even after they were booted from the show. “Don’t stop rooting for us. The good thing is we’re not dead!” Gonzalo said.

Asked if they would relive the “Project Runway” experience if they had it to do over, not all of the panelists said they would. “It takes a very special kind of naiuml;veteacute;,” Gonzalo said.

The designers also discussed the show’s effect on their careers. “I used to be brilliant in two weeks, now I’m brilliant in two days,” quipped Gonzalo.

Asked by an audience member whether they felt they would have found their current success without the show, the designers all agreed they would have—but at a different pace.

“It would have been slower, and I mean slower,” Gonzalo said. “My hair grows faster than my career would have!”

Verreos discussed trying to get his “pretty dresses” noticed in Los Angeles’ “sea of denim and T-shirts.”

“There is a heck of a lot of talent in Los Angeles,” he said. “Please seek us out.” —Erin Barajas