| Project Runway is a competition-based show that | | | | The competition is based in New York City, and |
| features a group of talented clothing designers who | | | | much of the design work and judging take place at |
| are competing to show their own fashion collection at | | | | Parsons School of Design. The Chair of Fashion at |
| New York City's Fall or Spring Fashion Week at | | | | Parsons, Tim Gunn, has become a figurehead for the |
| Bryant Park. The honor of showing in one of the | | | | show and serves as a mentor to the contestants. His |
| primary tents at Bryant Park is an honor that cannot | | | | oft repeated reminders to the designers to "Make it |
| be bought or quickly earned. Famous designers like | | | | Work" and "Carry On" have become two of |
| Vera Wang, Dolce and Gabanna, or Calvin Klein are | | | | America's most famous catch phrases. Tim Gunn's |
| the top-attended shows at Fashion Week; however | | | | sophisticated and calm approach to the design |
| since the first airing of Project Runway in December | | | | process enables the designers to turn out couture |
| of 2004 the competing designers have brought in | | | | clothing on a small budget and even smaller time |
| huge audiences. | | | | schedule. Frequently, each designer is given $100.00 |
| The Project Runway series is hosted by German | | | | to spend at Mood Designer Fabrics in the Garment |
| supermodel Heidi Klum and can be seen on the Bravo | | | | District in order to make a dress that would appear |
| cable television network. The judges are pulled from | | | | to a consumer to be well over $1000.00 retail. The |
| some of the top fashion design houses or fashion | | | | time constraints placed upon the designers are |
| and beauty magazines that America has to offer. | | | | stress-inducing. Merely a day or two is given to |
| Michael Kors is a famous American designer and has | | | | create, shop for and construct tailored and unique |
| served as a judge on the show during all three | | | | pieces that speak to each designer's particular |
| seasons. The other primary judge, besides Kors and | | | | aesthetic sensibility. Each look is then worn on the |
| Klum, is Nina Garcia who is the Fashion Director for | | | | runway by a group of fashion models selected to |
| the top-rated Elle magazine. While Kors, Klum and | | | | appear on show. While the look is paraded down the |
| Garcia make up the core of the judging panel, there | | | | runway, the judges take notes and ascribe a score |
| is always a third guest judge who is brought in | | | | to each design. Once all looks have been shown, the |
| according to the style or challenge of each episode. | | | | designers are told whether they received a high, |
| For example, in Runway's Season Two, world-class | | | | middle or low score and are eliminated accordingly. |
| Olympian figure skater Sasha Cohen served on the | | | | Typically one or two designers are eliminated per |
| panel to help judge the skating costumes that had | | | | episode. |
| been designed and constructed by the design | | | | When the last three designers remain, all three are |
| contestants. Other guest judges included: the | | | | given a budget of $8000.00 and sent home for three |
| legendary Diane Von Furstenberg, musician Sarah | | | | months to construct a collection of 12 pieces to be |
| Hudson and Tara Conner, Miss USA. One of the | | | | shown at Fashion Week in New York. Once the |
| recent Project Runway challenges instructed the | | | | collections have been shown, one designer is chosen |
| contestants to sketch, design and construct Tara | | | | as the winner of Project Runway. He or she wins |
| Conner's evening dress for the Miss Universe | | | | $100,000 to start their own collection, a new car, and |
| pageant. | | | | an apprenticeship at a major fashion house. |