We’ve waited a Lifetime for the sixth season of Project Runway. After a controversial jump ship from Bravo to the Lifetime network last summer, and ensuing lawsuits between the Weinstein Company (Runway’s owner) and Bravo parent NBC Universal that kept the show from airing, Project Runway finally premiered on Lifetime on Aug. 20.
Relocated from NYC to Los Angeles, the sixth season sees host Heidi Klum and fashion mentor Tim Gunn return, and a fresh gaggle of 16 competitors. Amongst the ranks are openly gay Milwaukee-based Ra’mon-Lawrence Coleman, 31, who currently designs for Kohl’s, and first week winner, 30-year-old Christopher Straub. Despite decrying his lack of fashion education, Straub’s red carpet cocktail dress wowed the judges (and the models). The native Minnesotan recently launched a namesake online accessory shop, ChristopherStraub.com.
Here the pair lifts the fabric on the new season, from its delay, the new setting, and whether Gunn offers input beyond “make it work.”
Watermark: This season was shot almost a year ago. What was it like having to wait so long for it to air?
Christopher Straub: For the longest time I wasn’t sure it was actually going to air. It was being referred to as the “lost season” because it was tied up in all these legal issues. It was very depressing. Now looking back I’ve had time to really focus and figure out my game plan so it’s ended up being a total blessing—getting all my ducks in a row and creating a collection, everything that’s going to happen after the show.
Ra’mon-Lawrence Coleman: If anything, I think we had an opportunity as a cast to be a little bit more mentally prepared for what the future might be, which has been a blessing and a curse.
Did you watch Bravo’s The Fashion Show, their PR fill-in, and what did you think of it?
CS: I think everyone was comparing it to PR and when you do that it’s not a success. I saw the vision of the show completely, to make wearable pieces that are going to sell right now, which from a marketing standpoint is a really good idea. But when you put it in the perspective of this is something you can find at JC Penney it dilutes the fashion of it. [Actually], I was called and emailed by those producers, the casting people, to try and get me on the show but by that time I had already been on PR, so obviously I didn’t answer their calls. But a little part of me was like, “If they never air Runway, I lost this chance, too!”
Did anyone purposely try and come up with a catchp hrase this year, a la Christian Siriano’s “hot tranny mess/fierce”?
CS: Johnny [Sakalis]. He’s the only one that said, like, “I have a catchphrase!” and tried to use it. But it’s so funny because there may be something you say two times in a week but it gets edited into one show so then [it looks like] you say it all the time.
Speaking of editing, one might get the impression that Tim Gunn—and I love, love, love him—comes in and says “oh, that worries me, make it work” or “looks great, carry on!” and that’s that. Is there actually a more substantive, lengthy interaction and input between the designers and Gunn that we don’t see?
RLC: Tim is definitely an amazing person with a great eye and perspective. There’s much more that happens than can get into an hour time slot. So definitely he’s there as much as possible and equally for everyone and unbiased for all the designers. More than five minutes [each] for sure.
CS: Well, he does have a lot to say but his position as far as I know is not to tell us what to do but ask us [about our] direction, what are we trying to [create], and then step back and be like, “From my perspective this is what I see.” Even though there are all the catchphrases and stuff, they make sense. You only have a certain amount of time and you have to make it work. There’s no other recourse than to carry on, because if you stop now you’re going to be nowhere.
What effect did the show’s move from NYC to Los Angeles have from your perspective?
RC: There are different types of fashion [in L.A.]. There are so many things they incorporated … as being great avenues for designers. I think everyone will be really exited to see it.
CS: There was a hair and makeup women who asked, “What do you think of L.A.?” I looked at her and said, “What do you think we’re doing here? We have not been able to leave!” You’re in a building and work and work and work. This could have been shot in Antarctica or Mumbai. For me, the ambiance and city and romance just didn’t exist. You’re in front of a sewing machine.
Does your own home city, or current home base, influence you, and how so?
RC: Well, Chicago has always been a strong part of influencing me as a designer. The great thing about Chicago, and having lived in Minneapolis for some years and now Milwaukee, is there are cities labeled “third tier” that really have something to offer in terms of art and design. There’s so much happening independently, underground in these cities that really has become the pulse of what the future of art and fashion design is. That’s always been part of what inspired me because there’s such a camaraderie, and if one person is moving forward they’re bringing someone else with them.
CS: I feel very separate from the fashion world. I live kind of in the country, a suburb. I don’t make it to Minneapolis very often and I internalize my fashion and do it and it gets me by. Now is probably my launching pad where I should be getting more visibility and doing more for the [local] fashion community.
Let’s end with a little dish. What’s the best dirt you heard about past seasons and their contestants?
CS: You’re digging somewhere, because I had heard that Christian Siriano did not sew his final collection. I know! Bad, huh? Now I feel bad! Don’t put it in. You’re going to put it in.
Lindsay Lohan makes an appearance this season, but of course she had a wee bit of a meltdown in the year since. Unfortunate timing?
CS: Well, she’s coming back! She’ll be back better than ever, she’ll be the new Lindsay and this is the start! How does that Michael Lohan version of the story sound?
RC: You know, I can’t fault anybody for what they’ve done in their lives. Is she entertaining? Yes. Is she fabulous in person? Yes. Being able to meet people you could never imagine you would and have interaction—I don’t think anyone can say it’s a letdown. Oh, Lindsay. I love her though.
