Project Runway: Lessons for DIY Design
August 27, 2009 | By
Last week’s Project Runway season premiere introduced the 16 new contestants vying for the $100,000 prize. The designers were challenged to create an “innovative” red carpet look with a budget of just $200, working from their new studio housed at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles.
Episode One: Formal Training Isn’t Always Necessary
By Sylvia Wong, with Mimi Guethe
The first contestant sent home was eccentric Ari Fish, whose “disco soccer ball” outfit was widely criticized by the judges, including surprise guest judge Lindsay Lohan. Ari gets some kudos for taking risks with her textures and futuristic vision, but it’s clear her outfit didn’t fulfill the need for a wearable red carpet ensemble. Did anyone notice the designer’s resemblance to Samantha Ronson? It’s interesting that she was sent home before Qristyl Frazier, since the plus-size designer’s wildy patterned and “crookedly seamed” purple dress nearly sabotaged the normally carefully neutral faces of the judges.
While most of the contestants already had extensive experience with internships or owned their own shops, it was Christopher Straub, a 30 year old visual merchandiser from Minnesota, who won the first challenge. It’s remarkable that someone who was not formally educated in fashion design and who admitted to not knowing what smocking was, created an eye-catching strapless mini dress that judge Michael Kors called “cute and edgy.” Judge Lindsay Lohan loved the dramatically structured, glittering top, though she commented she would like “a little less ruffle” peeking out from underneath.
As a self-taught seamstress, it was genuinely touching to see Christopher become so emotional after his win. So consider the fact that learning to do things on your own, the core of DIY, is a worthwhile and rewarding endeavor.
Tips for Successful Independent Designers
Learn on your own. If you don't can’t or don’t want to get a formal education in fashion design like Christopher, you'll have to learn everything yourself. Researching and experimenting is key. Find simple clothing items that you can recreate and work your way through more complex garments. Deconstructing and reconstructing clothing also helps you understand how things are made and can be a great way to upcycle some unloved clothes! If you're starting from the ground up, learn your area of expertise. Some great starting points for learning basics on DIY fashion are T-Shirt Surgery, www.Craftster.org, and www.burdastyle.com. You can also seek out internships and entry-level jobs related to the fields you’re interested in pursuing.
Establish a “look.” It’s fun to experiment with making random things, but you will soon find that it’s better to find a niche to specialize in, rather than offering a vast assortment of items. Find what you really love to make, and create them with flair and consistency. Whether you use the same fabric throughout a collection, as Project Runway contestant Chris March did for his stylish, plaid-focused All-Star Challenge collection, or making the same product in different fabrics, just “make it work!” Don't forget that consistencies in photography and themes can be very important as well. What you’re going for is a pulled-together overall look for your collection.
Use professional equipment. Even if you are just selling some of your things online, it's important to maintain the high standards of 100% handmade goods. Invest in equipment that helps you create more professional products. You may have to buy a serger, make custom labels, and print business cards, and ideally also….
Find a Home. Create a home base for yourself. Are you going to invest in a brick and mortar shop? Do you want to start you’re a website to sell your wares? Or are online markets the perfect place for you? You can easily get started with great professional looking online shops on sites such as Etsy, Artfire, 1000 Markets and eBay.
Promote your work. Advertising can be extremely expensive and risky for an independent designer, so take advantage of the free resources available. Never underestimate the power of social networking sites! If you sign up on a site for the sake of advertising your line, make sure you actually use your account. Don't open an account somewhere just to advertise because it is apparent to people when they are being “spammed” rather than being “networked.”
Use your social networks to blog about your business, your new designs, and the events relating to your fashions. Always have it all link back to your home base. At Lipgloss and Black, we’ve found it’s the fastest and most inexpensive way to stay in touch with a large base of fans.
Remember who your customer is. Having complete creative control over your designs is one of the most exciting things about having your own line. As an artist, it is always important to create pieces that are on your own terms and it can be very difficult to part from that. If you are working for customers though, it is important to keep their needs in mind.
As we saw with Ari Fish, it’s easy to get carried away with your vision and to lose sight of what your ultimate goal is—which is to create a wearable, sellable product for your customer. Customers come to you because your designs call to them—but in the end, they won’t buy your product if they aren’t comfortable with the results.
Stay true to your vision. Be yourself and create items that YOU would love and wear. While you should never hop on any fads or bandwagons, you should adapt and take note of trends. Consider what’s in style but always design things that are true to the look you’ve established for yourself.
If you love it, chances are you’ll find a customer base who will love it too.
Project Runway on Handmade News
Project Runway has gotten off with a great start, with 4.2 million viewers, the highest in the show and the network’s history. So far our favourites include Louise Black, a fellow Etsy seller; Shirin Askari, the designer who made the dress with the awesome cape that drops to a godet; and of course, Christopher Straub, the DIY wonder! It’s likely far too soon to be picking potential winners, however, and it will be interesting to see what happens tonight as the designers become more comfortable and the “nice to meet you” gloves come off.
Project Runway airs Thursdays at 10 pm on Lifetime, where you can find full episodes as well as designer bios and videos from the show.
Join us next Thursday on Handmade News when we'll discuss tonight's Project Runway, from a handmade point of view.
Recommended Reading:
Chanel Fashion: Just Add Pearls
Mad Men Fashion
Glamorous Costumes: Project Runway Takes Inspiration from the Movies
Paper Dresses: Project Runway Flashes Back to the 60’s
Flatter Your Figure: Shopping Tips from Project Runway
Project Runway: Tips for Working in Teams
Project Runway’s Shirin Askari Talks to Handmade News
Project Runway: Lessons for DIY Design
Project Runway Struts onto Handmade News!
Christopher Straub’s Blog and Shop
120 New Ways to Transform a Tee-Shirt: A Crafty Book Review
Photos courtesy of Lifetime Television and Lipgloss & Black.
<--- Go back to the Just for Fun department for more crafty fun!
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About Our Guest Contributor
Sylvia Wong loves wearing leather and studs but is also obsessed with anything that makes her feel like a ballerina. A lover of all things handmade or upcycled, she is one half of Lipgloss and Black where she shares her love of DIY style with other edgy fashionistas. Visit her online at www.lipglossandblack.etsy.com.
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Mimi Guethe is a writer, crafter, and former film publicist who lives with her husband and three cats in Los Angeles, CA. Her work has appeared in numerous publications across the country, including The Washington Post and Publishers Weekly magazine. She spends her days dreaming of living by the sea.
Visit Mimi online at the happy honeybee to see her handmade plushies, embroidery, and more. For the most up to date information, feel free to visit her on Twitter at @JustForFunHMN or @mimiguethe.
You may also view this complete list of all Handmade News articles by Mimi Guethe.
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Mimi Guethe isn’t afraid to admit it: her children’s books outnumber her grown-up ones, she has an unfortunate weakness for her own killer fried chicken recipe, and she learns something new everyday on the Handmade News site. Please visit her online at the happy honeybee.
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