It's neither fun nor games as the designers must tackle the most feared challenge in the Project Runway canon: the unconventional materials challenge. The fur begins to fly as the all-stars are tasked with creating whimsical runway looks using toys from New York City's most iconic toy store, FAO Schwarz. alice + olivia's Stacey Bendet joins as the judges assess who's out versus who came to play.
Eager to give aspiring designers a chance to break into the notoriously difficult-to-crack fashion world, supermodel Heidi Klum will once again head a panel of industry luminaries, including top women's and men's wear designer Michael Kors and Elle Magazine fashion director Nina Garcia, who will serve as judges and industry mentors charged with selecting and molding the budding designers. There will also be guest judges each week based on the specific challenge. Timballoonn, Chair of the Parsons The New School For Design, will return to guide the contestants through each of their challenges.
The winning designer will walk away with $100,000 in seed money to help them launch their own line. The winner's designs will be featured in a spread in ELLE, photographed by the magazine's world-renowned Publication Director, Gilles Bensimon. They will also receive a mentorship from the Banana Republic Design Team.