The challenge this week is to create a look for an everyday woman. However, the designers learn that this challenge will be more personal than they had expected, as each of their mothers or sisters join Heidi on the stage instead of the normal models. Each designer then chooses a "model" to design for, quite apprehensive about the non-prototypical appearance of said "models". Each designer will have to try to keep a balance between what his "model" wants and what his own style preferences are.
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.