Hammond wins Myer coup

By Tracey Porter

26 Aug 2008

MELBOURNE: Victorian designer Petrova Hammond is set to go national. The 27-year-old boutique owner will shortly have one of her designs manufactured by Myer and sold under its Basque private label after winning a challenge staged as part of TV reality show Project Runway.

In an episode aired last night (August 26) the five remaining contestants were asked by Myer merchandise director for fashion and beauty Judy Coomber to design a piece for the Basque customer that would take her from "the desk to dinner".

Having learnt the typical Basque consumer was aged in her thirties and was after fashion forward pieces at a reasonable price, the group were then given a budget of $100 and just 15 minutes in which to select their materials.

Kiwi expat Brent Zaicek and Easton Pearson patternmaker Leigh Buchanan were named in the bottom two with judges - including regulars designer Jayson Brunsdon, buyer Sarah Gale, host Kristy Hinze and guest judge Coomber - describing their designs as "flat" and "drab" respectively.

"She needs a head scarf and a corgi and she's the Queen of Balmoral," Brunsdon told Buchanan.

However in the end it was Zaicek who was sent packing with Brundson stating: "What you've given us is a very drab look and it's a very dated look at that."

Vying for a prize pool that includes a Fiat car, a spread in Madison magazine and $100,000 to put on a show at L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, the remaining contestants are Juli Grbac, Buchanan, Lui Hon and Hammond.