NATIONAL: A fresh crop of Project Runway contestants will hit the airwaves next month, incentivised by a covetable new prize and fresh judging expertise.
The second series of the fashion reality show, which kicks off on pay television network Arena TV on July 8, has secured participation at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) 2010 as its top prize.
International trend forecaster Sarah Gale has resumed judging responsibilities along with leading womenswear designer Jayson Brunsdon. Industry stalwart Henry Roth has again signed on as mentor.
Brunsdon said the new prize of exposure at Australia's top industry buying event had raised the stakes for this year's show with last year's winner Juli Grbac showing at L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Brunsdon said the show offered emerging designers a "fantastic opportunity" to design a collection that they would show at RAFW to an audience of industry professionals, media and buyers.
From a personal perspective he had brought rigour, fairness and humour to an educational judging process.
"It offers an opportunity to see these designers develop their signature and their skills on our advice. Some of them start with a very strong identity and these clever ones manage to incorporate that into each respective challenge. Others fall apart if they don't have a personal point of view.
"The most inspiring part is seeing the contestants develop as designers and build their signature looks. It's great to hear them vocalise their design choices when explaining why they did what they did."
Among the 12-strong crop of contestants vying for the winner's gong is a design, production and visual merchandising assistant, a corporate uniforms specialist, a soft furnishings specialist and a junior designer from retail chain Cue.
Series host Kristy Hinze said contestants' "exceptional" overall ability had sparked a close run contest.
"There is so much untapped talent in this country and Project Runway Australia is all about finding it. It's a privilege to be able to help launch careers like we have done with Series One winner Julie Grbac. The fashion industry is an exceptionally hard and cut-throat world to break into but this show gives designers a platform to really showcase their skills."