MELBOURNE: Queensland designer Jason Chetcuti was unceremoniously dumped last night after becoming the first designer sent packing from television reality show Project Runway Australia 2.
Judges on the series, which made its debut on pay TV network Arena last night (July 8), voted to get rid of the 29-year-old corporate uniform supplier after he was named the worst performing designer in the program's first design challenge.
The challenge, set by host Kristy Hinze, was to design a red carpet gown that reflected the designer's own aesthetic.
Judges, including buyer Sarah Gale and designers Jayson Brunsdon and Nicola Finetti, said Chetcuti's embellished garment "was messy and over the top and more suited to an '80s video clip than on the red carpet".
"Lady Gaga wouldn't even go near that," Brunsdon said.
Queensland University of Technology fashion technician Mark Neighbour, 42, won the challenge and receives immunity for the next elimination.
Eleven contestants remain in the running to win the event - which offers the season two winner a car, a six-page spread in Madison magazine and a $100,000 cash injection to invest in showing their label at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.
The remaining contestants are Anthony Capon, Kellyanne Russell, Amber Renae, Lauren Vieyra, Claudia Chabo, Ivana Stipicic, Yopie Starfurik, Michael Finch, Ryan Whelan and Willliam Lazootin.
The show is filmed at Whitehouse Design's Victorian campus in Melbourne.