Two more leave reality show

MELBOURNE: A shock elimination has led to two more designers being asked to leave reality television show Project Runway Australia. The exodus means there are now just eight contestants left vying for the show's prize pool which includes the chance to show their collection at next year's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.

In Tuesday night's episode (July 22), contestants were asked to create "sporty, racy seperates", consisting of at least two pieces, using only Fiat car parts. Owing to the difficulty of the challenge each was asked to select a partner to work with for the task.

Self-confessed "vintage' enthusiast Sophie Spalding and menswear designer Oren Nuri were named as the two worst designers after judges claimed that Spalding's design was "comical and too kooky" while a pair of pants constructed by Nuri was "over-ambitious".

In naming the designing duos of Helen Manuell and Juli Grbac, and Brent Zaicek and Shane Garland in the top two, the four-strong judging panel - which included regulars designer Jayson Brunsdon, buyer Sarah Gale, host Kristy Hinze and guest judge Harpers Bazaar fashion director Claudia Navone - congratulated both groups on their fit.

Zaicek and Garland were eventually named winners of the challenge.

"Your designs were effortless," Hinze said.

The remaining contestants are: Garland, Grbac, Leigh Buchanan, Zaicek, Lui Hon, Petrova Hammond, Manuell and Mark Antonio.