Return to the Runway

The long wait is over. Season 6 of Project Runway returns to the television airwaves next Thursday night, August 20 on the Lifetime cable network.

The delay since the end of season 5 was caused at least in part by the decision by show producers to leave its previous cable home on Bravo and switch to Lifetime. A legal battle ensued and the show was on indefinite hold until that was cleared up.

A move across the dial is not the only change. Hosts, supermodel Heidi Klum and Liz Claiborne Chief Creative Officer Tim Gunn, along with judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia, have left New York’s Parson’s School of Design behind for a move to California. The show now calls FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles its new design studio.

Sixteen designers will compete for the Project Runway title and a chance at prizes and increased visibility for their own careers. There are three Black designers among this season’s cast, including 50 year old Epperson (he just goes by a single name) and 42 year old Qristyl Frazer, both from New York, and 31 year old Ra’mon-Lawrence Coleman from Chicago (who does blip the gaydar, but his identity hasn’t been official established yet).

Also new this year is a behind the scenes look at what the Project Runway models experience. Models of the Runway will be a companion program where 16 women vie to be paired with the winning designer of “Project Runway” for a $25,000 cash prize from L’Oreal Skin Genesis and a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine.

The entire evening will begin however with a look back at some of our favorite Project Runway contestants from the first five seasons. Project Runway: All-Star Challenge pits eight of our favorite designers from past seasons, all of whom made it to Fashion Week during their seasons, with one even winning the whole show. The winning designer will take home a $100,000 cash prize.