Project Runway

On last night's episode of Project Runway, costume and fashion designer Chris March was eliminated.  The designer were teamed up in groups of three to take a fashion faux pas from the past and make it something fashionable for today.  Chris's team ended up in the bottom two along with Ricky's team.  The judges felt that out of everyone in his group, Chris's piece was the weakest in terms of construction and also felt that their collection didn't go together.  Today, Chris spoke to BuddyTV about his background in fashion and life after Project Runway.  

Below, you will find the complete transcript and mp3 of the interview.

Hey everbody. This is Gina from BuddyTV, and today, I'm talking to Chris from Bravo's Project Runway. Can you talk a little bit about your background in fashion design and your life in New York City?

Basically, I moved to New York six years ago as a freelance costume designer because I got nominated for a Drama Desk Award for costume design. And while I've been here, I've done a lot of things in the fashion world. I've been hired to do things for fashion, like advertising and a lot of things at Fashion Week and things like that. So I've always, of course, been interested in fashion design. And when this opportunity came along to be on Project Runway, you know, I decided to take it.


Had you ever thought about going on the show before this season?

No, not really. I did make things for Jay McCarroll's first fashion show at Bryant Park last September. I made some wigs and accessories for his show, so I got a lot of insight into, you know, his world. And so I was really not, I just really kind of thought that I didn't want to, specifically.


It seems like, on the show, you guys are always pressed for time and in crunch mode. Is that something that you were prepared for going into it?

My background has kind of specifically prepared me for that kind of thing. Working in theater, you know, the live theater deadline, you have to learn how to manage your time and get things done because the actors can't go out on stage naked. So, I'm really good at time-management, deadlines, that kind of thing.


And when you went on the show, how did you feel you stacked up against the other designers? Were there people there who really impressed you or intimidated you?

I think that everybody was intimidated by Rami, in a way, because he's already so successful. I think that a couple of my favorite's on the show are Kit, design-wise, and obviously Christian is incredibly talented for a 21-year-old. You know, they definitely impressed me, but as far as skills for being on the show, I definitely felt like that I was going to do well in that way.


And were you looking to be the team leader on this last episode, or is that something that was handed to you?

It's something that just kind of was handed to me because Sweet P and Steven didn't really have any experience with that kind of thing, and I do, obviously, in my costume career. So, they just kind of looked at me and said, "Well, you obviously have to be the team leader." And, kind of, without thinking of that's putting your head on the chopping block, you know, I just kind of took the responsibility. So, oh well.


When you're standing there at judging next to Ricky, did you think that he was going to go home? What did you think of his design?

I thought that the trouble with Ricky's team would probably mean that Ricky would go home. Plus, just the amount of unfinished things about their collection I thought was a problem, because, you know, in the past couple of challenges, the not being finished was a big issue. Like, you know, things being pinned and hems not done and things, which, a lot of their stuff was unfinished and I just kind of thought, well, that means that Ricky would probably be the one going home. But, it didn't end up that way.


Do you think that your time on the show really got to show people what you can do as a designer?

Maybe a little bit. Maybe a hint of what I can do. I think that it did not show kind of the breadth of what I can do because I didn't get that many opportunities. But, it maybe gave people a little bit of a hint, and hopefully, they'll go to my website and see what I do.


What's life been like since you've been home? Are you a little bit more popular in the city these days?

[laughter] It seems like I can't set foot out of my house without getting recognized. It's kind of a very good experience for me. But I can't make it to the corner grocery store without at least two or three people coming up to me and saying, "Hey, you're that guy on Project Runway!"


And what's in the future for you? Will you keep designing?

Oh, of course. I am a freelance costume designer, and right now, I have this offer to work on a movie. And I also have an offer to design a wig store in New York.


Do you want to stay with live theater as well?

I always love the theater, and whenever I get the opportunity and the project is right, I love to work in theater.


Alright, Chris. Thanks so much for your time. Good luck in the future. We hope to hear good things from you.

- Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of Bravo)