Project Runway

On this week's episode of Project Runway, designer Victorya Hong got the boot after putting up a denim trenchcoat that didn't wow the judges.  In the challenge, designers had to use Levi's denim and white cotton t-shirts to create a new class look.  Both Jillian and Victorya decided to make coats and both landed in the bottom two.  The judges felt that her design seemed simple and one that did not require much work.  She was sent on her way but today, she told BuddyTV that she didn't mind that much!  Read on to hear what else she had to say!

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

Hey everybody. This is Gina from BuddyTV, and today I'm talking to Victorya, one of the designers on Project Runway.  Can you tell me a little bit about your background in fashion design and how you got started?

Well, you probably know that I was in a completely different field before, so in order to change I actually had to come back to the United States. I enrolled in Parsons, then after that started working in the industry. My first job was -- I don't know if you remember the premium denim label called Earl Jeans back in the day -- that was my first job. I was in the women's design team, it was quite small, and it was kind of like a whole collection. Apart from jeans we did everything from leather to dresses and things like that. I was working with a great woman there, and she just kind of took me along to wherever she went. About, gosh, I'd say it was a year and a half ago, I just felt that I needed to work on my own, to try and start up my own label. Then this opportunity of Project Runway came along and I thought it was just great timing. It's the exposure I need in order to do my own line, and went for the casting call and here I am speaking to you.


Is Project Runway something you ever thought about doing before this season?

No, actually never. I'll be honest, never in my wildest dreams did I entertain the possibility of going on Project Runway. Just because the whole TV aspect of it. I've always been very frank. It's a difficult thing. I think there's some people who actually go on Project Runway to be on TV, but for me it's always been about trying to get into fashion, to break into the fashion world. Sometimes those things aren't necessarily compatible, so that was always something that I had to sort of address myself first off.


Now I feel like we really didn't get to know you as well as the other designers. When you watch the episodes back, do you feel like that's an accurate portrayal of yourself?

It's very funny, I was just talking about this with my husband this morning. I was in a meeting yesterday, and someone said to me, "You know what, I'm sitting here talking to you and you're not the girl I saw on television last night." We all laughed about it, because I think some people come off a certain way on television and it's not necessarily a true reflection of how they are.


On the episode this week with the denim design, Jillian tried to make it sound like you stole her idea for a coat, but what really happened?

I actually was not aware that she was doing a coat until it was too late for me. It's not like we ever collaborated in terms of. . .you know you don't really share your ideas with other people before you start them. It's just kind of funny, because the coat category is such a huge category of design. I guess when I saw it I was a little surprised that someone thought that they had the exclusive rights. I don't know, I was just a little surprised by it.


When you saw all the outfits on the runway, did you think you were the one who should have gone home?

I'll put it this way: when I was kicked off, I was ready to go.


Anything exciting in your future? Any big projects coming up?

I'm showing during Fashion Week. I'm on the official IMG calendar, so I have my show scheduled for next Friday at 8:00 in the Altman Building.


Well we wish you the best of luck, Victorya. We can't wait to hear more from you in the future.

Thank you so much, Gina.


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