Project Runway

There has been quite a buzz on the future of the Bravo reality competition, Project Runway, as the recently concluded fourth season brought reports that the show was going to move to another network.  Both NBC, which owns Bravo, and Lifetime, the purchasing network, admitted that there was a sale of rights and that Project Runway’s fifth season will be the last to air on Bravo, as the sixth installment will begin airing on the Lifetime network.

A lot of reports circulated that there will be a shifts in the production side of it as well, as producers Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz reportedly signed on a deal with NBC, thus implying that they won’t be working for Project Runway anymore.  Now that the issue is cleared, we can move on to the speculations regarding Nina Garcia’s presence in Project Runway once it moves to Lifetime.

Nina Garcia’s presence on Project Runway also provided a way for Elle Magazine to become part of the reality series.  But now that Garcia is been ousted from the editorial position in the magazine, will Elle continue to play a big part in the show?  More importantly, will Nina Garcia still hold the spot as one of the judges in the competition?

Reports have already circulated that Marie Claire magazine is showing some interest in becoming part of season six of Project Runway.  Now that Nina Garcia is free from any contractual ties to Elle, many are expecting her to head to Marie Claire.  However, a spokesperson for Marie Claire has denied all rumors.

“We think 'Project Runway' is a fantastic show, but to speculate at this point beyond season five would be, as [season four winner] Christian Siriano says, 'A hot mess!'” the spokesperson for Marie Claire told WWD.  Moreover, a spokesperson for The Weinstein Co., which produces Project Runway, said that negotiations between the show and its judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia are still underway and that magazine sponsorships and partnerships are still being discussed among management.

Meanwhile, Nina Garcia is still busy using her design expertise on another endeavor.  Late last month, she teamed up with Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals to launch a contest entitled “YAZ: Step Up and Beyond.”

“The design challenge we're posing is a fashion transformation unlike any other,” Nina Garcia said in a statement.  “We're taking an iconic accessory—the birth control case—and asking aspiring designers to take a shot at redesigning it into a chic, more sophisticated carrying case that they could slip into their purses.”

Up for grabs are $10,000 and an opportunity to begin a career in fashion.  Garcia says that this contest is open to anyone who dreams of making it into the fashion industry.

"Whether you are an aspiring designer, graphic artist or simply the office fashionista with a flair for what's chic, now is the chance to put your talent to the test and turn your visions into reality," Garcia said.

For more information about the contest, interested individuals could log on to PillPackMakeover.com. Deadline for applications and contest entries is on June 30.


-Valerie Anne del Castillo, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: PR Newswire, WWD
(Photo courtesy of Bravo)