In the debut episode of “Project Runway: All Stars” on Feb. 11, the competition opened with what amounted to a minidocumentary of Hawaii designer Kini Zamora’s story from “Project Runway’s” Season 13.
The opening sequence reminded us of his capabilities, showing his spectacular wins on the “rain”-slicked runway and in the American Girl competition. I was reminded that I really wanted that American Girl outfit in red check, topped by a black-and-white, Chanel-like coat in dress length. Stunning.
It also showed his teaming with Amanda Valentine for a challenge that involved turning storage locker rejects into a three-piece collection that included a dress made from deflated soccer balls. He was also victorious in a challenge that had the designers trying to rework losing looks from booted contestants.
Designer Sam Donovan said Zamora is one of the three or four designers he finds intimidating because “he can sew like a warlock,” referring to his speed, and he called him a genius.
After being reunited with some of the designers from his season — Emily Payne, Mitchell Perry and Fade Zu Grau — and the other contestants, show host Alyssa Milano arrived to say this would be the toughest competition ever and that there is no immunity on “All Stars.”
The challenge: create a fashion-forward look inspired by the moment in your life when you knew you wanted to become a designer. Zamora talked about the moment at age 10 when he created a sketch and his aunt helped him to sew it into reality.
I never thought of designers as being in a dangerous profession, but the first OMG moment arrived when Daniel Franco — the first to go home in “Project Runway’s” inaugural season, and fourth to go home in Season 2 — sliced off the top of his finger with a pair of scissors.
After that there wasn’t much mystery as to who might go home. Franco’s ragged suit dress and Perry’s pieced-together Franken-frock looked destined for the bottom two.
On the runway, Zamora was safely in the middle of the pack for his black-and-white dress with fitted bodice, collar details and full skirt.
Valerie Mayen was declared the winner for a top with a lattice pattern of sherbet colors, paired with flirty black-and-white shorts.
Franco and Perry did end up on the bottom, but surprise! The judges told them they still didn’t know who they are as designers, allowing both to stay another week.
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Look for “Project Runway” recaps on Nadine Kam’s “Fashion Tribe” blog at fashiontribe.staradvertiserblogs.com.
