Project Runway (season 8)
Project Runway Season 8 is the eighth season of the television show Project Runway. The season began airing on July 29, 2010, on the Lifetime. After Lifetime cancelled the accompanying series Models of the Runway, Project Runway episodes were extended to 90 minutes in Season 8. This was the first season that episodes were longer than an hour with commercials.
| Project Runway | |
|---|---|
| Season 8 | |
 Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, and season 8 contestants | |
| No. of tasks | 12 |
| No. of contestants | 17 |
| Winner | Gretchen Jones |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 14 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Lifetime |
| Original release | July 29 – October 28, 2010 |
| Season chronology | |
The season included 17 designers at the beginning of the competition. Returning as judges were supermodel Heidi Klum; fashion designer Michael Kors; and Marie Claire fashion director, Nina Garcia. Tim Gunn returned as the workroom mentor to the aspiring designers. Designer Gretchen Jones was the season's winner.
April Johnson, Michael Costello and Mondo Guerra later appeared in Project Runway: All Stars in 2012, with April receiving 10th Place, Michael 3rd, and Mondo winning the competition. Peach Carr, Carlos Casanova and Ivy Higa in the same year, competed in the second season of the All Stars edition placing 13th, 7th and 5th respectively. Ari South (known as Andy on season 8 before transitioning) competed in the third season in 2013, where she was eliminated first, placing 11th. Valerie Mayen competed in the fifth season in 2016, placing 9th. Casanova and South would go on to participate again in the sixth season of All Stars in 2018, with Casanova placing 16th of 16, while South placed 14th.
Contestants
Designers
| Designer | Age | Place of Residence | Place Finished |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKell Maddox | 29 | Layton, UT | 17th |
| Jason Troisi | 33 | Greenwich, CT | 16th/15th |
| Nicholas D'Aurizio | 32 | New York, NY | |
| Sarah Trost | 27 | Toluca Lake, CA | 14th |
| Kristin Haskins Simms | 39 | Philadelphia, PA | 13th |
| A.J. Thouvenot | 26 | St. Charles, MO | 12th |
| Peach Carr | 50 | Lake Forest, IL | 11th |
| Carlos Casanova | 33 | Astoria, NY | 10th |
| Michael Drummond | 31 | St. Louis, MO | 9th |
| Ivy Higa | 30 | New York, NY | 8th |
| Valerie Mayen | 29 | Cleveland, OH | 7th |
| Christopher Collins | 30 | San Francisco, CA | 6th |
| April Johnston | 21 | Savannah, GA | 5th |
| Michael Costello | 27 | Palm Springs, CA | 4th |
| Ari South1 | 23 | Waianae, HI | 3rd |
| Mondo Guerra | 32 | Denver, CO | Runner-up |
| Gretchen Jones | 28 | Portland, OR | Winner |
- ^Note 1 : Ari was known as Andy on season 8, prior to transitioning.
Models
| Models | Place Finished |
|---|---|
| Vanessa Ratnavich | 17th |
| Dre Davis | 16th |
| Julia Rodriguez | 15th |
| Samantha Zajarias | 14th |
| Kaven Jo Caven | 13th |
| Amare Tk | 12th |
| Ify Jones | 11th |
| Sarae Cart | 10th |
| Zhanna Ved | 9th |
| Ekaterina Py | 8th |
| Alexandra Palmer | 7th |
| Eyen Chorm | 6th |
| Rose Cook | 5th |
| Cassie Dzienny | 4th |
| Lenka Dayrit | 3rd |
| Tina Marie Clark | 2nd |
| Millana Snow | Winner |
Challenges
| Designers | 11 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 102 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Eliminated Episode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gretchen | WIN | WIN | HIGH | IN | LOW | IN | IN | IN | HIGH | IN | LOW | LOW | ADV | WINNER | 14 - Finale, Part 2 |
| Mondo | IN | HIGH | IN | IN | HIGH | HIGH | LOW | WIN | WIN | WIN | HIGH | HIGH | ADV | RUNNER-UP | |
| Ari3 | IN | IN | WIN | IN | LOW | IN | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | LOW | WIN | HIGH | ADV | 3RD PLACE | |
| Michael C | IN | IN | IN | WIN | LOW | WIN | IN | IN | LOW | IN | LOW | WIN | OUT | 13 - Finale, Part 1 | |
| April | LOW | IN | IN | LOW | HIGH | IN | WIN | IN | IN | HIGH | HIGH | OUT | 12 - We're in a New York State of Mind | ||
| Christopher | IN | IN | IN | LOW | LOW | HIGH | IN | HIGH | IN | LOW | OUT | 11 - A Look in the Line | |||
| Valerie | IN | HIGH | HIGH | HIGH | HIGH | LOW | IN | LOW | LOW | OUT | 10 - There's a Pattern Here | ||||
| Ivy | LOW | IN | IN | IN | LOW | IN | LOW | HIGH | OUT | 9 - Race to the Finish | |||||
| Michael D | IN | IN | IN | HIGH | HIGH | LOW | HIGH | OUT | 8 - A Rough Day on the Runway | ||||||
| Casanova | LOW | IN | LOW | IN | WIN | IN | OUT | 7 - What's Mine is Yours | |||||||
| Peach | IN | LOW | IN | IN | HIGH | OUT | 6 - You Can Totally Wear That Again | ||||||||
| AJ | IN | IN | LOW | IN | OUT | 5 - There IS an 'I' in Team | |||||||||
| Kristin | IN | IN | IN | OUT | 4 - Hats Off to You | ||||||||||
| Sarah | IN | IN | OUT | 3 - It's a Party | |||||||||||
| Nicholas | LOW | OUT | 2 - Larger Than Life | ||||||||||||
| Jason | LOW | OUT | 2 - Larger Than Life | ||||||||||||
| McKell | OUT | 1 - And Sew It Begins | |||||||||||||
- The designer won Project Runway Season 8.
- The designer won the challenge.
- The designer was in the top two, but did not win.
- The designer had one of the highest scores for that challenge, but did not win.
- The designer had one of the lowest scores for that challenge, but was not eliminated.
- The designer was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated.
- The designer lost and was out of the competition.
- ^Note 1 : This episode was unusual in that there was only 1 high look and 6 bottom looks, instead of 3 high and 3 low.
- ^Note 2 : This episode only Mondo's look was a clear high look from the judges, April, Michael C, Gretchen, were considered only fine but not judged really as a high or low.
- ^Note 3 : Ari was known as Andy during her run on season 8 before transitioning.
| Model | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 61 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 2 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millana | AJ | AJ | AJ | AJ | AJ | AJ | CC | AJ | AJ | AJ | GJ | GJ | GJ | WINNER (GJ) |
| Tina Marie | VM | VM | VM | VM | VM | VM | AS | VM | VM | VM | MG | MG | MG | MG |
| Lenka | MC | MC | MC | MC | MC | MC | MG | MC | MC | MC | AS | AS | AS | AS |
| Cassie | AS | AS | AS | AS | AS | AS | VM | AS | AS | AS | MC | MC | MC | OUT |
| Rose | CC | CC | CC | CC | CC | CC | AJ | CC | CC | CC | AJ | AJ | OUT | |
| Eyen | MG | MG | MG | MG | MG | MG | MC | MG | MG | MG | CC | OUT | ||
| Alexandra | GJ | GJ | GJ | GJ | GJ | GJ | CA | GJ | GJ | GJ | WD | |||
| Ekaterina | IH | IH | IH | IH | IH | IH | MD | IH | IH | OUT | ||||
| Zhanna | MD | MD | MD | MD | MD | MD | IH | MD | OUT | |||||
| Sarae | CA | CA | CA | CA | CA | CA | GJ | OUT | ||||||
| Ify | PC | PC | PC | PC | PC | PC | OUT | |||||||
| Amare | AT | AT | AT | AT | AT | OUT | ||||||||
| Kaven | KS | KS | KS | KS | OUT | |||||||||
| Samantha | ST | ST | ST | OUT | ||||||||||
| Julia | ND | ND | OUT | |||||||||||
| Dre | JT | JT | OUT | |||||||||||
| Vanessa | MM | OUT | ||||||||||||
- The model won Project Runway Season 8.
- The model wore the winning design that challenge.
- The model wore the losing design that challenge.
- The model was eliminated.
- The model withdrew from the competition
- ^1 : The models were not used in Episode 6.
- ^2 : Alexandra was chosen by Christopher, but then withdrew from the competition because of a family crisis and Eyen was brought back.
Designer legend
- A.J: AT
- April: AJ
- Ari: AS
- Casanova: CA
- Christopher: CC
- Gretchen: GJ
- Ivy: IH
- Jason: JT
- Kristin: KS
- Nicholas: ND
- McKell: MM
- Michael C.: MC
- Michael D.: MD
- Mondo: MG
- Peach: PC
- Sarah: ST
- Valerie: VM
Episodes
Episode 1: And Sew It Begins
Original Airdate: July 29, 2010
As the season begins and the designers arrive to New York, they are informed that they are not yet part of season 8. For the final stage of their casting session, they are asked to take an article of clothing from their suitcase and incorporate it into their final design. But as Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn stand before the designers (who were all lined up in a straight line), they tell each of them to pass their article of clothing to the designer standing to their right. After collecting their garments, the designers go off to Parson's School of Design to complete their first runway show.
- Guest Judge: Selma Blair
- WINNER: Gretchen
- ELIMINATED: McKell
Episode 2: Larger Than Life
Original Airdate: August 5, 2010
The designers meet Marie Claire magazine's editor-in-chief, Joanna Coles, and are asked to design a look that epitomizes the Marie Claire woman. The winner's look will be displayed on a billboard in Times Square. As part of the process, each designer and model was taken to a photo shoot to have their look photographed to get a feel of what it would look like in print. Gretchen's winning design was modeled by Coco Rocha for the finished billboard.
- Guest Judge: Joanna Coles
- WINNER: Gretchen
- ELIMINATED: Jason and Nicholas
Episode 3: It's a Party
Original Airdate: August 12, 2010
The designers are asked to create a look made from materials found at Party Glitters, a party supply store in New York City. Toward the end of the challenge, they must also make an accessory using additional party materials. Some time after the runway show and elimination, Ivy passed out and was taken to the emergency room by ambulance.
- Guest Judge: Betsey Johnson
- WINNER: Ari
- ELIMINATED: Sarah
Episode 4: Hats Off to You
Original Airdate: August 19, 2010
The designers must create outfits to pair with a unique, avant-garde Philip Treacy hat. The models are each randomly assigned a hat, and the designers can select their model based on the hat she has.
- Guest Judge: Philip Treacy
- WINNER: Michael C.
- ELIMINATED: Kristin
Episode 5: There IS an 'I' in Team
Original Airdate: August 26, 2010
The designers are split into two teams of six, and each team is asked to design a six-piece collection for Fall 2010. Each team must select one concept and one textile of choice for their inspiration, and are given $1,000 to shop at Mood and one day to complete the challenge.
| Concept/Textile | Team Members (in the order of being chosen1) |
|---|---|
| Military/Lace | April, Mondo, Michael D., Valerie, Casanova, Peach |
| Menswear/Camel | Michael C., Gretchen, Christopher, Ari, Ivy, AJ |
1Team members are listed in the order chosen. Michael C. is chosen first for his team because of his win the previous week. April is selected randomly. Each team member selects the next member.
On the runway, Team Military and Lace is declared the winning team. The judges declared the pieces made by Casanova and Peach as their favorites. Heidi polled the six designers on that team, asking who should win; both Casanova and Peach receive mentions.
Team "Luxe" (Menswear and Camel) is declared the losing team. When asked who should be sent home, the designers focus on Michael C., who is immune from elimination because he won the previous challenge. When Heidi asks who from among the five non-immune designers should be sent home, while Gretchen, Ari, Ivy, and Christopher all named Michael C., AJ names himself, saying that he did not bring his "fun and unusual style" to the collection. The judges note that Gretchen contradicted herself in front of them, first saying she and the rest of the team stood behind their collection, then later saying it was "crappy" after the judges expressed dissatisfaction.
After A.J. is eliminated, Tim Gunn expresses his anger at Team Luxe's behavior on the runway, criticizing the team for "allowing Gretchen to manipulate, control, and bully" them.[1]
- Guest Judge: Georgina Chapman
- WINNER: Casanova
- ELIMINATED: A.J
Episode 6: You Can Totally Wear That Again
Original Airdate: September 2, 2010
Working with real women who were bridesmaids as models for this challenge, the designers must transform their models' bridesmaids dresses into wearable fashion. Prior to the runway show, a public showcase of the designs is held at which participants can vote for their favorite designs. Mondo's garment receives the most votes. Gretchen and Ivy again criticize Michael C., with Ivy claiming that Michael C. told guests not to vote for Ivy's garment.
- Guest Judge: Cynthia Rowley
- WINNER: Michael C
- ELIMINATED: Peach
Episode 7: What's Mine Is Yours
Original Airdate: September 9, 2010
While on a boat ride with Michael Kors on the East River, the designers receive their next challenge: to create a fashionable resort-wear look in one day. After sketching their designs and shopping for fabric, they are told that they will actually be working in randomly selected teams of two, with each designer executing their teammate's design.
- Teams:
- Valerie - Ari
- Michael C. - Mondo
- April - Christopher
- Casanova - Gretchen
- Ivy - Michael D.
- Guest Judge: Kristen Bell
- WINNER: April
- ELIMINATED: Casanova
Episode 8: A Rough Day on the Runway
Original Airdate: September 16, 2010
The designers are told to design a look that is their own take on classic American sportswear using the style of Jacqueline Kennedy as inspiration. After they have nearly finished their garment, they are told they have an additional day to work to create a companion outerwear item.
- Guest Judge: January Jones
- WINNER: Mondo
- ELIMINATED: Michael D.
Episode 9: Race to the Finish
Original Airdate: September 23, 2010
The designers must create a high fashion look for a L'Oréal advertorial, using one of the L'Oréal eye shadow finishes as an inspiration. Halfway through the challenge, they are told they must also create a companion ready-to-wear look. The winner receives $20,000. This is the first time in the history of Project Runway that the winner of a challenge has received a cash prize.
| Designer | Eye Shadow Finish |
|---|---|
| Mondo | Bright |
| Christopher | Crystal |
| April | Matte |
| Michael C. | Metallic |
| Ivy | Bright |
| Valerie | Crystal |
| Gretchen | Velvet |
| Ari | Metallic |
- Guest Judge: Naeem Khan
- WINNER: Mondo
- ELIMINATED: Ivy
Episode 10: There's a Pattern Here
Original Airdate: September 30, 2010
The designers are tasked with designing their own textile and garment inspired by a memorable time in their lives. The challenge is interrupted when the designers' loved ones make a surprise visit and work is suspended for the rest of the day. The episode is best remembered for Mondo as he struggles with a secret he has been keeping for 10 years — that he is HIV positive — which he incorporates into his design and reveals during the runway show.
- Guest Judge: Rachel Roy
- WINNER: Mondo
- ELIMINATED: Valerie
Episode 11: A Look in the Line
Original Airdate: October 7, 2010
The six remaining contestants are given two days to design a look for Heidi Klum's New Balance activewear line. The winning look will be sold on Amazon.com. On the first day, however, Heidi increases the number of looks to three, and the six most recently eliminated contestants are brought back to help the designers. Ivy accuses Michael C. of cheating on a previous challenge; Tim Gunn dispels the accusations. After the runway show, Heidi announces that all three of Ari’s looks will be produced and sold, not just one as previously announced.
- Guest Judge: Norma Kamali
- WINNER: Ari
- ELIMINATED: Christopher
Episode 12: We're in a New York State of Mind
Original Airdate: October 14, 2010
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gives the remaining five contestants the challenge of creating a look inspired by the city. Four designers will prepare their line for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and return to New York where three of the designers will compete as Project Runway finalists.
| Designer | Inspiration from New York City |
|---|---|
| Ari | Central Park |
| April | Brooklyn Bridge |
| Gretchen | Lower East Side |
| Michael C. | Statue of Liberty |
| Mondo | Brooklyn Bridge |
- Guest Judge: Christian Siriano[2]
- ADVANCED TO PREPARE LINE FOR FASHION WEEK: Michael C., Mondo, Ari, Gretchen
- ELIMINATED: April
Episode 13: Finale, Part 1
Original Airdate: October 21, 2010
The four remaining designers are given six weeks and $9,000 to prepare a 10-piece collection. After one month, Tim Gunn visits each designer to check on their progress. When the designers return to New York, they are given two days to create one additional look to show as part of a mini collection consisting of that look and two of their existing pieces. Three designers are chosen to continue and display their entire collection at Fashion Week.
- Guest Judge: None
- ADVANCED TO FASHION WEEK: Mondo, Gretchen, Ari
- ELIMINATED: Michael C.
Episode 14: Finale, Part 2
Original Airdate: October 28, 2010
The final three designers show their collections on the runway at New York Fashion Week and the winner is announced.
- Guest Judge: Jessica Simpson
- WINNER: Gretchen
- ELIMINATED: Ari, Mondo
References
- Lifetime TV Website, My Lifetime Videos-Tim Gunn Loses His Temper 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
- Christian Siriano returns to Project Runway