In December, Project Runway season 18 launched on Bravo. After being on Lifetime for 11 seasons, the hit-runway series returned to Bravo in early 2019. The relaunch of Project Runway included major changes to the series’ host, mentor, judges, and format. Original Project Runway host Heidi Klum and mentor Tim Gunn decided not to return for the series’ 17th season, which led to former Project Runway contestant and fashion designer Christian Siriano replacing Gunn as the mentor, and model Karlie Kloss replacing Klum as host.
Nina Garcia returned to the Project Runway judging panel with two new judges: fashion designer Brandon Maxwell and Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Elaine Welteroth. Project Runway season 17 kept the weekly challenge format, but changed up the finale. Usually, Project Runway concludes its season with the final three or four contestants showing their clothing line at New York Fashion Week. Last season Project Runway skipped Fashion Week and held a special runway show for the finalists.
For Project Runway season 18, the series brings back some elements of the Lifetime edition, while staying true to the changes implemented during its return to Bravo. So what can viewers expect from Project Runway season 18?
Project Runway Season 18 Format
Project Runway season 18 follows the usual format of 16 new designers competing for $250,000, a feature in ELLE magazine, a possible feature in a Bluprint digital series, and a mentorship with the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). This season, the first episode features contestants teaming up to try “to create an innovative look inspired by humanity’s continued push into space exploration.” The paired up designers must learn to collaborate fast because to escape elimination, they’ll need a cohesive look that wows the judges.
The new season of Project Runway features the three main judges (Nina Garcia, Brandon Maxwell, and Elaine Welteroth), plus a long list of guest judges that include Cyndi Lauper, Laverne Cox, Leslie Jones, Rachel Brosnahan, and season 17’s standout guest judge and part-mentor Marni Senofonte. During season 18, Project Runway season 17 winner Sebastian Grey will have his own digital series featured on Bluprint called Fashion Sewing with Sebastian Grey. The series will feature tips on design and sewing from Sebastian. Bravo has also added two new digital series: a Project Runway after show and a series called Viewer Verdict.
Project Runway Season 18 Details
The 16 contestants competing for the grand prize this season vary greatly in age - with the youngest at 25 years old and the oldest at 64. The Project Runway season 18 contestants also differ in background, race, sexual orientation, and geographic location. The majority of the season 18 contestants reside in New York or Chicago, but some are Seoul and Moldova natives, and one contestant comes from a small island in Washington called Orcas Island. The new designers have an impressive resume, working with artists like Chance the Rapper, P!nk, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears. Along with diverse contestants, Project Runway season 18 features a varied group of models, including a nonbinary model and a transgender model.
For a few of the challenges on Project Runway season 18, contestants have to create sketches that will be reprint on their designs, and this season includes creating a street wear look with animal prints inspired by the highly anticipated movie musical Cats. Project Runway returns to Fashion Week with the finalists once again showing their collections at New York Fashion Week. Tim Gunn’s Save also returns this season as Siriano’s Save, which gives Christian Siriano the ability to bring back one contestant from elimination.
Project Runway airs Thursdays at 9:30 EST on Bravo.
Source: The Futon Critic