Project Runway (season 1)

***Project Runway Season 1*** was the first season of *Project Runway*, Bravo's reality competition show for fashion designers. The season received critical acclaim including an Emmy nomination for outstanding competitive reality series. Growth in audience popularity was also dramatic from its debut to the season finale, making it a sleeper hit. *Project Runway* gave Bravo one of its most successful series since *Queer Eye for the Straight Guy*.

The prize for a winning designer was $100,000, a mentorship with Banana Republic to aid in developing their fashion label, and a feature in ELLE magazine. The model paired with the winning designer would win a spread in ELLE magazine.

The winner of this season was 28-year-old Ben Cella of Oak Grove, Kentucky. The model paired with Ben and thus also winning was 18-year-old Sharika Mullinix of Chicago, Illinois.

This season was followed by Season 2 on December 7, 2005.

## Contestants

The 12 fashion designers competing in the first season were:

(ages listed are the designers' ages at the time the show was taped in the summer of 2004.)

The 12 models competing for an *ELLE* spread in the first season were:

## Models

**Designer legend**

* **Alla Brun:** AB
* **Ben Cella:** BC
* **Bryce Lebrun:**LB
* **Hannah Reineke:**HR
* **Ivelisse Henton:** IH
* **Jamie Laraway:**JL
* **Janice Billington:** JB
* **Justin Allums**: JA
* **Kathi Tussey:**KT
* **Kevin Jump:** KJ
* **Rashida Newbill**: RN
* **Stanley Bradeen:** SB

## Episodes

### Episode 1: Innovation

*Original airdate:* December 1, 2004

Designers created a sexy, glamorous outfit for a night on the town made only from materials bought at a Manhattan supermarket. The designers had a budget of $50 USD and one hour to make their purchases. They had one day to complete the design and the winner had immunity for the next challenge and could not be eliminated.

* **Guest Judge:** Patricia Field.

WINNER: **Justin**
ELIMINATED: **Hannah**
### Episode 2: Vision

*Original airdate:* December 8, 2004

Designers used plain white cotton jersey to build a garment that conveys "envy." They had a budget of $50 USD and one day to complete the design.

* **Guest Judges:** Constance White & Paul Berman

WINNER: **Alla**
ELIMINATED: **Janice**
### Episode 3: Commercial Appeal

*Original airdate:* December 15, 2004

Designers created a holiday dress to fit with Banana Republic's current line. They had to pick their fabrics at the studios and had two days to complete their designs.

* **Guest Judge:** Deborah Lloyd

WINNER: **Stanley**
ELIMINATED: **Bryce**
### Episode 4: Collaboration

*Original airdate:* January 5, 2005

The designers created a new look for rising rock star Sarah Hudson. A team event with three teams, each with a lead designer and two assistants. Each team had $150 USD and one day to complete the design.

 2
 3

* **Guest Judge:** Sarah Hudson

WINNER: **Kathi**
ELIMINATED: **Jamie**
### Episode 5: "Model" Clients

*Original airdate:* January 12, 2005

Working with their chosen models, the designers created a wedding dress for that model. The designers had a budget of $300 USD and two days to complete the design.

* **Guest Judges:** Anne Slowey & Amsale Aberra

WINNER: **Kathi**
ELIMINATED: **Kevin**
### Episode 6: Making A Splash

*Original airdate:* January 19, 2005

Designers made swimsuits, then attended an evening party with their swimsuit-clad models. The designers had a budget of $75 and five hours to complete their garments. The winner was the designer who received a mention from *New York Post* reporter Richard Johnson on "Page Six," the newspaper's gossip column.

* **Guest Judges:** Constance White, Anne Slowey & *New York Post* reporter Richard Johnson

WINNER: **Ben**
ELIMINATED: **Stanley**
### Episode 7: Design A Collection

*Original airdate:* January 26, 2005

Designers created a collection for the year 2055 as one team. Kevin was the team leader for this challenge. Each designer had a budget of $50 USD and one day to complete the collection.

 Robert
 Kevin
 Wendy
 Jay
 Kara

* **Guest Judge:** Betsey Johnson

WINNER: **Justin**
ELIMINATED: **Alla**
### Episode 8: Postal Uniform Challenge

*Original airdate:* February 2, 2005

Designers redesigned the uniform worn by United States Postal Service workers. The designers had a budget of $100 USD and one day to complete the design. This episode is particularly notable for the fact that Jay's model was unable to attend the runway showing in time. As a result, Austin walked in her place and received positive feedback for doing so by the judges.

* **Guest Judge:** United States Postal Service worker Becky Negich.

WINNER: **Ivelisse**
ELIMINATED: **Rashida**
### Episode 9: Design For The Red Carpet

*Original airdate:* February 9, 2005

Designers created a dress for *Access Hollywood* reporter Nancy O'Dell to wear to the Grammys. The designers had $300 USD and two days to complete the design.

* **Guest Judge:** Nancy O'Dell

WINNER: **Ben**
ELIMINATED: **Justin**
### Episode 10: Reunion

*Original airdate:* February 16, 2005

All of the participating designers gathered for a reunion hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn on the eve of New York Olympus Fashion Week at which the final three designers displayed their collections.

### Episode 11: Finale

*Original airdate:* February 23, 2005

The final three designers—Jay, Kara Saun—and Wendy, were visited by Tim Gunn at their homes to show the progress of their collections. Each designer created a twelve piece collection for a showing at New York Olympus Fashion Week.

* **Guest Judge:** Parker Posey

WINNER: **Ben**
ELIMINATED: **Ivelisse**(1st Runner-Up), **Kathi**(2nd Runner-Up)