Last night’s elimination on Project Runway shocked many viewers but it really shocked the designer who went home, Emily Brandle. The challenge was to create a look that was appropriate for a night out on the town and inspired by New York nightlife. Emily took a picture and let it expose longer than it should so that the lights of the city became one beautiful swirl. The judges, though, didn’t feel that she showed her point of view in her design and called her look “very cliche”. Today, Emily spoke to BuddyTV in an exclusive interview, speaking out about the judges, her fellow designers, and the major item missing from her living room.
Below, you will find the complete transcript and mp3 of the interview.
Hey everybody, this is Gina from BuddyTV and today I’m talking to Emily from Project Runway. Well, can you tell me a little bit about your background in fashion design and how you got started?
Yeah, I graduated from Otis College of Art and Design in 2002 in Los Angeles, and after that I started working as a showroom assistant and an assistant at the POOL Tradeshow. Then I ended up managing the show for awhile, and after that I opened a showroom doing press and sales for Hysteric Glamour Japan and Evil Genius. After I left that, I was working as a buyer for a minute, buying Vivienne Westwood and Acme and a bunch of great brands. Then it was time to start my own collection.
What made you decide to go on Project Runway, what made you want to go on reality TV?
I know, it’s a strange, strange desire. I don’t own a TV, so it’s extra strange that I ended up being on the show. I heard that it was the last time that it was going to be on Bravo, and there’s no better way to platform yourself as a designer and your brand, so I just felt like it was the right time. I was like, “Okay!” My friends and family have been saying, “You should try out for this, you should try out for this!” for years, and I’m like, “I have no desire to do that.” I was like, you know what, it was just kind of reaching its apex and I’m very glad to have been there.
Do you still not own a TV and have you seen any of the episodes yet this season?
I have watched all the episodes, I’ve been going to friends and family’s houses to watch. I’m in New York right now and I actually watched it at NBC studios last night.
The designers this season seem very opinionated about each other’s work. What did you think last night when you heard what Kenley and the other designers had to say about your design?
I don’t think it was other designers, I think it was just her. I think it was her doing what she does best, and that’s talk a lot of s—. That’s the route that she wants to go, that’s fine.
Would you say you got along with the designers on the show this season?
Yeah, absolutely. I would say that Kenley was kind of the only person that I didn’t vibe with that well. There was just so many great and kind and talented people I will definitely keep in touch with forever. Everybody’s rad and has their quirks and personalities. It’s funny to see though on TV.
I’m curious to know if Suede speaks in the third person all the time, is that just when he’s doing is interviews and is on camera? Is Suede really as larger than life as he seems?
Yes. Suede is that. I hadn’t met him before, so I don’t know if he’s that like everyday, like in the real world, but in Project Runway world that was him.
You seemed pretty surprised that you ended being the one to go home on last night’s episode. Did you agree with what the judges had to say about your design?
Weren’t you surprised that I went home?
I was surprised, I was wondering if you agreed with their feedback?
I was definitely surprised. They look for these big labels that they can kind of slap on someone at the end. Like, “It wasn’t clear.” You know, “It was too cliché.” What are you talking about, cliché?” If you look at what they said about Wesley’s or Jerry’s or any of the designers, you’re kind of like, it doesn’t necessarily correlate with the comments they kind of give. It’s like back and forth and back and forth.
So if you were the one to stay, who should have gone home in your place instead?
You know, shoulda, woulda, couldas. I’m here, what’s done is done. That’s for the viewers to decide.
Now that you’re done with Project Runway, what have you been up to and what’s in the future for you?
Continuing with my beautiful collection, Smoke & Mirrors Clothing. You can view it or purchase it online at smokeandmirrorsclothing.com, as well as check out all of the collections that we’ve had. We’ve had three seasons and we’re working on our fourth season, it’s Spring ’09 right now, which is beautiful. I hit the ground running, I came home and it was hectic. Luckily I have an amazing business partner that held it down while I was away.
Thanks so much Emily, I appreciate it, and good luck with your clothing line.
Absolutely, thanks so much.
– Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of Bravo)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
