Keith Bryce wasn’t going to leave Project Runway before letting the judges know exactly what he thought of the critiques he had been given in recent weeks. After landing in the bottom for the second week in a row, Keith fired back at the judges, feeling that their feedback was insulting, not helpful. Michael Kors felt no sympathy and told Keith to get over it. In the end, it was his garment made from car parts that got him sent home. Heidi Klum told him that he had a chance to be innovative and, instead, created a boring, poorly crafted design. Today, he spoke to BuddyTV in an exclusive interview and gave his opinion of the judges and filled us in on life after Project Runway.
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 Keith from Project Runway. Can you tell me a little bit about your background in fashion design and how you got started?
Yeah, for sure. My background actually comes from an abstract art background. Large format paintings and I really like color and texture and movement. That’s what I try to evoke in my paintings. One day I kind of transitioned to fashion. Well not one day, I was doing an art show, print original art on t-shirts and they did really well so I thought about turning it into a clothing line and then someone approached me about doing a fashion show. Then they weren’t really sure if they were going to do it like two weeks before, so I bought a sewing machine. That show went well, so I started logging one show after another and a few years later I’m doing Project Runway.
What made you decide to do Project Runway, why did you decide to do a reality show?
It wasn’t necessarily the fact that it was a reality show, it was the face that it was a platform for me to get out my design. To show the world, I think for me, that fashion is still an art form. So many people get lost in the idea that fashion is fashion. It’s like, it is, but it’s such a beautiful art form. You know, you can send light bulbs down the runway if that’s what you choose to because it’s such an art form. So I’m really just trying to stay in touch with that concept of fashion being progressive art. So that’s why I started my clothing brand, Filthy Gorgeous. It was just trying to make everyday, well originally it was more t-shirts, but to even have a future, it’s still one of a kind. You’re still being original and keeping your identity even just with a T-shirt.
On this week’s episode, you had to design an outfit from car parts. Can you refresh my memory, what car parts did you end up using?
I ended up ripping out all these car seat covers. There’s a little bit of tan, so I cut out all these little swatches of tan leather and I turned it into this panel high-waisted skirt. Then I used some black leather to create a belt and I used this little binding tape that was deep down inside the seat cushions, lots and lots of little strips of that I sewed together to make a top. Running out of lack of time because of my skirt splitting, I ended up putting this formal netting on the back of my shirt that I actually really didn’t like.
Did you actually end up talking to your model about the whole incident with the garment ripping?
Oh yeah, I did. I was frustrated and I was running out of time. In the end, I gave her a big hug and was like, “Don’t worry about it, if it’s our time it’s our time, don’t stress it.” She’s young, she’s 19, and she’s actually such a sweetheart. It was just an accident.
Were you surprised that you landed in the bottom?
You know, honestly, I am such an innovative designer, I’m kind of conceptual and I really didn’t feel like I presented a super conceptual design. So when I watched the walk, I was hoping they would be like, “Oh, well there’s a cleaner, more commercial side of Keith, awesome. We’ll let him be safe.” Because seeing some like Leanne’s design — I knew hers was the best, I loved it, I was so proud of her. But I was kind of surprised to go home, but more disappointed than anything.
Do you think that what you said to the judges during panel had anything to do with your elimination, or do you think it was just the design?
No, you know what, you never really know. I was in the bottom two the week before, so I knew that if I was in the bottom it would be easy for them to justify sending me home. So honestly, I don’t think it made a big difference. Of course you don’t see the whole thing, but it was important for me to stand up for myself and the rest of the designers and just remind the judges to tread lightly on something that we’re working so hard towards underneath the pressures and stresses we’re trying to deal with.
What’s in the future for you now and your clothing line?
With Filthy Gorgeous, I’m looking to revamp everything, I’m hoping everyone can sign up for my e-mail list on my web site at filthygorgeous.com so that I can let them know the new line that’s going to be coming out. I”m specializing in custom denim and cocktail dresses. I have a huge show that I’ll be doing next May, that I’ll be using ballerinas as a lot of my models, doing some lifts, and really going over the top with my show. Everyone should expect to see me at Bryant Park here if not next year, very soon, because nothing is going to stop me and I love fashion and I’m so happy to meet so many people that share a similar passion. I’ve had such a great response to what I’ve been doing and even being eliminated, so many people are so supportive and only saying nice things and really making sure they have my back and reminding me that they’re excited to see what comes next.
Well thank you so much Keith, I was a big fan of yours and I wish you good luck in the future.
You rock, thank you.
– Gina Scarpa, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image courtesy of Bravo)
Staff Writer, BuddyTV
