Bravo TV Project Runway

Of all the reality shows featured of Bravo TV, Project Runway truly stands out as a unique and entertaining show. Designers from around the country compete by creating unique garments which are featured at a fashion show at the end of every episode.

The show begins with sixteen designers featured in the first episode. The designers come from many different locations and have varying specialties and levels of experience. While some designers have their own clothing boutiques and famous clients, other designers have very little experience and have to rely on their natural talent.

Both male and female designers participate in the competition, but the genders reside in separate living quarters when not designing and sewing.

A typical episode starts with a recap of the previous episode and briefly checks in with some of the contestants as to their feelings on the competition. While most reality shows focus more on the human interactions than the tasks at hand, Project Runway focuses more on creation of the garments and the work that goes into them. While the personalities of the contestants are definitely displayed, the real stars of this show are the clothes.

Each episode features a unique design challenge that can range from classy to downright silly. Designers on the show have created designs for celebrities, family members, and even professional female wrestlers. The designs are crafted into wearable pieces and displayed by models during the fashion show near the end of every episode.

The judges view all the creations and come to a decision as to who will leave the competition. They base their decisions on a few different factors:

• The design
• The execution of the garment
• The creativity
• The fit
• Other factors pertaining to each individual challenge

Each episode ends with the losing contestant cleaning up his or her working space and lamenting about the loss.

The judges for Bravo TV Project Runway are led by top fashion model Heidi Klum. Although judges sometimes come and go, designer Michael Kors and fashion editor Nina Garcia are common fixtures on the judging panel. Most episodes also feature a guest judge, which usually includes:

• Previous contestants
• Celebrities
• Famous fashion designers
• Clients from the challenge

Judges keep score of each piece as it comes down the runway and discuss the designs with each other before making the final decision as to who will be sent home.

An interesting facet of Bravo TV Project Runway is the mentor assigned to the contestants. Tim Gunn of Liz Claiborne not only tells contestants about upcoming challenges, but he also acts as a mentor to the contestants and helps them think through their designs before judging occurs. His tagline for contestants is, "Make it work!"

The models used to display the created garments during the runway portion of the show are involved in a competition as well. The model who is paired with the contestant who wins also receives a prize. Although the models are featured in the show, they are not a huge part of the episodes. Once in a while a particular model will get some attention, but for the most part the focus stays on the designers and their work.

The finalists receive enough money to create a fashion line to show at New York's Fashion Week, which for designers is a huge accomplishment. The final episode shows the actual runway show, and the decision of who the winning designer will be is made by the judges.

In addition to the opportunity to show at a major fashion show, the winner receives a cash prize, a vehicle, and the opportunity to sell their clothing line through a major distributor. Winners often enjoy celebrity status and potential endorsement deals, but memorable contestants usually wind up getting similar status just from their performances on the show.

For more information on Bravo TV's Project Runway, or any other show on the network, visit the official Project Runway website.

• Kelly Osbourne Pics
• Kourtney Kardashian Pics
• Lauren Conrad Pics

• What Couples are Still Together from The Bachelor
• Rock of Love Bus
• CBS Survivor Application
• Kate Gosselin
• Jon and Kate Plus Eight

• Real Housewives of Atlanta
• Rachel Zoe
• Bravo Top Chef
• Bravo Top Design
• Shear Genius