Hawaii on Project Runway

In Hawaii (and everywhere else, I'm sure), we like to claim what's ours. We blew up the phones for Camile Velasco, Jasmine Trias, Mark Kanemura, and Kupono Aweau, and cheered when the judges chose Nolan Makaawaawa. I'm not even that much of a baseball fan, but I sure as heck cheer for Shane Victorino and the Phillies!

Sidebar: Can you believe how much talent comes from our little group of islands?!

And I'm getting ready to do it again starting next week Thursday, when the eighth season of Project Runway premiers on Lifetime!

Contestants Andy South and Ivy Higa

Andy and Ivy are just two of 17 contestants on this newest season of Project Runway. Andy has been designing here in Hawaii since graduating from Honolulu Community College in 2007. Ivy, who's originally from Kailua-Kona is a graduate of the University of Hawaii and Parsons The New School for Design, and she launched her own brand, Ivy h. a couple of years ago!

Let's take a look-see at what Lifetime has to say about 'em:

Andy South
23 years old
From Waipahu, HI
A freelance designer and personal assistant to another designer
Loves Yohji Yamamoto and John Galliano

Ivy Higa
30 years old
From New York, NY
Fashion designer
Loves Marc Jacobs, Consuelo Castiglioni, Stella McCartney and Issey Miyake

**Update: Unfortunately, it seems like I can't get all the videos to load, so here are the links:

• Andy's casting session
• Andy's closet tour
• Andy's home visit
• Ivy's casting session
• Ivy's closet tour
• Ivy's home visit

This season's winner (and let's hope it's Andy or Ivy) will win $100,000, a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine (featuring their model on the show), a $50,000 technology suite, and the opportunity to design and sell an exclusive collection on Piperlime.com. Yay!


I can't wait to hear Tim Gunn tell them to "Make it work", "Carry on" and "Go, go go!

I wanna know, are you a Project Runway fan?

Got an early favorite this season?

Xoxo,
Tiera

Imagery via Project Runway