Education/training

Toronto designer vying for Project Runway prize

As one of a dozen talented and hungry hopefuls, Michael Hatley is looking for her chance to break into the exclusive fashion industry. From designing a garment with items snatched from a competitor's suitcase to creating a cocktail dress from discarded umbrellas, her skills are put to the test each week on Project Runway Canada.

LINDA WHITE -- Special to the Toronto Sun


[ 2007-10-24 ]

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Michael Hatley, a graduate of the International Academy of Design & Technology in Toronto, is putting her skills to the test each week on Project Runway Canada.

"I have always been interested in fashion," the 25-year-old says. She credits her mother with teaching her how to sew when she was a young girl, eager to make clothes for her dolls. "When I finished high school, studying fashion design was an obvious choice."

TWO-YEAR PROGRAM


She graduated from the International Academy of Design & Technology in Toronto in 2003. Its two-year diploma program in fashion design prepares graduates for careers in the designing, making and marketing of fashion.

Hatley landed a job as a wholesale fashion sales representative for a large fashion retailer and boutique store manager. "I got to understand that side of the industry, which is important, because it's how you make or break yourself," she says.

When the Toronto resident successfully applied for Project Runway Canada, she had been working as one half of the design partnership known as Jason Meyers for three seasons. Her designs have been featured in Flare and NOW magazines.


In her online profile, Hatley lists her inspirations as life, art, music and day-to-day life. Favourite designers include Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney, but she says she is her own muse because she only designs things she would wear herself. She describes her design style as classic, sexy, current and elegant.

Project Runway Canada, filmed in Toronto in July, presents numerous challenges and rewards for the designer wannabes. "It is such a surreal environment, being followed around by cameras all day," Hatley says.

Faced with demanding tasks and the daily grind of living together, the designers' wits, character and creativity are put to the test over 11 episodes. "We were so tired and overrun," Hatley says. "I didn't experience any technical problems, but it was hard to be inspired on some tasks because you literally had just four hours of sleep a night."

Edmonton-born and Toronto-based designer Brian Bailey acts as a mentor to the contestants, who must select among a dozen models to wear the fashions they create for a weekly runway show. Models also face weekly elimination.

"I discovered that I could handle a lot of stress and time constraints," Hatley says. "You're surrounded by talented people, but you're so committed to coming up with your own ideas that you're overly aware that you don't want to imitate anybody's designs."

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EYE ON THE PRIZE


Project Runway Canada is an adaptation of the Emmy-nominated American reality series Project Runway. World-famous supermodel Iman hosts the inaugural season, which airs Mondays at 10 p.m. on Slice Network. One contestant is eliminated each week.

Three finalists will design collections to showcase at Toronto's L'Oreal Fashion Week. The grand prize winner receives $100,000 to start their own fashion line, a cover and feature spread showing their winning collection in Elle Canada magazine, a retail mentorship with Winners and a professional portfolio photo shoot. Visit www.slice.ca.



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