Katherine Gerdes

Episode 6: Waste Not, Want Not

21 August, 12:54 - thus far 15 insightful comments have been made

Ahh… another “innovative” challenge! In case you’re wondering (and you’re probably not), I’ll give you my opinion on “innovative” challenges. I LOVE the concept of going to a recycling plant and creating garments out of the materials you can find there. I LOVED the apartment challenge for the same reasons. In the real world, as a designer you are so focused on creating things out of fabric and thread and zippers, that you usually never take the time to have fun and challenge yourself with weird and unusual materials! I think innovative challenges should be focused on really creating something beautiful, sculptural and I-N-N-O-V-A-T-I-V-E.

We all know that the designers are never going to make and sell a dress out of Mylar and we know that all the designers have good sewing and construction skills, so shouldn’t these challenges focus more on being really really creative and less about who can create the most wearable garment out of newspapers? At least that’s what I think! But alas, the judges seem to be focused more on who can replicate a “saleable” outfit out of unusual materials. Sadly it seems because of this, the Waste Not, Want Not challenge was a competition to see who could make the prettiest cocktail dress. Yes, I understand that making pants is pretty much out of the question with the materials, but wouldn’t it have been cool if Kayne had gone balls-out and made a pageant gown? Well… a pageant gown without a big painted flower…

Alison (OUT): Oh SAD! I really liked Alison. Not only was she a really sweet person, but I also thought she had one of the most new and unique design point of view, while still being completely wearable and marketable. While I wasn’t a big fan of her paper bubble outfit, I still thought it was more innovative and unique than at least 3-4 other designs this week! She did have some fit problems and her model wasn’t the skinniest girl out there, but I was appalled with both Tim and Heidi with their remarks about the model and about being fat. That poor girl is NOT large. I think she might not have much of an “hourglass” figure, but that doesn’t mean she’s large or fat. Poor Ali. I had hoped she would make it to the final 3!

Angela: I will give Angela credit on creating a garment with color without the use of paints! I liked that she was going back to her roots of patchwork and trying to work that into her outfit (that is after all one of the reasons they brought her on the show). In the end though the overall look was WAY too stiff and crafty looking for me. I don’t know what I would have wanted to see, but I wish the patchwork could have been formed more into an outfit, rather than be so blocky and pieced together.

Jeffery: It seems that Jeffery’s dress is the preferred design from this weeks show. I have to say that the colors didn’t work for me. I loved the pleating of the newspapers on top and the movement of the skirt. I just wished he hadn’t painted it, or maybe different colors? No…never mind… I think it would have been best-left au’natural!

Kayne: Phew… I’m glad Kayne lives on! I was so worried about him this week. Okay, to be honest I didn’t think his first skirt was that bad. Well…not that bad if he removed the bottle caps. I don’t think it was that innovative either, but not horrible! The flower was kind of pretty. I also didn’t mind his second skirt that much while he was “wearing” it around the workroom. Yes it was a bit Tinkerbelle looking, but I liked it more than when he added paint to it and crumpled it up. You know, come to think of it, I’m just not a fan when people paint on their “innovative” garments. I think it looks like they are trying to cover stuff up. I appreciate it more when they use the materials as they are and create something beautiful!

Laura: Wait… didn’t I say I was bored with Laura’s designs last week? Well, I take that back, I’m even MORE bored this week. I will reiterate myself, I think Laura has a great sense of style, definitely a POV, and can construct beautifully! The problem is that it’s easy to have great construction and a POV when you design the same three things all the time (high-waisted pant, deep-V dress, and fur trimmed coat). I will say that again her construction was impeccable, it fit beautifully and I really liked her “for nuts only” joke on the back.

Michael (WINNER): I have to say that Michael’s was not in my top 3 this week. I respect and understand what he was doing and it turned out well, but it didn’t really jump at me and I’m not drawn to it. I liked that he chose to work with the materials in their natural state, rather than trying to force them to do something they wouldn’t. I believe that you should always work with fabrics that way. I liked the gold bustier that Michael made (was it woven? Looked like it I think), but I wasn’t that impressed with the skirt and the plastic wrap looked just like that, a piece of plastic wrapped around her shoulders. Now don’t go getting made at me and don’t get me wrong, since Alison is out, Michael is my favorite for taking it all. I think he has done fantastic every challenge!

Robert: Yeah! Robert is back! While it wasn’t my favorite, I did really like Roberts dress this challenge. It fit his style and looked elegant all while being made out of trash. Upon further inspection, I really like the way he layered or ruched the Mylar and even added the little ruffle at the bottom. Nicely done.

Uli: I LOVED Uli’s dress. I personally think it could have won and at least should have been in the top 3 (I would have easily put it above both Jeffrey’s and Laura’s). I loved how she wove the 2 different materials together and then combined those for the short strapless dress. I’m not sure if she was trying to, but by combining those materials, she almost created a pattern for her garment, and we all know how much she loves using patterns (and she’s damn good at it)!

Vincent: What can I say about Vincent’s? I’m sorry in advance Vincent for what I’m about to say… the model looked like you wrapped her in masking tape and she rolled around the floor of the workroom after everyone else was done with their garments! I’m sorry to be kind of mean, but Vincent should have been out. If they can excuse Kayne for making a bad decision, but having good designs in the past, then they should have done the same for Alison. She hasn’t won any challenges, but she also hasn’t been in the bottom ever.