The main question about 8 most successful Project Runway designers through 2018 is: have they still got it? When it comes to these eight contestants, the answer is: yes, absolutely!
Until the show first aired in 2004, hardly anyone understood the struggle and toil behind designing clothes. Ordering a tailored suit is one thing, but making it from scratch is a whole different dimension. It’s not all about finding inspiration for something new and daring. It’s also a challenge to transfer the design from the sketch into the real life. If you succeed in it, you’re on a good way to become a true designer. Last time we wrote about them, there were 7 most successful project runway contestants. Now we’re adding one more name to the list. Forbes added a Project Runway designer as a 2018 influencer, and so did we.
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Season 17 has just started, and the past 16 seasons made a big difference in the contestants’ lives. Actually, a huge difference. So huge that people on our list are now millionaires! Every now and then there is an article with a title similar to “Project Runway Season 7 – where are they now?”. Well, in the case of Seth Aaron, a Project Runway winner, he’s nowhere to be found on our list, and neither is Emilio Sosa. Jay McCarroll hasn’t become a household name or running a lucrative business, so he didn’t make the cut either. We dare to admit that in this article on the greatest designers we only decided to focus on the winners who are designing apparel, but not costumes. If we were making a story about the best costume designer, that would have to be Mila Hermanovski. Her best work can be seen in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), The Fate of the Furious (2017) and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016). Also, Project Runway All Stars winners aren’t here, and Mondo Guerra still has some $300,000 to go before he earns his first million.
But it’s not all about the money in our research. To find the latest news about the winners of all 16 seasons of the original show, we looked for facts at Bustle, Forbes, Inquisitr and LA Times. The data about their net worth was collected from Net Worth Post. The designers we chose to complete our list had to possess their own successful brand and had to be (very) active at the moment. Of course, being a millionaire definitely stands for something. The list is random since the year has just begun and we have yet to see what surprises it has in store for them. In addition to that, it would be unfair not to mention Kentaro Kameyama, the winner of Season 16. His passion and talent are promising, but he himself is very secretive about his plans for 2018. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
In the meantime, let’s see which names we have chosen as 8 most successful Project Runway designers through 2018. You’ll be seeing them and reading about them a lot this year, so you better remember these names.
8. Chloe Dao
Chloe Dao is a big name in Houston, and even appears in an advertising video for the city. She recently received the Iconic Designer award at Houston Iconic Fashion Week.
7. Jeffrey Sebelia
Season 3 winner caused some controversy while he was on the show, and his career had ups and downs after the final. Eventually, his net worth hit $1 million.
6. Christian Siriano
Whenever there’s a discussion about the greatest or most successful Project Runway Contestants, the name of Christian Siriano pops up. His net worth is “only” $1.9 million, but he’s got plenty of millionaire customers. Michelle Obama is one of them.
5. Leanne Marshall
Leanne Marshall simply had to be on the list of 8 most successful Project Runway designers through 2018. With a very recognizable style and niche market, she is highly successful, and the chances are she’s going to be even more in the year to come. Everyone is simply in love with her designs and gowns, especially the famous Leanne Marshall rain cloud dress.
4. Irina Shabayeva
Irina’s fiery personality made her difficult to forget after the show. With her famous customers and shows in New York, it seems her work is making her even more memorable.
3. Gretchen Jones
Gretchen Jones from Project Runway Season 8 is among the wealthiest in this group. Her assets are worth $16 million. Not only does she have her own label, but she also stands behind the idea for the Evil Eye bralette.
2. Anya Ayoung – Chee
Perhaps we wouldn’t be much mistaken to name Anya Ayoung-Chee the most beautiful in the list. She’s still very much occupied with her Pilar clothesline and a lingerie line in her home country.
1. Ashley Nell Tipton
The last designer has the smallest number in our list of 8 most successful Project Runway Designers through 2018. She’s the first here, but she wears another size in real life. Interestingly enough, she was the first plus size designer ever to win the show. This 26-year-old designer is now selling her own apparel line and jewelry for plus-sized women. Forbes put her on their 30 under 30 list for art and style in 2018, and nothing says success like that.
