You have read about the winners and losers of the show, but in our Project Runway winners ranked: worst to best list you are finally going to have a full, complete list of all the winners of the show and their aftermath.
If you are an aspiring designer or simply have a passion for fashion, Project Runway had you sitting in front of your TV, watching in awe and cheering for your favs to make it to the next level. The show was something brand new when it first appeared in 2004 and provided the wider audience with a deeper insight into the world of clothing design. Being a designer is not as appreciated and rewarding. After all, what are so many graduates of Design Schools doing nowadays? Certainly not becoming names for themselves, or at least the majority is not. The road is paved with hard labor, creativity, loss of inspiration, ups and downs, and strict deadlines – all of which were shown on the program.
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There have been 15 seasons altogether (season 16 is being filmed at the moment) if we omit the Project Runway All Stars competitions. The losers may not have always turned out to be the ones, since on some occasions they also set up lucrative businesses, as we have already explained in our article on 7 most successful Project Runway contestants. Still, this one focuses only on the winners of the show. We are to rank them from worst to best, though that sounds a bit odd if you are ranking people who actually won, doesn’t it? The task was no mean feat. In order to do it, we had to focus on the definition of success. Let us say they are ranked from the most successful to the least successful one. Success, in this case, embodies material wealth, but also how original, creative and true to themselves they have remained. To judge their finances, we usually looked at Celebrity Networth. If your name is on the list, you must have done something right in your life, and you are enjoying its treats. If a designer was not to be found there, it was logical to keep track of their famous customers and their official websites with product prices, plus the appearance in recent news and headlines. Nothing says success as having J.Lo on your customers’ list, or that your creations appeared at the last NYFW. On the other hand, the bottom of our list starts with the ones who have not appeared to have done something worth that much attention or money.
Among other of our resources, there are Gold Derby, Forbes, Philly, Fashion-Schools, The Guardian, People Bodies, Austin Fashion Week, Fashion Week El Paseo, Her Campus and Celebrity Petal. Tracking all the winners was tough, so we had to check a lot of different resources, including their websites.
So for all of those fashionistas out there, here are Project Runway winners ranked: worst to best.
15. Anya Ayoung Chee
Why is she in the last place? Well, despite the fact that she still does what she was struggling with, i.e. being a designer, there isn’t much to recommend her in 2017. Most news about her are a bit outdated, and apart from the purchases you can make on her website, nothing much seems to be going on. It appears she is more influential locally, in Trinidad than globally.
14. Gretchen Jones
The latest news flash on Gretchen Jones is at Inquisitr about her co-creating eye-see-you-bras for women’s march protesters against Trump, in order to “give him the evil eye.” Reading about her recent success at runways would ensure her with a higher position on Project Runway worst to best list. Thus, this is where she stands.
13. Sean Kelly
A New Zealand native who made an outfit for Sia and had a pretty interesting show at the New Zealand Fashion Week. You can take a look at Stuff website; it is almost a performance. Nevertheless, we are looking for designers who rocked the NY fashion week, not the one in NZ.
12. Erin Robertson
She is the last person who was victorious. The winner of season 15 of the show still has a lot to learn and to achieve. Still, bearing in mind so much amazement and adoration her clothes provoked, we believe this original designer has a bright future ahead of her.
11. Seth Aaron Henderson
Here we have a double winner – of season 7 and season 3 of All Stars. Also, he also created a line for Ipad cases with Maroo. It is a well-known fact that if you are doing business with Apple, you are a success. Still, he hasn’t been very prominent in the media lately.
10. Michelle Lesniak-Franklin
A bit higher in our ranking of most and least successful Project Runway winners, there is Michelle Lesniak-Franklin. As a self-taught designer, she deserves all the credit and awe for how far she has gone. This lady has quite an effect on Portland fashion industry, and they absolutely adore her. Also, MonthlyPortland reports she is designing costumes for Carmen, an NW Dance Project, describing them as sexy and modern.
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9. Irina Shabayeva
If your dresses were worn by Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga, that speaks volumes. Some of the dresses can be seen on Etsy, along with the prices up to $10,000 for a gown. Impressive. Of course, her models walked the New York Fashion Week 2016 and vowed everyone.
8. Chloe Dao
She was the winner of Season 2 and had a streak for business. She decided to take the opposite direction from all the other winners and decided to cooperate with QVC and design clothes for them. The trick was that by working for someone else, she eliminated the obligation to pay for manufacture costs.
7. Dmitry Sholokhov
It is reported this designer has a net worth of $700,000. He found its way on our Project Runway winners ranked: worst to best list because he is the winner of season 7 and All Stars season 4, too. Apparently, he avoids being in the spotlight and giving interviews, but the numbers speak for themselves. At the moment he is concentrated on private commissions.
6. Leanne Marshall
Perfect 365 Blog confirms she has been very active and productive, too. Read their rave review on Leanne Marshall’s New York Fashion Week 2017 runway show. They were absolutely thrilled about her collection at this prestigious world renowned event. Ms. Marshall that ranks 6th on the Project Runway winners ranked: worst to best list specializes in bridal gowns and has certainly found a way to the customers’ hearts, and wallets.
5. Jeffrey Sebelia
His customers have been Madonna, Linkin Park, Elton John, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, JLo…is it enough? We think so. Lately, he has focused on children’s clothes and has been quite prosperous. Cosa Nostra, his own company, has showrooms in Tokyo, Paris and New York. Also, the media speaks highly of his newest La Miniature collection.
4. Dom Streater
The winner of season 2 won the highest award of $500,000. We checked out her ventures and endeavors. Ms. Streater that ranks 4th on the Project Runway winners ranked: worst to best list has her own line, and she is very busy. She has come a long way for someone who used to do two jobs to make her ends meet. Being tired of the NY fashion weeks, she turned to selling her designs online. The clothes she makes are intended for women over forty. Then, there is shoe designing and some other projects which she seems to enjoy and profit from.
3. Ashley Nell Tipton
Season 14 winner that most of you remember due to her size and the fact she was designing for plus-size people such as herself. A bold act which led her to victory and New York Fashion Week runway. This contestant is following the latest trend in fashion with plus-size designs and has created a great image for herself. Being original has paid off in every way possible. Hence her bronze medal in our list of best and worst of Project Runway designers. Now, let’s see the top two entries on the Project Runway winners ranked: worst to best list.
2. Jay McCarroll
The winner of season one is claimed to have the net worth of $500,000. He has been present for a long time in the fashion world. McCarroll deserves praise not only for winning the first and toughest season (since its contestants had the least clue of what to expect) but for remaining in the business for so long. Bravo!
1. Christian Siriano
The ultimate winner and the best of our Project Runway winners ranked: worst to best list is Mr. Siriano. His net worth is the highest – astounding $1.5 million. Siriano owes his popularity to his designs, but also to his charisma, too.
