The sixth season of Project Runway premiered on Lifetime on August 20, 2009, the first season to be aired on that network. The production of this season started in September 2008 and finished the pre-finale filming on October 17, 2008. It is the only season of Project Runway to be filmed at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.
Returning as judges are supermodel Heidi Klum, fashion designer Michael Kors, and Marie Claire fashion director Nina Garcia. Tim Gunn returned as a mentor to the aspiring designers. This is the second season which consisted of all female finalists.
The winner of this season of Project Runway, Irina Shabayeva, received an editorial feature in an issue of Marie Claire magazine, a cash prize of $100,000 to start her own line, and an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Paris.ew.com Accessed on July 15, 2009 Furthermore, the winning model of this season, Kalyn Hemphill, received a $25,000 cash prize from L'Oreal and took part in the winning designer's fashion spread in Marie Claire.mylifetime.com Accessed on July 15, 2009
The premiere was preceded by a two-hour special episode of Project Runway: "All-Star Challenge", featuring eight past contestants (Daniel Vosovic, Santino Rice, Jeffrey Sebelia, Uli Herzner, Mychael Knight, Chris March, Sweet P, and Korto Momolu) competing in one challenge with a cash prize of $100,000.mylifetime.com Accessed on August 11, 2009 Vosovic won the challenge, while Momolu came in second place, Sweet P in third, and March in fourth.
In 2010, eight of the contestants in this season would appear in the video game adaptation of the series, which was released shortly after the season ended.
In 2012, Gordana Gehlhausen competed on Project Runway: All Stars where she finished 11th of 13.
Also in 2012, Althea Harper competed on Project Runway All Stars (season 2) placing 8th of 13.
In 2013, Irina Shabayeva competed in Project Runway All Stars (season 3), placing 6th of 11.
In 2019, Irina Shabayeva returned for a third time to compete on Project Runway All Stars (season 7) against worldwide Project Runway winners. Irina placed 3rd.
Contestants
+Ari Fish25Episode 116th placeMalvin Vien23Episode 215th placeMitchell Hall25Episode 314th placeQristyl Frazier41Episode 413th placeJohnny Sakalis29Episode 512th placeRa'mon Lawrence Coleman30Episode 611th placeLouise Black31Episode 710th placeRodney Epperson49Episode 89th placeShirin Askari23Episode 98th placeNicolas Putvinski26Episode 107th placeLogan Neitzel25Episode 116th placeChristopher Straub29Episode 124th placeGordana Gehlhausen44Carol Hannah Whitfield23Episode 133rd placeAlthea Harper23Irina Shabayeva26
Models NameAgeHometownOutcomeYosuzi Sylvester21Los Angeles, California16th placeErika Macke21Las Vegas, Nevada15th placeErica Milde23Chicago, Illinois14th placeValerie Roy27New York, New York13th placeEmarie Wiltz29New York City12th placeFatma Dabo25Los Angeles, California11th placeVanessa Fitzgerald20New York City10th placeTara Egan21Chicago, Illinois9th placeEbony Jointer19Hacienda Heights, California8th placeCeline Chua28New York City7th placeKojii Helnwein28Los Angeles, California6th placeKatie Sticksel22Los Angeles, California5th placeMatar Cohen 24New York City4th placeLisa Blades24Los Angeles, California3rd placeTanisha Harper 27Los Angeles, CaliforniaRunner-upKalyn Hemphill19New York CityWinner
Challenges +Designer Elimination Table Designers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 Eliminated Episode Irina IN IN HIGH IN WIN IN WIN HIGH IN WIN HIGH ADV WINNER 14 - Finale, Part 2 Althea IN HIGH IN WIN HIGH IN IN IN HIGH IN WIN ADV IN IN IN HIGH IN IN HIGH IN WIN HIGH HIGHADV 3RD PLACE Gordana IN IN LOW IN LOWLOW HIGH WIN IN HIGH LOW OUT 12 - The Art of Fashion Christopher WIN IN IN IN HIGH HIGH LOW LOW LOW LOW LOW OUT Logan IN IN IN LOW IN IN IN LOW LOW LOW OUT 11 - The Best of the Best Nicolas IN IN LOW IN LOW WIN IN IN HIGH OUT 10 - Around the World in Two Days Shirin IN WIN IN IN IN IN HIGH HIGH OUT Epperson IN IN LOW HIGH IN HIGH LOW OUT 8 - A Fashionable New Beginning Louise IN HIGH IN IN IN LOW OUT 7 - The Sky Is the Limit Ra'mon HIGHLOW WIN IN IN OUT 6 - Lights, Camera, Sew! Johnny HIGH IN HIGH LOW OUT 5 - Fashion Headliners Qristyl LOW IN LOW OUT 4 - What a Woman Wants Mitchell LOW LOW OUT 3 - Rumble on the Runway Malvin IN OUT 2 - We Expect Fashion Ari OUT 1 - Welcome to Los Angeles!
: Heidi Klum cited Nicolas as "very lucky" repeatedly, stating had he not had immunity from the last challenge, he could have also been out. : Tim Gunn announced that this would be the last challenge awarding immunity to the winner. Immunity will no longer be granted from episode 9 and onward until the competition ends. : Logan made it farther than anyone else in the history of the competition without ever having a "HIGH" score. : This is the first and only season where none of the finalists ever receives a "LOW" score
The designer won Project Runway Season 6. The designer was advanced to Fashion Week. The designer won the challenge The designer came in second but did not win the challenge. The designer had one of the highest scores for that challenge, but did not win. The designer had one of the lowest scores for that challenge, but was not eliminated. The designer was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated. The designer lost and was out of the competition.
Models of the Runway +Model Elimination Table Model 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 Episode Kalyn QF MH IS IS IS IS NP NP NP IS IS IS WINNER (IS) 14 - That's a Wrap!13 - Bryant Park Bound Tanisha AH AH AH AH AH AH RE IS AH CW AH AH AH Lisa LB LB LB CW CW CW LN CW CW AH CW CW CW Matar NP SA QF RE RE RE GG GG GG CS GG GG OUT12 - NY Here We Come! Katie CS CS CS CS CS CS IS CS CS GG CS CS OUT Kojii CW CW LN LN LN LN LB RE LN NP LN OUT 11 - It's a Sticky Situation Celine IS IS NP NP NP NP CS LN IS LN OUT 10 - Burlesque Babies Ebony SA NP SA SA SA SA CW SA SA OUT 9 - Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow Tara GG GG GG GG GG GG AH AH OUT 8 - A Fresh Start Vanessa RC RC RC RC RC RC SA OUT 7 - You're My Pumpkin Pie Fatma LN LN MH LB LB LB OUT 6 - Hot Mess Emarie JS JS JS JS JS OUT 5 - Chic Clique Valerie MV MV CW QF OUT Erica RE RE RE OUT 3 - Frenemies ErikaAF QF WD 2 - They Love Me, They Love Me Not Yosuzi MH OUT 1 - Off the Runway
: The aftershow "Models of the Runway" fully reveals the eliminated model of a future challenge. : Valerie was originally eliminated in Episode 2; however, she was brought back after Erika, Carol Hannah's model, voluntarily withdrew. : All the designers were required to switch models for this episode. : In place of the models, a group of divorcées modeled designs based on their old wedding dresses. Colored boxes in this column refer to the models assigned to the winning and losing designers. : The designers were once again required to switch models for this episode.
The model won Project Runway Season 6. The model wore the winning design that challenge. The model wore the losing design that challenge. The model was eliminated. The model was brought back into the competition. The model withdrew from the competition.
Designer legend Althea Harper: AH Ari Fish: AF Carol Hannah Whitfield: CW Christopher Straub: CS Rodney Epperson: RE Gordana Gehlhausen: GG Irina Shabayeva: IS Johnny Sakalis: JS Logan Neitzel: LN Louise Black: LB Malvin Vien: MV Mitchell Hall: MH Nicolas Putvinski: NP Qristyl Frazier: QF Ra'mon Lawrence Coleman: RC Shirin Askari: SA
Rate The Runway Results +Designer Elimination Table Designer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Irina IN IN HIGH IN WIN IN WIN HIGH IN WIN HIGH WIN WINNER Althea IN HIGH IN WIN HIGH IN IN IN HIGH IN WIN LOW OUT Carol Hannah IN IN IN HIGH IN IN HIGH IN WIN HIGH HIGH HIGH OUT Gordana IN IN LOW IN LOW LOW HIGH WIN IN HIGH LOW OUT Christopher WIN IN IN IN HIGH HIGH LOW LOW LOW LOW LOW OUT Logan IN IN IN LOW IN IN IN LOW LOW LOW OUT Nicolas IN IN LOW IN LOW WIN LOW IN HIGH OUT Shirin IN WIN IN IN IN IN HIGH HIGH OUT Epperson IN IN LOW HIGH IN HIGH LOW OUT Louise IN HIGH IN IN IN LOW OUT Ra'mon HIGH LOW WIN IN IN OUT Johnny HIGH IN HIGH LOW OUT Qristyl LOW IN LOW OUT Mitchell LOW LOW OUT Malvin IN OUT Ari OUT
Episodes
Episode 1: Welcome to Los Angeles! Original Airdate: August 20, 2009
The designers were asked to create a dress made for a red carpet event, focusing on innovation on their creation and making a statement on who they are as a designer. They were preassigned models for their challenge, given 30 minutes to sketch their design, a 30-minute shopping spree at Mood with a budget of $200, and two days to complete their design.
Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors Guest Judge: Lindsay Lohan WINNER: Christopher ELIMINATED: Ari
Episode 2: We Expect Fashion Original Airdate: August 27, 2009
Designers were to create a pregnancy look for supermodel Rebecca Romijn, who was carrying twins. She was looking for something that was fashionable and easy to move in, but also something appropriate for a pregnant woman to wear out in public. Designers were given 30 minutes to sketch, a 30-minute shopping spree at Mood with a budget of $100, and two days to complete the look. The prize for the winning designer was immunity for the next challenge.
Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia Guest Judges: Monique Lhuillier (sitting in for Michael Kors), Rebecca Romijn WINNER: Shirin ELIMINATED: Malvin
Episode 3: Rumble on the Runway Original Airdate: September 3, 2009
The designers were taken to the beach, where they were told to create a fashionable, surfer-inspired outfit, and were placed in teams of two. Tim drew the names of team leaders via a random lotto; those team leaders then selected their partners in the order they were chosen, as follows: TeamTeam Members1Shirin and Carol Hannah2Logan and Christopher3Nicolas and Gordana4Mitchell and Ra'mon5Althea and Louise6Qristyl and Epperson7Johnny and Irina
Later on in the challenge, it was revealed that they would also be creating an avant-garde look inspired by their ready-to-wear, surfer-inspired outfit. They had $50 for the first look and $200 for the second. Most of the episode focused on Qristyl and Epperson, who had trouble getting along, and Mitchell and Ra'mon; Mitchell had trouble keeping on task, which caused Ra'mon to have to create both looks mostly on his own. At judging, Qristyl and Mitchell were in the bottom two, Qristyl for not being able to lead her team and Mitchell for not doing anything.
Note: This episode marks the first time a designer (and team leader) of a winning look was eliminated.
Judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia Guest Judges: Max Azria (sitting in for Michael Kors), Rachel Bilson WINNER: Ra'mon ELIMINATED: Mitchell
Episode 4: What a Woman Wants Original Airdate: September 10, 2009
The designers were challenged to create an eye-catching outfit to please their surprise client: their models. This outfit is intended for model industry events. Designers were given a budget of $100 to shop at Mood, and a day to complete the look. The winning designer would have immunity for the next challenge.
Judges: Heidi Klum Guest Judges: Marc Bouwer (sitting in for Michael Kors), Zoe Glassner (sitting in for Nina Garcia), Jennifer Rade WINNER: Althea ELIMINATED: Qristyl
Episode 5: Fashion Headliners Original Airdate: September 17, 2009
Designers were taken to the Los Angeles Times, and were challenged to create an outfit made out of newspaper. They had three minutes to grab the newspaper they desired to use for design and then completed the look in a day. Designers were provided with paints and could use muslin, which could not be shown on the runway, for infrastructure. The winner would have immunity for the next challenge.
Judges: Heidi Klum Guest Judges: Tommy Hilfiger (sitting in for Michael Kors), Zoe Glassner (sitting in for Nina Garcia), Eva Longoria WINNER: Irina ELIMINATED: Johnny
Episode 6: Lights, Camera, Sew! Original Airdate: September 24, 2009