Project Runway 2.0?

Since 2004, Project Runway has challenged aspiring fashion designers to compete for a chance to break into the fashion industry. The cult-favorite Bravo show, hosted by the iconic duo Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, struggled to produce any real fashion stars beyond Season 4 winner Christian Siriano.

However, Gunn’s “make it work” mantra and the ridiculous challenges designers were presented with still attracted a fan base large enough to maintain 18 seasons. 

In 2018, Gunn and Klum announced that they were leaving Project Runway, and in came Siriano and supermodel Karlie Kloss as the new hosts. 

Fast forward to 2020 and Gunn and Klum have reemerged like deja vu in Amazon’s original hit series Making the Cut. A couple of months before, Netflix launched Next in Fashion, which is hosted by Queer Eye style connoisseur Tan France and British fashion designer Alexa Chung. 

At a glance, both of these shows appear to be almost an exact replica of their predecessor. So, why the sudden excess of Project Runway 2.0’s? 

Despite the familiarity of the new hit series, they offer a refreshing perspective on the ever-changing fashion industry. The goal of these shows is to find a designer who can create accessible fashion, aka clothes that will sell. Each challenge is curated around current design trends and styles that influence what people wear worldwide. Plus, nearly every challenge includes producing a men’s look as well as a women’s. 

The revamp of the show has also consisted of a new approach to casting contestants: choosing individuals who are already established in the fashion world. These individuals have attended top fashion schools or have successful brands, and one even has a collab with Nike. 

The show has also become more interactive, immediately making the accessible looks available for purchase on the ˆ store on Amazon and Net-a-Porter’s website. Making the Cut adds an extra layer of pizazz by whisking the designers around the world to places like Paris and Tokyo, as if their contestants are on The Bachelor. 

In reality, the new shows are really just elevated Project Runways. Gunn even came out and said, "Project Runway is the undergraduate program and Making the Cut is the graduate and PhD program.” However, it’s less about technical talent and more about design. Seriously, Making the Cut had a girl who couldn’t even sew. While she only made it to the second week, her lack of ability was extremely telling of the show’s new priorities.  

If you care about fashion, then the shows do provide a revealing insight into what’s happening in fashion right now. On both shows, the judges decide what is sellable or not about each look, and viewers get the inside scoop from industry professionals. 

Even though we have yet to see the long-term success of these designers, we predict that this won’t be the last time you hear the winners’ names. 

If you give this show a watch, let us know what you think by tagging us @theedgemag to be featured!