Fleis does well in ‘starving artist’ challenge
As with all of the previous challenges, some of the designers were not happy with the task laid out for them. But Rogers City’s favorite designer, Melissa Fleis was her usual, upbeat self on last week’s episode of “Project Runway,” which airs each Thursday at 9 p.m. on Lifetime television.
The designers had to create decorated T-shirts to sell, with the goal of raising money to buy material for the second part of the challenge. The episode was called “Starving Artist.”
“When we walked into the workroom and I see all this arts and craft stuff, I am immediately excited,” Fleis said early in the show.
Put in three teams of three designers, the contestants painted patterns on the shirts then sold them in the streets of New York City. They had three hours to create their garments.
“I always wanted to do graffiti on the streets and I did it,” Melissa said.
Mentor Tim Gunn said the contestants could use their designing skills in many ways to raise money for materials. He said they could offer fashion advice, alterations or anything fashion-related to raise money. Although many complained about meeting people in the street, it appeared they had fun with the experience.
The challenge matched Melissa with designers Ven Budhu and Fabio Costa, the only team that paired three former weekly winners. That team raised the most, $800.48, which they used to purchase materials. Then, they were challenged to create looks for fall, one must include outerwear. The judges were not completely thrilled with the garments the team created, but liked that they worked together and compromised on their ideas. The team was second of the three teams.
The judges chose one member of the winning team as the winner of challenge while one member of losing team was eliminated from the competition.
Designers Elena Silvnyak and Dmitry Sholokhov who are portrayed as not getting along with each other, had to work together in a team. Although the two of them rubbed each other the wrong way, the third member of the team, Alicia Hardesty, was sent home.
Designer Sonj
Fleis is the daughter of Jim and Doris Fleis or Rogers City and a 1998 graduate of Rogers City High School.
The eight remaining designers are trying to become one of the three finalists for the show’s finale to air in October. The winner will receive $50,000 in technology to be used in their business, a fashion spread in Marie Claire magazine, a 2013 Lexus GS 350 automobile and $100,000 from L’Oreal Paris to start their own line of clothing.
Episode nine of season 10 of “Project Runway” airs Thursday at 9 a.m. on Lifetime television, cable channel 30 in Rogers City. It is also available online at Lifetime.com