Fri 25 Jan 2008
Episode 3 of Project Catwalk Series 3
Debbie Debonair This Weeks Loser
After last week’s sad farewell to two much-loved members of the Project Catwalk house, Jules and Keko, the remaining contestants are in a reflective mood ahead of their third challenge.
They travel to a swanky London hotel where they are to find out what the latest challenge will be and Kelly tips them off that it involves one of her favourite brands. They arrive and are met by Gary Bots, the brand manager for Mackintosh, who have been producing handmade rainwear for over 200 years. He asks each designer to do a quick sketch of what first springs to mind when they hear the word ‘Mackinstosh’ and write down any words they associate with the brand, before delivering their brief. They have to take Mackinstosh’s classic raincoat to the next level, and, whilst the brief is pretty limitless, Gary explains that they must retain the traditional brand values of Mackintosh and that their version must be commercially viable.
Next a twist is revealed: the group will be split into two, with one half designing for men and the other, for women. This is great news for Tom, the self-confessed menswear expert, who finds himself in that very group. Viv and Debbie are daunted at the prospect of working with patterns, which is a weak area for the two self-taught designers.
In the work room the cracks soon begin to appear as Debbie struggles to cut a symmetrical pattern for her coat and her lack of technical skill is apparent not only to the rest of the group but also to mentor Ben. He also casts doubts over Jasper’s beautifully made yet very ‘out there’ coat and his comments to Katy prompt her to ditch 5 hours of work and start again, much to her annoyance!
After Day One the team return to the house and celebrate Fionnuala’s birthday with champers, cake and dancing, and later the talk turns to the impending elimination. The general consensus is that Debbie Debonair should be the next designer to leave as she has not had the formal training the others have, and Angie even goes as far to say that Debbie’s participation in the show is an “embarrassment to the show and the fashion industry!” Charming as ever, eh Ange?
After another day of frantic sewing the group are informed that there’s a new dimension to the challenge. They’ll have to pitch their idea to Gary Bot from Mackintosh and 2 fashion buyers and convince them their design is the most commercially viable. Viv takes their comments on board and adds a mini jacket to her dress mac, whilst the panel are not at all keen on Angie’s green mac as they think it’s too young.
After sending all their models down the catwalk, it’s Chelsey, Ross, Katy and Viv who are the judge’s favourites. The designers have impressed Gary so much that he announces there will now be two winners- representing menswear and womenswear and that they will work with Mackintosh on their designs! The winners are Katy and Ross, whilst Jasper, Angie and Debbie find themselves in the bottom two. Jasper was told his design was off brief and if he was going to survive the competition he would have to adhere to it much more closely next time. Angie’s green coat was described by Paula as simple B.L.A.N.D but it was risqué designer and all-round free spirit Debbie Debonair who became this week’s fashion victim.
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