BPR: This is Laura Kluvo from Blogging Project Runway and I'm on the phone with All-Star Season Two Champion, Anthony Ryan Auld. Hi Ryan!
ARA: Hey Miss Laura!
BPR: Congratulations on your win!
ARA: Thank you so much, it's very exciting.
BPR: What do you consider to be the best part of the prize package?
ARA: I have two favorites - the Brother equipment of course. Also, the opportunity to present a capsule collection with Nine West. So many people ask, "Where can we buy your designs?" and now I can say, "In Nine West stores."
BPR: When will you get started?
ARA: I am not sure. No one knew the winner until last night, so I haven't really talked to anyone yet, I hope it will be soon. I am ready to go! Let's make this happen. Hopefully there will be a quick turnaround. I am very excited.
BPR: Please keep us posted.
ARA: Of course.
BPR: Do you plan to move to New York?
ARA: Not really. I have so much support here in New Orleans. I have friends and investors and I am very happy here. I am definitely going to visit my friend Kayne. He has a very successful business. I will be doing a lot of research and hard work in the next year or year and a half. I don't want to say that I will never move to New York, but for now, I am staying here.
BPR: Last week we saw the couture challenge where Josh was eliminated. This week we saw Josh turn down the opportunity to assist you. How much time actually elapsed between these two scenes?
ARA: It was literally five hours. He had five hours of sleep and then everyone was called back to the set. It shows what a great friend he is. He knew that he really wouldn't be able to give his "all." He wanted someone else who would give 100%. That's a true friend. I could see it in his face, but I had to ask him.
BPR: Before you arrived for All-Stars did you have this collection already in your head?
ARA: No, I had no idea.
BPR: So it was completely spontaneous?
ARA: Yes. If you look at what I did on season 9, obviously that didn't work. Since then, I have done a complete 180. So I wanted to do something completely different - a clean modern look.
The couture challenge actually inspired this collection. I was in a negative place, really struggling and I used that negative energy to my advantage and used it to inspire the design.
So, for the finale collection, the idea was this girl growing up and sort of "burning her legos." So the print represented ashes... The first dress is black and heavy and then it moves into the gray and yellow and then into the lighter cream and white.
BPR: The collection was inspired by Legos? I didn't get that?
ARA: Well, that is a brand name and we had to be careful.
BPR: Where are your finale garments now?
ARA: Available for auction!
BPR: Which is your favorite look from the collection?
ARA: Definitely the first look. When I had the idea for it, I thought it was a strong idea, but honestly when I saw it on the runway it was so much more than I imagined. To be honest I owe a lot of my success to Kayne. All of the mitering on the seams, etc. He really executed it like a champion. I couldn't have done it without him.
BPR: Tell us a little bit about your lovely model.
ARA: Miss Kelly! She is so tall! Very professional and laid back. She was careful to present each design just as I wanted. She is really great. If I was running behind, she would just wait patiently. No drama. She really did a great job.
BPR: Will you be showing a collection at Fashion Week?
ARA: Not in New York, no. We just didn't have enough time.
BPR: You also won fan favorite. Congratulations! Have you received your check?
ARA: No. I will be using the money for an investment. My mom always told me that if I ever had any money, I should invest in something I believe in. Actually I want to let you know that I have decided to invest this money in an up-and-coming designer named Josh McKinley. I completely believe in his tank line. We collaborated on some designs and they sold out last night at our finale party. I understand the struggles with starting a new line, I want to help.
BPR: Which was your favorite challenge?
ARA: Oddly enough, it was the "real woman" challenge. I mean these women are true American heroes. They have given so much. I wanted to give her a good experience. Maybe it wasn't the most flattering dress, but it was what she wanted and she was comfortable in it.
I know what I would have put her in: sleeveless, high neck, peplum, pencil skirt. But I didn't want to push her.
It was a great experience and a privilege.
BPR: How did you like working with Joanna?
ARA: Oh I LOVE Joanna. Absolutely love her. She is so cool and laid back and not at all what I would have expected from the editor of a major fashion magazine.
BPR: Will you be tuning in for season 11?
ARA: Absolutely. I have to admit, that if I signed up for Project Runway and then learned that it was going to be all teams, I would probably lose it. But at the same time, I am curious to see how this will work. I will definitely be watching.
BPR: Anthony Ryan, we are almost out of time, is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
ARA: Thank you so much for supporting me. I didn't always think that I could do this, but you gave me confidence. I love you.
BPR: Thank you Ryan.
ARA: Thank you Laura.
