BPR: This is Laura Kluvo from Blogging Project Runway and I'm on the phone with season 12 finalist, Alexandria von Bromssen, Hi Alexandria!
AvB: Hi!
BPR: You made it all the way to the very end of the competition and yet, I feel that we don't know you very well. What would you like the viewers to know about you?
AvB: That I'm funny. I'm fun. Project Runway is a story and were are characters. I believe I was pre-determined to play a certain role. I am sad that my true self was not really shown.
BPR: I would agree that there is a popularity contest going on as well as a design contest.
AvB: At the start of the competition - everyone was just so loud and overwhelming. I couldn't compete. Sandro and Ken and others were so loud. It was kind of scary. They wanted to be on TV way more than I did.
I am kind and I believe I was nice to everyone. I was pretty quiet and I know I was perceived as "standoffish," but I am not really like that at all. Also, I am very tall, and I understand that being tall also sets me apart.
I had a strategy and my strategy was to concentrate and to sew really well and not to get involved in drama and I thought that this would serve me well. I would not have been on the show if I did not believe that I could win.
BPR: It certainly did serve you well - and got you all the way to the finale. Congratulations!
AvB: Thank you.
BPR: Have you watched all of the previous seasons of the show?
AvB: Perhaps I should have done my homework more. I operate a boutique and a sewing camp and when I get home I continue to sew. The TV is on but it is just background noise.
BPR: Do you feel that you knew what to expect?
AvB: No! I had no idea. I mean I had some idea. I was familiar with Richard Hallmarq from Sacramento and I knew his work. He got pretty far, so I thought I could do it too.
BPR: How was the Project Runway experience different from what you expected?
AvB: It was apparent that I was not going to get a lot of screen time. There were bigger personalities in the room. Also, once it was determined what my "character" would be, the only scenes that you saw were the ones that reinforced that character. It is sad that the show does not unfold more organically.
BPR: Your collection was amazing. If you could go back, is there anything that you would change?
AvB: No. Honestly I know that really big things read well on the runway. I look at these magazines and I think...I mean they are really cool, but at the end of the day, will anyone wear this? I wanted to present a collection that women would want to wear. Granted, not all of my details are readily apparent on the runway, but if you are wearing it, you know the detail, right? There are designers who make crazy runway designs and they lose money every year.
We only had six weeks, and that is not even six working weeks... It's impossible. You are exhausted.
My collection was solid. It is cool and hip and trendy - but not too trendy - just current.
BPR: Heidi, Nina and Kerry all said that they wanted to wear your clothes, but they did not choose you for the win. I was surprised by that. Were you?
AvB: To be honest, I considered Justin my competition. When he was dismissed, I thought I had a chance. I still believe that my collection was superior. If I am honest I will say that I am very disappointed. My collection was tight. It fit perfectly. It was innovative. Marketable. All of the models backstage wanted my looks. The producers wanted my looks. Tim told me that Heidi tried on my pieces.
BPR: Heidi tried on your looks? We didn't see that.
AvB: Yes, Tim told me that she loved it.
BPR: We know that you were born in Sweden, but when did you move to the United States?
AvB: I was very very young. The whole family moved here.
BPR: So was English your first language?
AvB: Dual.
BPR: Are you single?
AvB: Yes.
BPR: You invited your students to the finale - that was so cute.
AvB: Two of my students - they are ten, they love the show, and it was great experience for them, and then my friend Amy who helps me run the camp and my friend Amos.
BPR: Tell us more about Camp Couture? Is this your own business? How long have you been teaching kids to sew?
AvB: Yes. I have been teaching for about eight years. I started with two kids and now I have 25 students a week. I plan to expand to another location by next summer.
BPR: Where will that be?
AvB: San Francisco.
BPR: Do you teach adults as well?
AvB: Yes. I want to say though, that because I work with children, and I am a teacher, the way I was portrayed on the show was even more hurtful. Ask my students what I am like.
BPR: Please tell us more about Red Square Boutique.
AvB: In order to have the space for the school, we had to have a retail space as well. I have other independent and local designers as well as my own designs in the store. I have some awesome local designers.
BPR: Do you have a website?
AvB: RedSquareBoutique.com (If it is down for maintenance, try again a little later - they are working on it right now!)
BPR: Do you have an etsy store?
AvB: I plan to open one very soon. We will be selling the hats. We just photographed them, and will be listing them very soon.
BPR: We have a reader question from Susan. Did you design the jewelry that was featured in your finale show, and is it available to purchase?
AvB: Yes I did. Stay tuned to the website. I want to say that I can not sell exact designs from the finale - but there will some similar jewelry for sale.
BPR: Which was your favorite look from your finale collection?
AvB: The blond model with all black, the leather top and white fauxhawk.
BPR: Oh - that has my favorite feature from the collection - the little glove pocket detail. That was so charming and original. What do you call that?
AvB: Let's call it awesome. Yes, that was, I thought, cool. It was special.
BPR: It seemed that Zac Posen continued to call you, "Alexandra" throughout the entire season. Did you ever correct him? Did anyone correct him?
AvB: No. You know what? I thought it was very rude. I mean, my first job, I was reprimanded for misspelling someone's name. Not using someone's name is just a sign of disrespect and he disrespected me.
Maybe I should have corrected him, but after thirteen challenges, you would think he could have even heard the other judges call me the correct name.
Some of the insulting things he said did not even make it to the show. He even made up some words. There are 20 hours of film shot every day and the audience does not see everything.
I felt humiliated.
I know I am good. I worked very hard and presented designs that I had time to complete correctly and I deserved better treatment from Zac.
I feel that I was redeemed in the end. I made a great collection.
BPR: Who is your best friend from the cast?
AvB: Miranda. She was my roommate and she is very kind. We still text each other. We are friends. I liked Alexander too.
BPR: Tim's visit to your home was adorable. Were the kids thrilled to meet him?
AvB: They were so excited. They were freaking out. It was very very fun.
BPR: I felt that when we saw your students and your friends in Tim's home visit, that we were finally seeing the real you.
BPR: Were you happy to be reunited with the cast at the reunion?
AvB: No.... no... I didn't get to talk. I am very disappointed. They just sat there any argued the whole time. It was ugly. I was caught in the line of fire. I was called names. It was shameful. It just became this hatefest.
Out of all of the reality shows, this one should be the best because we are creating something beautiful. As artists, we should talk about the art. Somehow this became all about the drama and the arguing. I'm very disappointed.
BPR: What are you working on now?
AvB: I am making a new generation of hats, and a lot of knitwear.
I have also been asked to work on a commercial for the SuperBowl.
BPR: Well, that is very exciting. Please keep us posted.
AvB: I am also working on my Fall 2014 Collection that I will take to Market.
BPR: Alexandria, we are almost out of time, is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
AvB: Thank you for being a fan. Watch out for me!
BPR: Thank you!
AvB: Thank you!
