BPR: Welcome back to Project Runway! Which designer were you most happy to see?
AS: Korto! I was a huge fan of hers and was rooting for her in her season.
BPR: Please fill us in on what you have been doing since we saw you in season 8.
AS: I have been running non-stop. haha I started Andy South immediately following my season finale and we were immediately picked up by Neiman Marcus here in Hawaii along with other contemporary boutiques. It has been a journey like no other. I travelled to China for the first time and did a lot of traveling to source goods and production. After a few tries, nothing felt right to me in my gut so I decided to build my own production. I teach at the University and it was only natural for me to train my staff to produce garments that are now hanging in Neiman Marcus. Plus the cherry on top it that it's all made here in Paradise.
BPR: Your fans all applaud your courage and honesty. A gender transition can not be easy.
AS: My fans give me the courage and support I need so I thank them for always being in my corner. You're right, it is not an easy road and one that I would never wish on anyone because of the trials, but it can be a beautiful journey if it is meant for you.
BPR: You are certainly a beautiful woman.
AS: hahaha thank you-- I always find myself embarrassed or blushing when people say that. It just hasn't been how I've ever felt about myself before.
BPR: Has your design aesthetic changed?
AS: It has. On season 8, viewers saw very heavy and dark Andy South in the beginning. You can sort of see my progression and you really do see me finding myself while on the show. I sort of blossomed into someone that found the courage to be completely myself and by the end, you saw a very feminine side of my work. I understand that it was sort of a jump for many to see, but for me it was genuine of my place and time. Now, the Andy South brand has come to represent both the yin and yang you saw. An elegance with a bite; a woman strong in herself, but conscious of her surroundings.
BPR: I have a reader question from Amaury: Do you think it was fair to bring winning designers back to compete in All-Stars 3?
AS: I would love to see a season of just winners coming back. That would make sense to me-- it would be the ultimate clash of egos having all winners go head-to-head. In this case, I would almost ask the winners why they weren't more successful the first time around. This isn't an ATM machine.
BPR: Also, it was hard to understand what was difficult about working at Mood. Did you have everything you needed?
AS: we did. It was like normal except having to run through aisles of fabric. I also expected a little more chaos for the amount of drama they made it seem like. The environment was different, though. Fortunately, my table was right next to the machines... not that it helped me to stay in the game hahahaha
BPR: Why didn't they use Parsons?
AS: I don't think half these ideas in production make sense anyway. This was one of them.
BPR: I don't think the judges said anything really critical about your garment. Only that it didn't suit the brief. If you could go back, would you do anything differently?
AS: It suited the brief. The brief I was told was a modern 2013 interpretation. I was not told to make a costume or something out of the 80's-- If that were the case, you know I would have kicked some butt. I also did punk when I first started designing ready to wear and as I would expect, I have grown out of the grunge grit. I didn't know that the judges were going to be so narrow in their vision.
BPR: What are you working on now?
AS: I jus delivered our last fall delivery to Neiman Marcus and am working on SS14 production. I took almost a year off from doing Andy South and everything just froze on my end as I built production, training my staff to do my work while we were already keeping busy manufacturing for other companies here. It has been sort of a return to Andy South here at the Atelier and at the factory. Website will be updated and regularly rotated by the end of the year as well as AS being in NYC and Asia.
BPR: Will you stay in Hawaii?
AS: As of now, yes. My place if here and my purpose. I have a growing business where I am creating jobs and opportunities. I am building the industry here while still able to do business in the mainland and in Asia. --Plus I am in paradise, what more could I ask for?
BPR: Ari, we are almost out of time, is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
AS: I have been saying it from day one: keep dreaming and NEVER stop believing.
