BPR: Are you back in India? Any plans to move to the United States?
SS: I am back in Mumbai, India. I don't plan to stay in the US because I don't have the money to stay there heheheh!!! But yes, I will be shuffling between Mumbai and the US whenever I'm able to.
BPR: Who is your best friend from the cast?
SS: This is a tough one because I really became good friends with everyone! On the show I was closest to Candice but in time I got really close to Lindsey, Ashley, Kelly and Merline. And I have to mention this - I have fond memories with literally each and every one from the show! Once it was just me and Edmond living in the apartment I really connected with him and we shared some amazing conversations about life, creativity and childhood.
BPR: Swapnil, although you always created excellent garments and the judges consistently scored you in "the top," you never won a challenge. Do you think that the judges held you to a higher standard?
SS: I always gave more than a 100%. Whenever I was told that I was not giving my all I realized that maybe the judges expected more, and that's why they FELT I wasn't giving my all - but that doesn't mean that I wasn't giving my 200%. It was their opinion that I wasn't, but I truly gave it my all! The issue was that I never made muslin toiles. I always made the outfits in the main fabric and that's how I ended up saving a lot of time! More so I came all the way from India to the US, so I highly doubt that someone who had spent so much hard earned money would not take such a platform seriously!
BPR: Our readers were very surprised by your elimination. Were you surprised as well? Or were you expecting it?
SS: Honestly I wasn't surprised at my elimination because my client was not happy and what I sent down the runway was something that got finished in two hours! From the beginning I kept on telling my client that this is your challenge and I want you to be happy and my client eventually was the unhappiest, which is why I feel I deserved to go. But the fact remains that I made 3 looks for her, which speaks highly about me being proactive and not being lazy! Before this challenge there were 9 challenges I had my looks ready for critiquing and fittings. It was just one challenge that my outfit was not ready and that was because I was clueless as to what my client wanted and thus I needed some direction before finishing it, and I didn't have extra fabric either! Having said that this one experience has changed me as a person it's made me stronger!
BPR: Which was your favorite challenge?
SS: The Hallmark challenge and the destinations challenge
BPR: What are you working on now?
SS: Life has gone back to normal here in India for me. Project Runway has already opened a lot of doors and my clientele has quadrupled and to my surprise they are all "real women" with "real bodies" who all want sleeves J and they are loving it all Hahahhaha! More so I'm working on a line of plus size evening gowns which shall retail in India and of course my ultimate love to make others for Bollywood item songs !
BPR: Where can we see your designs? Do you have a website?
SS: You can catch me on Instagram (officialswapnilshinde) to see my updates and of course my official fan page on Facebook. Also my website is going to be active soon so people from all over the world can shop online.
BPR: Finally, is there anything that you would like to say to your fans?
SS: That it's THEIR love and support that has helped me heal from the episode that broke my soul! Without them it would have been impossible! I want to send the same amount of love right back at them times 200,000,000!
BPR: Thank you!
