BPR: This is Laura Kluvo with Blogging Project Runway and I'm on the phone with All-Star Season 5 finalist Dom Streater, Hi Dom!
DS: Hi Laura!
BPR: Congratulations on making it to the finale again!
DS: Thanks.
BPR: As a former winner, do you feel that the judges held you to a higher standard?
DS: Yes and no. I feel like even though they knew that I won my season, they probably considered me to be at the same level and ability as the other All-Stars.
BPR: When you arrived and saw the other All-Stars, who did you feel would be your biggest competition?
DS: Alexander and Ken. They were from my season and I was aware of what they could do.
BPR: Okay, let's talk about your personal life.... You recently married. Please tell us about your husband.
DS: I've known Ivan for about six years. We've been together for about four. We actually met when we were both doing cancer research at the University of Pennsylvania. We've been together ever since.
BPR: And when is your baby due?
DS: June 19th - so soon.
BPR: Do you know if you are having a boy or a girl?
DS: Yes, she's a girl!
BPR: Do you have her wardrobe all designed?
DS: Yes, but you know as soon as I announced my pregnancy I have been receiving all kinds of clothes. Come on guys, I need a crib!
BPR: How exciting! Dom, who is your best friend from the All-Star cast?
DS: Definitely Ken, Asha and Sam. We developed a real camaraderie during the season.
BPR: Which was your favorite challenge?
DS: Come on - the print challenge.
BPR: What are you working on now?
DS: I am working on developing my line of caftans, dresses and jackets. My best sellers with customers are always dresses and jackets so I am focusing on these. I will have some really cool prints coming out this summer. Of course I am thinking about a possible line of kids wear. It's like a whole new world...
BPR: Dom, we are almost out of time, is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
DS: Thanks for the support. It's amazing reading the commentary on the show. I appreciate reading the nice compliments - especially at eight months pregnant and totally hormonal. Thank you for the support.
BPR: Thank you Dom.
DS: Thank you Laura.
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
BPR Interview with Ken Laurence, Continued
BPR: This is Laura Kluvo from Blogging Project Runway and I'm on the phone with Season 5 All-Star, Ken Laurence. Hi Ken!
KL: Hi Laura.
BPR: Congratulations an making it to the finale!
KL: Thank you!
BPR: Have you been thinking about your finale collection since season 12, and have some ideas already, or did you come up with it in the four days that you had to create it?
KL: Everything that you will see in the finale I came up with in the four days.
BPR: Did you feel like an underdog at the start?
KL: No, not at all. I won two challenges, and I was frequently in the top. I did not feel like an underdog at all.
BPR: What have you been working on since we last saw you in season 12?
KL: I have taken the time to refocus and to rebrand my business. I have tuned in to and perfected my aesthetic.
BPR: Are you a full-time designer?
KL: Yes I am.
BPR: Still in Atlanta?
KL: I have been here for five months.
BPR: Have you remained in touch with any of your fellow all-stars?
KL: Yes. I talk to Kini and Alexander, Dom and Asha probably about five times a day.
BPR: Which was your favorite challenge?
KL: I would say the avant garde challenge.
BPR: Your avant garde design was stunning....Did you all switch models for each challenge? How did that work?
KL: Yes. It was always off-camera. There was a stack of photos of the models and we just pulled one from the stack. That was the model that we got for the challenge.
BPR: Switching models didn't fool the judges or the audience though. We could definitely identify your designs.
KL: Thank you. That is the goal. To have a strong identifiable aesthetic.
BPR: Ken, we are looking forward to the finale and we wish you the best. Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
KL: Yes. I want to thank all of the people who have been supporting me - not just during the All-Stars season but since season 12. Thank you to everyone.
BPR: Thank you Ken.
KL: Thank you!
KL: Hi Laura.
BPR: Congratulations an making it to the finale!
KL: Thank you!
BPR: Have you been thinking about your finale collection since season 12, and have some ideas already, or did you come up with it in the four days that you had to create it?
KL: Everything that you will see in the finale I came up with in the four days.
BPR: Did you feel like an underdog at the start?
KL: No, not at all. I won two challenges, and I was frequently in the top. I did not feel like an underdog at all.
BPR: What have you been working on since we last saw you in season 12?
KL: I have taken the time to refocus and to rebrand my business. I have tuned in to and perfected my aesthetic.
BPR: Are you a full-time designer?
KL: Yes I am.
BPR: Still in Atlanta?
KL: I have been here for five months.
BPR: Have you remained in touch with any of your fellow all-stars?
KL: Yes. I talk to Kini and Alexander, Dom and Asha probably about five times a day.
BPR: Which was your favorite challenge?
KL: I would say the avant garde challenge.
BPR: Your avant garde design was stunning....Did you all switch models for each challenge? How did that work?
KL: Yes. It was always off-camera. There was a stack of photos of the models and we just pulled one from the stack. That was the model that we got for the challenge.
BPR: Switching models didn't fool the judges or the audience though. We could definitely identify your designs.
KL: Thank you. That is the goal. To have a strong identifiable aesthetic.
BPR: Ken, we are looking forward to the finale and we wish you the best. Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
KL: Yes. I want to thank all of the people who have been supporting me - not just during the All-Stars season but since season 12. Thank you to everyone.
BPR: Thank you Ken.
KL: Thank you!
BPR Interview with Kini Zamora, continued
BPR: This is Laura Kluvo from Blogging Project Runway and I'm on the phone with All-Star finalist, Kini Zamora. Hi Kini!
KZ: Hi Laura.
BPR: Congratulations on making it to the finale!
KZ: Thank you so much!
BPR: How was your All-Stars season different from Season 13?
KZ: It was different because after being on Season 13, I knew what to expect. Also, the level of competition was higher.
BPR: How long did you have to create your All-Star Finale collection? Did you stay in New York?
KZ: We had four days to make eight looks. Yes we stayed in New York. I am a fast sewer but this was a challenge even for me.
BPR: Which was your favorite challenge?
KZ: the challenge where I won, the "athleisure" look. It was still "me..." It was a dramatic look. It is in production now. I was really happy to win.
BPR: When you arrived and saw the all-star cast, who did you expect to be your biggest competition?
KZ: Dom, of course, as a former winner. But really, the old-timers - Daniel Franco, Stella. I feel like they are Project Runway legends.
BPR: Was there anyone in the cast that you were surprised to see?
KZ: Honestly I was surprised to see Mitchell. I knew him from my season and we were friends so it was great to see him.
BPR: Have you been watching this season?
KZ: Yes.
BPR: If you could go back, is there anything that you would do or say differently?
KZ: No. I don't regret anything I said or did. I tried to be professional and keep my critiques about the designs and not personal,
BPR: Who are your best friends from the cast?
KZ: Emily. I really love her aesthetic, we were on the same season, went to Rome together....and Alexander and Ken. We just have the best time poking fun at each other on social media.
BPR: Is there anything that you have posted to social media this season, that you regret?
KZ: Yes. I made a joke about Sam trying out for regular Project Runway, and I feel bad about that.
BPR: If you are the winner of All-Stars season 5, how will you spend the money?
KZ: I would put it straight back into my business. I want to build awareness of the fashion industry in Hawaii. We have talented creative people here in Hawaii. We have our own Fashion Week. We don't all wear muumuus! Also, I am teaching kids to sew from my studio, passing it on to the next generation.
BPR: Kini. we are almost out of time, is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
KZ: Thank you for your support. I felt the fans supporting me during my season and again during the All-Stars season. I want to thank everyone.
BPR: Thank you, Kini!
KZ: Thank you. Be sure to tune in to the finale on Thursday night!
KZ: Hi Laura.
BPR: Congratulations on making it to the finale!
KZ: Thank you so much!
BPR: How was your All-Stars season different from Season 13?
KZ: It was different because after being on Season 13, I knew what to expect. Also, the level of competition was higher.
BPR: How long did you have to create your All-Star Finale collection? Did you stay in New York?
KZ: We had four days to make eight looks. Yes we stayed in New York. I am a fast sewer but this was a challenge even for me.
BPR: Which was your favorite challenge?
KZ: the challenge where I won, the "athleisure" look. It was still "me..." It was a dramatic look. It is in production now. I was really happy to win.
BPR: When you arrived and saw the all-star cast, who did you expect to be your biggest competition?
KZ: Dom, of course, as a former winner. But really, the old-timers - Daniel Franco, Stella. I feel like they are Project Runway legends.
BPR: Was there anyone in the cast that you were surprised to see?
KZ: Honestly I was surprised to see Mitchell. I knew him from my season and we were friends so it was great to see him.
BPR: Have you been watching this season?
KZ: Yes.
BPR: If you could go back, is there anything that you would do or say differently?
KZ: No. I don't regret anything I said or did. I tried to be professional and keep my critiques about the designs and not personal,
BPR: Who are your best friends from the cast?
KZ: Emily. I really love her aesthetic, we were on the same season, went to Rome together....and Alexander and Ken. We just have the best time poking fun at each other on social media.
BPR: Is there anything that you have posted to social media this season, that you regret?
KZ: Yes. I made a joke about Sam trying out for regular Project Runway, and I feel bad about that.
BPR: If you are the winner of All-Stars season 5, how will you spend the money?
KZ: I would put it straight back into my business. I want to build awareness of the fashion industry in Hawaii. We have talented creative people here in Hawaii. We have our own Fashion Week. We don't all wear muumuus! Also, I am teaching kids to sew from my studio, passing it on to the next generation.
BPR: Kini. we are almost out of time, is there anything else you would like to say to your fans?
KZ: Thank you for your support. I felt the fans supporting me during my season and again during the All-Stars season. I want to thank everyone.
BPR: Thank you, Kini!
KZ: Thank you. Be sure to tune in to the finale on Thursday night!
