by Gina Scarpa

On the season finale of Project Runway, Althea Harper, Carol Hannah Whitfield, and Irina Shabayeva made it to Bryant Park at New York Fashion Week and had one last chance to impress the judges.  After presenting their collections, they headed to panel to find out what the judges thought of their work.  Nina Garcia thought that some of Althea’s looks didn’t quite go with the others but Michael Kors felt that you could take apart her outfits and sell the pieces individually, which makes her quite a marketable designer.  She came close but ultimately lost out to Irina.  Today, Althea spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about her experiences on the show.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you end up becoming a part of Project Runway this season?
A. Althea: I had just graduated college and I was about to move to New York, but I thought, “Why not just try and go out for Project Runway?” I thought, if anything, it would be an experience!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Which designers stood out to you right away as strong competitors that you might want to watch out for?
A. Althea: I would say Ra'mon, Malvin and Carol Hannah

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: There was a lot of talk from the eliminated designers about the panel changing every week.  Was it difficult to get consistent feedback and know what you needed to improve upon?
A. Althea: I actually liked that we didn't know what we need to improve on... it meant that we all had to stay true to our style and not change based on the opinions of others.  It kept us on our toes because each challenge was a new beginning!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You and Irina butted heads when she accused you of stealing her ideas. How do you respond to something like that and maintain your integrity in the competition?
A. Althea: It was hard.  As a designer, that is a rough thing to be accused of.  However, I was so confident in who I was as a designer, and with what I had been doing all season, that I realized she was just doing whatever she could to put me down.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What is your favorite piece that you designed this season?
A. Althea: I would probably say the first look I won for, the outfit for Tanisha.  However, I also liked my Best of Best look, the newspaper challenge, and the film noir look.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: I have to agree with the judges, that your final collection is totally wearable and marketable.  Was your goal to design things that women could see themselves wearing on a day to day basis?
A. Althea: Yes, that was definitely a goal of mine.  I felt it was the right thing to do with the economy and the backlash against excess.  I wanted to do a clean collection where each seam had meaning and it was about quality and fit, it wasn't about just adding bows and ruffles for sake of it!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How stressful is it to design that collection for Bryant Park?
A. Althea: It was stressful because, at the time, we didn't know if it was even going to air. I was wondering if I was wasting my time!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Were you confident going into the final panel?
A. Althea: I was confident, but I knew that I had made a wearable collection and I didn't know how they would respond to that.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How do you feel about your final two competitors, Carol Hannah and Irina?
A. Althea: I think they are two talented ladies and I wish them the best!

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What's next for you?
A. Althea: A lot! I am working at Tory Burch and I am also doing my own line. It will be available for sale in February at www.altheaharper.com and select stores!


(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

ALSO SEE

Project Runway Season 6: Exclusive Interview with Winner Irina Shabayeva

Project Runway Season 6: Exclusive Interview with 2nd Runner Up Carol Hannah Whitfield

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