by Gina Scarpa

This week, on Launch My Line, the teams were asked to create a daytime beachwear look.  However, everyone chose their fabrics before knowing what each challenge would be and David and Julie were stuck making a beachwear item out of wool.  His simple design got him eliminated from the competition and today, he spoke to RealityWanted in an exclusive interview about his experiences on the show and defend his designs.

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you become involved with Launch My Line?
A. David: The truth is, I got a call one day with 2 questions: “Do you have a passion for fashion?” and “Have you ever wanted a clothing line?”  Well, yes and yes. I believe that one starts living when one takes a chance, and Launch My Line has certainly turned into a wondrous adventure.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Obviously you have an interest in design, being an architect, but when did your interest in clothing begin?
A. David: I create environments that both are beautiful and attempt to make one feel comfortable and confident. I have always wanted to know if I could translate that into something as intimate as designs that one can wear, not just walk through. Years ago, I designed the flagship store and showrooms for a major clothing company. The Image Director and I became best friends and I spent a lot of time with the designers. I worked a bit on clothes and they worked on architectural challenges that I gave them. We would feed off of each other in ways that enhanced each of our designs. They offered me a job, but I was on a different path. As I have gotten busier with my architecture, and worked on different projects, I have always wondered… what if…
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You landed in the bottom two weeks in a row.  Do you feel like the judges weren't understanding your point of view?
A. David: No. My strategy was to follow the title of the show and create MY LINE, one that could be LAUNCHED and sold in any fine store. Classics with an updated edge in detail, colors and fabrics that would become an integral part of any woman’s collection.  So if the judges were not on the same page with me, I had to create perfect garments. Well we had gone so off the mark with our initial fabric choices (or should I say guesses) that we had a handicap at making the particular challenges perfectly. Lisa Kline thought that if I had put the model in high heel shoes, and had a cut out butterfly in the back, it would have been a very successful outfit. I guess that is where the judges and I didn’t see eye to eye… I think bathing suits and high heels only work at car shows, and butterfly cut outs stop being cool when you are 7. I just couldn’t see Betty Page with any kind of a cut out.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you and Julie work together and get along?
A. David: Julie and I got along great and we still do. There was a mutual frustration and not very much time to get our garment made. Julie is a very talented designer, but her specialty and her own line is knitwear. You should see the sketches we have for a boyfriend sweater coat and leather leggings with zippers that accentuate the line of a woman’s legs (and a half dozen other very chic designs). But this was beachwear, and all we had were heavy fabrics. While everyone else was making a swim suit, we just didn’t have the proper raw materials. And even if we had, to add upon the frustration, neither Julie nor I knew how to sew a typical bathing suit. Julie and I decided we would never be typical. Julie has been running her company for 10 years and she hasn’t sewn fabric on a sewing machine in 12 years. We had to figure out something that we could sew, with the fabric that we had on hand, for the beach and with a point of view… in a day. Did I mention that I would have preferred another day in the studio to a day at the beach?
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What was the most difficult part of the challenge, "Daytime At The Beach", this week?
A. David: Julie said that the most difficult thing was knowing that our direction would not be understood by the judges. In my opinion, it was the fabrics. When we were asked to have all of our fabrics chosen before we even knew what the challenges were, we had plenty of good choices for certain outfits, but not summer at the beach. My concern was that with a fabric handicap, it was harder to make a perfect outfit that would get by judges that did not see eye to eye with my point of view. And even though it was a simple piece… sewing it to the level of detail that was required compounded the difficulty.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Which contestants stood out to you?
A. David: It’s not just designers, but experts too. Each has their strengths and how they do will have a lot to do with what challenges are in store for them. As far as the experts, I would have loved to have had a chance to create with most of them, because that would have changed everything. I wish I could have worked on a latex and leather piece with Tressa, or an architectural piece with Emil.  Galena is so girly and Thai or Jim can sew anything and break the indoor speed record. Every now and then, I think about calling each of them to say, “Come over for a sewing party.”  Each would have been interesting complements. As far as the contestants, I am drawn by talent and heart. I love, love, love Kathy, Eric and Patrick. Eric and Kathy have the advantage in experts that know how to get the most out of the competition. Louanna and Merle are going to be tough to beat. They are smart, stylish, have magnificent experts, are really deep and wonderful to watch and work with. I know that is a long list, but seriously… it’s not just the clothes or the designer. It’s how the teams play the cards that are dealt to them. They all have really good chances to go all of the way. I can’t wait to see what happens next, and so should you.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Julie felt that it was a joke that you were in the bottom three. What was your reaction to landing in the bottom and being eliminated?
A. David: There were clearly weaker outfits.  Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of stronger pieces. I thought Eric clearly got right to the essence of the challenge and nailed it, and with the exception of the “had to use” fabric in Merle’s belt, her piece was sublime. If she could have ignored the forced choice, she would have won.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Will you stay in touch with anyone from the show?
A. David: I do stay in touch with most of the cast, the crew and some of the models. When I was eliminated, the first call I received was from Eric.  Of the cast, I speak most regularly with Patrick, Eric and Kathy… but I am in constant contact with all but 3 of the cast. Do you know what is a blast? Going to the fashion shows of the designers! They are all so very talented, and it’s wonderful seeing what they create.
 
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you still have an interest in designing clothes?  What is next for you?
A. David: Julie kind of scolded me at the end and said, “You are very creative and have a great point of view… go get a sewing machine and keep what you started going.”  Well, I did get a sewing machine and I have been dabbling here and there. The problem is that to create garments, at least for me, it takes a deeply committed effort and I have just been so swamped with my architecture work. And I have other passions that include environmental responsibility that I am committed to as well. I will continue to create a more personal collection and see what happens next.

Don’t miss next Wednesday when Launch My Line moves to its regular time, 10pm ET on Bravo!

(Images Courtesy of Bravo)

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