He first caught our attention on Project Runway Season 7 where he made it all the way to Fashion Week. He wooed us with fabulous fashions and brilliant colors. He presented us with outfits that were beautifully crafted, exciting, and easily wearable. And, although he became the first designer to ever win 4 consecutive challenges, he didn’t win Project Runway Season 7. Who am I talking about? In case you are not a Project Runway fanatic, I am talking about New York designer, Emilio Sosa.
Sosa has made two unforgettable appearances on Project Runway, a reality show that focuses on the work of aspiring fashion designers. As mentioned, Emilio Sosa made his first appearance on Project Runway Season 7. He made his second appearance on the runway on Project Runway All Stars Second 2. Despite the tremendous amount of pressure and crazy challenges, Emilio Sosa again proved he was a designer to be reckoned with.
The first time around, Sosa ended in second place behind designer Seth Aaron. Judges, Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and guest judge, Faith Hill, liked his runway show, but felt that it lacked a “wow” factor.
For Project Runway All-Stars Season 2, Emilio faced fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi, actress and designer Georgina Chapman, supermodel Carolyn Murphy, and guest judges Liv Tyler and Margherita Missoni. This time, Emilio decided to make a fashion statement, and what a statement it was. We were again blessed with his brilliant use of bold colors, but as he stated, it wasn’t “just pretty girls in pretty dresses. Emilio sent his all African-American models down the runway with big red bows and stepping to the beat of drums and cotton fields as the back drop. Emilio said he wanted to “put something on their minds”, and he definitely put something on the minds of Project Runway viewers.
First, I have to applaud his boldness in using all ethnic models in his runway show. I am an avid watcher of Project Runway, and I have to say there is a lack of black models used during Fashion Week. Yes, there are a few, but as a whole, they are not showcased as much. I have seen runway shows on Project Runway where a designer didn’t use any darker skinned models. And, yes, I am aware that this is not just the show, but the whole fashion industry. However, when I saw Emilio’s runway show with an all ethnic models, I was pleasantly surprised.
Second, he used such beautiful colors. He mentioned on Project Runway Season 7 that he was inspired by the graffiti that he saw growing up in New York. Although graffiti is vandalism, it does produce some bold and inspirational images. Emilio Sosa’s choice of colors gives proof of its inspiration.
Third, I loved his reference to historical events. The drums, the cotton fields in the background, and the big red bows created a dramatic effect.
Emilio Sosa’s runway show was bold, daring, and yes, it had that “wow” factor. He did as the episode’s title, Go Big or Go Home, said. Emilio went big. So, should he have won Project Runway All Stars Season 2? Without a doubt, Emilio gave the best runway show, but Anthony Ryan already had 5 wins under his belt. So, it is what it is. And, even without the title, I know we haven’t heard the last of Emilio Sosa.
