Latest news with #ProjectRunway
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Project Runway' Season 21 Cast Photos: All The Designers Confirmed For Freeform, Hulu & Disney+ Competition
Project Runway Season 21 has unveiled the cast of designers competing in the Freeform reality series for a chance to be the next big fashion designer. The cast includes Project Runway alums, former RuPaul's Drag Race stars, twins, and more. More from Deadline The Partnership: Dan Fogelman And Sterling K. Brown Talk Shailene Woodley's "Very Interesting Profession" & More For 'Paradise' Season 2 2025 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming 'RHOM's Alexia Nepola & Marysol Patton On Tuning Out Opinions From Viewers & Why Filming Break Helped Some Of The Ladies In The Friend Group Heidi Klum is set to return as host and judge of the competition series. OG Project Runway judge Nina García and stylist superstar Law Roach are joining Klum as judges. RELATED: Project Runway Season 4 winner Christian Siriano returns as mentor to the designers. The competition series debuted on Bravo in 2004 and revolutionized the reality genre. Project Runway ran for five seasons on Bravo before moving to Lifetime for eleven more seasons. For its 17th season, the show returned to Bravo, where it ran for four seasons. RELATED: Project Runway Season 21 premieres on Freeform with two episodes on Thursday, July 31. The episodes will be available to stream shortly after on Hulu and Disney+. RELATED: Spyglass Media Group and Alfred Street Industries produce Project Runway. Gary Barber and Sean Hoagland serve as executive producers for Spyglass. Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz, Nan Strait, Dan Volpe, Michael Rucker, and San Heng serve as executive producers for Alfred Street Industries. Klum, Siriano, and Garcia also serve as executive producers. RELATED: Scroll through the photos below to meet the Season 21 designers. Best of Deadline Use The Schwartz!: 'Spaceballs' Movie Photos & Posters 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
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4 days ago
- Entertainment
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Former ‘Project Runway' Designer Identified as Fatal Victim in Shooting at ‘No Kings' March in Salt Lake City
The fashion designer and former 'Project Runway' contestant Arthur Folasa 'Afa' Ah Loo has been identified as the fatal victim during Saturday's shooting at a 'No Kings' march and demonstration in downtown Salt Lake City. The 39-year-old was a Utah resident, according to a spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police Department. The Samoa-born designer ran his namesake business in the state and he was part of the nonprofit Creative Pacific Foundation. Representatives at his company and the nonprofit did not respond immediately to media requests. More from WWD Leonard Lauder, Legendary Beauty Executive, Dies at 92 Melania Trump Wears New York-made Adam Lippes Suit for U.S. Army Grand Military Parade Tender Store Owner Cheryl Daskas Dies at 71 Thousands know the designer for participating in season 17 of the Bravo show 'Project Runway.' Nina Garcia, Elle's editor in chief and longtime 'Project Runway' judge, said Monday that her heart broke hearing of Afa's passing. 'After spending time with him on the set of 'Project Runway,' I knew personally how driven and how kind he was. I was always so moved by how he brought his Samoan heritage to his design,' she said. 'He radiated joy and light on set, and it has been a privilege to watch him flourish in recent years. My thoughts and prayers are with Afa and his family.' 'Devastated' by the loss of Ah Loo, the fashion designer and 'Project Runway' judge Christian Siriano described him as 'a bright light and creative force.' Siriano noted that while protesting against the Trump administration, 'Ah Loo was taken from us far too soon, because of guns.' The New York-based designer said that he partners with the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety to speak out against gun violence. Tessa Clark, one of Ah Loo's fellow contestants from season 17, recalled Monday how he 'brought so much joy and laughter' to the show. 'He could easily make us laugh, while offering a hand and support during design challenges. Nothing could prepare any of us for the challenge of losing a friend,' Clark said. She said that Ah Loo loved his wife and children more than anything in the world. Clark added, 'It was apparent he cared about people, his community, and being creative in a world that can lean toward being careless. He was a good person through and through. More people should be like Afa.' Ah Loo was described as an 'innocent bystander' by the Salt Lake City Police Department in a press release. Saturday's incident occurred shortly before 8 p.m. MST, when gunfire could be heard near 151 South State Street. Hundreds ran for safety, with some hiding in parking garages or behind barriers, and others went into nearby businesses, according to the SLCPD. After officers arrived to secure the scene, they found a man who had been shot and immediately began lifesaving efforts. Ah Loo later died at an unidentified hospital. The cause and manner of his death will be determined by the Salt Lake City medical examiner's office. Danielle Conlon, a public information officer for Utah's Department of Health and Human Services, was unable to share any information about the autopsy, due to Utah being considered a closed record state regarding any records from the office of the medical examiner. The Utah DHHS said in a statement Monday, 'Our hearts go out to everyone impacted. Thank you to the protesters who exercised their constitutional rights, and to the security, SLCPD, DPS, and medical personnel whose actions protected lives.' Ah Loo was part of a crowd of about 10,000 people who had turned out in Salt Lake City, which was one of the numerous 'No Kings' protests that were held across the U.S. Saturday in opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. The preliminary investigation by the SLCPD showed that Ah Loo was 'not the intended target' and that he had been struck by an alleged peacekeeper, according to the department. Officers on the scene Saturday night also found 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa on the ground with a gunshot wound and an AR-15 style rifle nearby. He was treated and taken into custody. SLCPD said they detained two men, who were wearing neon green vests and were carrying handguns. They were said to be part of the peacekeeping movement. One of the men was said to have fired three rounds after Gamboa raised the rifle he was carrying and ran toward the crowd. One round struck Gamboa and another 'tragically wounded' Ah Loo, according to the SLCPD. As of Monday afternoon, a GoFundMe initiative that had been set up to help Ah Loo's wife Laura cover the expenses for his funeral, and 'to ease the immediate financial burdens that she now faces,' had raised $196,721. Born and raised in Samoa, Ah Loo was introduced to fashion by his mother, who sewed most of the clothing that he and his five siblings wore. As a student, while taking a home economics class and nearly burning down the kitchen, he decided to switch tracks to sewing. His first assignment was making a dress for one of his sisters, according to his 'Project Runway' profile on the Bravo site. Ah Loo attended Brigham Young University's outpost in Hawaii. On the show the designer's unsuccessful creation that combined a map and a hammock reportedly led to his departure from the design challenge-based program. Ah Loo later helped out another Bravo personality for a different outing. He created the burnt orange cape ensemble that Danna Bui-Negrete wore to appear on 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Season Three reunion. Ah Loo said at that time that he had created a traditional Vietnamese look called an ''Áo Dài' with a modern twist to it for Bui-Negrete, who identifies as Vietnamese American. Several years ago Ah Loo took part in the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, which resulted in his having one of his Samoan-inspired designs displayed in an exhibition at Buckingham Palace that had been curated by Hamish Bowles. More recently, Ah Loo had been tapped to take part in the Papua New Guinea Fashion Week's Pacific Fashion Summit, which is scheduled to take place in September. Stefany De Rei, general manager of the Utah Fashion World, described the designer as 'a kind and warm person, who always had a smile on his face. He always treated us so welcomingly.' Plans for a memorial service for Ah Loo were not immediately known. Aside from his wife Laura and two children, the names of his other survivors were not known of WWD Kate Middleton's Looks at Trooping the Colour Through the Years [PHOTOS] Young Brooke Shields' Style Evolution, Archive Photos: From Runway Modeling & Red Carpets to Meeting Princess Diana The Most Memorable French Open Tennis Outfits With Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka & More [PHOTOS]
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bridal Executives Travel to D.C. to Seek Exemption From Tariffs
After members of the bridal industry first appealed to President Donald Trump's administration to consider an exemption from tariff increases in April, some executives are now traveling to Washington, D.C., to make their case in person. Bridal manufacturers, designers and other members of the formalwear industry have banded together to launch a two-day lobbying effort Tuesday and Wednesday to engage with government officials. The group will be composed of six members of the North American Formal Apparel Association, according to a spokesperson for its lobbying partner Converge. More from WWD Is Dua Lipa's Chunky Engagement Ring Inspiring a New Trend in Bridal Jewelry? The Latest Engagement Ring Trends From The Couture Show 2025 Former 'Project Runway' Designer Identified as Fatal Victim in Shooting at 'No Kings' March in Salt Lake City With 15,000-plus independent bridal stores and 300,000 workers in its supply chain, the sector is trying to safeguard jobs and businesses. Domestic manufacturers and retailers have a lot at stake, given that there are 2 million weddings annually in the U.S. and the average wedding gown costs between $1,600 and $2,000. The tariffs come at a time when the bridal industry is not growing, due partially to declines in birth rates, marriage rates and immigration. In addition, the average age of a bride is 28 and the average age of a groom is 30, and they often live together before tying the knot. Others opt to cohabitate rather than wed. Asia has been a hub for the production of wedding dresses, due to the numerous factories there, as well as labor costs and the availability of services and specialized machinery for embroidery, lacework and other embellishments that are popular with brides. Nearly 90 percent of wedding gowns and formalwear is made in Asia with China being a leading resource, and other production is being done in Vietnam, the Philippines, India and Myanmar. Meanwhile, brides-to-be have been turning to TikTok, other social media platforms and influencers to try to get a better understanding of the impact of tariffs on wedding gown prices. One TikTok video that explains the situation posted by NBC News had been viewed 316,400 times, as of Monday afternoon. Making the point that dresses including daytime ones are currently all classified together, Justin Alexander's chief executive officer and creative director Justin Warshaw said Monday, 'We're of the opinion that dresses like wedding dresses, prom dresses or quinceanera dresses are typically worn once so they are more like costume wear or one-time wear.' Warshaw, who will be traveling to D.C., said all of his company's goods are made in Asia. With pauses on select tariffs set to be up in mid-July, bridal brands are uncertain about how to handle their pricing, since it is not known whether the pauses will be extended. Warshaw said the goal of the trip is to get 'a clearer understanding of the tariff landscape impacting the formalwear industry.' He added, 'With limited ability to re-shore production to the U.S., ongoing tariff uncertainty has created serious challenges for our made-to-order model and long lead times. We're hoping to explore possible avenues for reclassification or exemption and plan to discuss these with our contacts in D.C.' On Friday afternoon, a consortium of wedding dress makers, bridal designers and retailers took part in a webinar that was hosted by Converge to discuss the formalwear tariff strategy and advocacy update. In advance of the call, organizers e-mailed a few dozen representatives from the industry encouraging them to participate. Recipients of the e-mail, which was shared with WWD, learned, 'We're making meaningful progress, but there's more work to be done. Tariff uncertainty continues to threaten the formalwear industry, and NAFAA is leading the charge to secure long-term relief.' Describing NAFAA's strategy as 'focused, actionable, and gaining traction,' the group is aiming for the reclassification of formalwear as 'one-time use' or 'special occasion wear' to eliminate punitive tariffs. As part of its plan to engage with the U.S. Department of Commerce and key officials, this week's two-day outreach will include meetings with representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the House Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Customs, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Hispanic Caucus, the Converge spokesperson said. In April, the industry banded together to circulate a petition that called on the Trump administration to consider the exemption. That initiative resulted in more than 2,500 signatures. At that time, Warshaw warned that the cost of wedding gowns could increase by 20 percent. In April, a letter that was put forward by three leading bridal manufacturers was hand-delivered to Trump's daughter-in-law Lara. The letter referenced how the industry's supply chains in Asia took decades to build and cannot be replicated domestically without 'significant disruption and cost increases' that would fall to 'American families.' On Friday's call, supporters were encouraged to donate money to the effort and to travel to the Beltway, according to one executive, who listened in, but declined to be identified. Callers were briefed about the current legal and policy landscape, the strategy behind the in-person advocacy and how their companies can get involved. Prior to Friday's webinar, more than 40 companies had joined NAFAA, but broader participation from the industry is being encouraged. About $240,000 had been raised, with the scale of the donations range from $250 to $30,000, Warshaw said. Last week's join-the-webinar email was signed by Warshaw, Mon Cheri Bridal's CEO Steve Lang, Allure Bridals' Kelly Crum and Vows Magazine's Peter Grimes. Lang declined to comment about the trip to the nation's capital. Crum and Grimes did not acknowledge media requests Monday afternoon. NAFAA's membership includes Anne Barge, Bari Jay, Casablanca, Dessy, Jim's Formalwear, Jovani, Kleinfeld, Loverly, Maggie Sottero, Morilee, SYVO, Terani Couture, The Bridal Outlet and Watters among other companies. Media requests to several of the listed members were unreturned as of Monday afternoon. Best of WWD Pandemic Has Stoked Appetite for French Luxury, Survey Finds U.S. Sets Strategic Vision for China Trade Policy Furmark's Farm-to-Shopfloor Tracing Tags Set for International Debut Sign in to access your portfolio
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5 days ago
- Entertainment
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Harvey Weinstein guilty of one sexual assault count, not guilty of another in retrial
A New York City jury found disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein guilty of one count of sexual assault of former Project Runway assistant Miriam Haley, but not guilty of another count of sexual assault against former model Kaja Sokola, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The verdict was handed down Wednesday afternoon during a retrial after Weinstein's 2020 conviction was overturned in April 2024. There is still one count of rape in the third degree that the jury has not yet been able to reach a consensus about, but the jurors have been dismissed for the day and will reconvene tomorrow. The alleged rape was committed against aspiring actress Jessica Mann. Per THR, the first-degree sexual assault charges are a higher felony and carry maximum sentences of 25 years. The news comes after days of reports of tense deliberations, with The Wrap reporting earlier this week that a standstill between the jurors led some to begin bringing up and discussing other details about Weinstein's past that were not explicitly disclosed during the trial. At least one juror asked to be excused from the trial because he did not feel like it was 'fair and just.' Charges faced by Weinstein stem from incidents in 2006 and 2013. Haley and Sokola both alleged that Weinstein forced them to perform oral sex on him during separate incidents in 2006. Mann accused Weinstein of raping her during the 2013 incident, and Weinstein was found guilty of all three charges in 2020. In a separate 2022 trial, a California jury found him guilty of three counts of rape and sexual assault and was sentenced to 16 years. That conviction still stands, though Weinstein's legal team is currently appealing. More from A.V. Club 3 new songs and 3 new albums to check out this weekend Duster gets to the fireworks factory Bonnaroo 2025 canceled mid-festival due to heavy rains
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5 days ago
- Entertainment
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Harvey Weinstein's rape charge gets mistrial after tense jury deliberations
Harvey Weinstein's rape charge ended in a mistrial today, after the jury foreperson said he felt threatened by other jurors. Yesterday, Weinstein's 12-person jury found the disgraced mogul guilty of one criminal sexual act against former Project Runway assistant Miriam Haley, and not guilty of another against former model Kaja Sokola. He jury was not able to reach a verdict on a third rape charge, related to actor Jessica Mann, after days of tense deliberation. After four days of discussions, jurors were sent home Wednesday afternoon after reports of fighting in the jury room, per The Hollywood Reporter. That day, the jury foreperson reportedly sent a note asking to speak to Judge Curtis Farber, after which he told Farber and attorneys, 'I feel afraid inside there. I can't be inside there.' He went on to explain that he felt other jurors were pressuring him to change his decision, and said, 'Oh we will see you outside,' when he refused. When asked whether he would return to the jury room on Thursday, he said he would not. When Farber spoke to other jurors on Thursday, they said they 'don't understand why the foreperson bowed out.' Tension was apparently so high on Wednesday, however, that Weinstein himself addressed the court to ask for a mistrial. 'This is not right for me, the person who is on trial here… This is my life that's on the line, and you know what? It's not fair. It's simple. It's just not fair,' he said. Earlier this week, the foreperson had asked to speak to the judge, claiming that other jurors were considering elements from Weinstein's past that weren't submitted as evidence in this particular trial. Previously, a different juror had asked to be excused from the trial, proclaiming he had heard jurors talking about other jurors in the elevators and the process wasn't 'fair.' 'If you're a deliberating juror you have to be punched in the face in order for it to rise to the level of a real threat,' Weinstein's attorney, Arthur Aidala, said Thursday. 'It's insane in the membrane, insane on the brain.' This retrial is happening in the first place for a similar reason. Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction was overturned in 2024, after a New York court determined that the original trial had been prejudiced due to the decision to let women testify about allegations that weren't officially part of the case. Weinstein's rape conviction, which stems from an alleged incident with Mann in 2013, will now be retried on July 2. Mann is 'ready and willing and wants to retry this count,' prosecutors said. More from A.V. Club AVQ&A: What reboot actually got you excited about the franchise again? Duster gets to the fireworks factory Merciful Brad Garrett swears we'll be spared an Everybody Loves Raymond revival
