The chance of a lifetime….

This week our final three designers are issued their biggest challenge yet – they must design ten looks as part of their very own collection to be showed in front of an audience of their peers! It’s a dream come true for Juli, Petrova and Leigh, and the news they’ll have $10,000 and two months to create their vision in seals the deal! So it’s off home for all three, with Henry visiting each designer for guidance and advice, as well as meeting each designers friends and family.

First up, he visits Juli and clocks her amazing boudoir, including a shoe collection worth $40,000! Juli’s European party princess collection is very much in sync with her stylish and feminine aesthetic, but Henry advises her to tone it down a little, and remove some elements that give it a circus feel.

Three weeks to runway and it’s off to Leigh’s pad to view his Egyptian royalty meets schoolboy blazer collection. Despite Leigh’s atypical neurosis and concerns about procrastination, Henry feels he’s moving in the right direction, and advises Leigh ‘sex it up’.

Next stop, Petrovas’s store Lady in Melbourne. Over high tea, Petrova discusses her inspirations and themes; rainbows, and butterflies transforming from a caterpillar. Henry advises Petrova to stop creating and start honing her colourful, unique concepts.

The three designers return to Melbourne, and Madison magazine editor Paula Joye is on hand to offer some last minute critiques, such as recommending Juli lose some of the 16,000 crystals she’s invested in, and Leigh ditch some of his ‘left-field’ fringing. And if that’s not enough for our designers to get their heads around, Henry has one more bombshell to drop

find out what it is in the exciting finale next week!

A Sneak Peek at the Top Three’s collections Our Top Three designers have pulled out all the stops in putting together a final collection that truly represents them as designers.
Juli Grbac
Juli runs her business in an impressive working space located underneath her parents house, which of course house her works-in-progress for the final collection. Themes: European royalty. “I imagine a princess, and her going around to parties all over Europe, so the whole collection is based around what this European princess would wear.” Juli’s beautiful designs demonstrate many her signature looks, such as the circular skirt motif used in the Kelly Rowlands challenge, and her love of crystals.
Leigh Buchanan
After admitting the pressure he feels to be fabulous and the fact he hasn’t been feeling fabulous, perfectionist Leigh has embraced the possibility of playing to win Project Runway Australia. Themes: Egyptian royalty meets schoolboy blazers. “It’s all inspired by a brooch I found in Melbourne, which is a diamonte cobra”. Leigh’s theatrical designs pop with his atypical wow-factor, making use of favoured materials such as furnishing fabrics and a rich colour palate.
Petrova Hammond
“The collection is very personal and important to me”. Described as “me in a collection”, Petrova’s left-field designs perfectly encapsulate her love of experimental, ladylike design. Themes: Rainbows, and the life cycle of a caterpillar to a butterfly. Petrova’s innovative collection is extremely colorful, unique and “for the cool it girl who wants to wear something different and wants to stand out”.
The Final Word with the Final Three! The search for Australia’s favourite designer is almost over!
Question:	Question: Why do you deserve to be the very first winner of Project Runway Australia?
Answer:	Leigh: All twelve designers were deserving of winning Project Runway Australia, the pool of talent was exceptional! I often have to pinch myself to remember it’s all real – it’s been quite a journey from my five-year-old fashion parades up and down my street for the neighbours, to my first 'real' runway show on an international stage! Juli: My life is fashion. I am in a position that I can make the most of winning, I can manufacture the collection I show during Melbourne fashion week, and I am ready for the next phase in my business. Petrova: I think all three of us deserve to win, because we have all worked so hard, but of course I would love to be the first winner of Project Runway Australia - I think I represent a fun and innovative approach to fashion, that is more inspirational than commercial.
Question:	Looking back, which outfit best represented you as a designer?
Answer:	Leigh: Definitely the wedding dress, but they're all my babies - even the Basque tragedy!! Juli: I loved the Kellie Rowland outfit, I really pushed myself to the limit, and it paid off. Petrova: The glamorous evening wear dress and the Beach to Bar outfit represent me the most; both of those designs were ladylike and experimental.