Skip to main contentMichelle Lesniak won Project Runway season 11 by charming the judges with her lone wolf attitude and her self taught design's originality. Staying rooted in her hometown of Portland she's shown her collections at the last three FashioNXT runway shows as well as contributed to other cities' Fashion Weeks and runway shows around the country.
At this year's FashioNXT Lesniak is headlining the event. Alongside of four other Project Runway Allumni from different seasons hosting their own collections, Lesniak's pieces will be shown to Portland's local boutique market where buyers from Adorn, Mercantile, and Radish Underground will be watching closely.
WW: You've done a bunch of shows since Project Runway, what do you feel like the difference is designing inside of that competition and outside of it?
Michelle Lesniak: Designing on the show you donât have time to think and edit. Whereas when I design a collection, I have time to process what the collection is going to look like.
Who do you see wearing your latest collection?
Clothing can be styled in so many different ways that everyone can wear it and make it exciting. You could wear all of my pieces together. It might be a little artsy-fartsy if you wear my collection head-to-toe, but thatâs ok because maybe thatâs your style! Personal style is just that: personal. At the same time, you could take a statement blouse or a fabulous jacket, pair it with some chic trousers, and youâre ready for work. My target customer is everyone that would wear my designs.
Designing is something you clearly love, what are some of the things that inspired you originally?
I do love to design; itâs a great way for me to channel my emotions. I grew up sewing with my grandmother and my mother. When I was in high school, I would go to the bins at Goodwill and by clothing by the pound. From there, I would take things apart, see how they were constructed, and then put them back together, changing them to fit my needs and style.
What inspired you for your latest collection?
I like to call my method of design âemotive fashionâ. I come up with the concept for a collection based on whatâs going on in my life, how Iâm feeling both physically and emotionally.
âPromises made, promises broken. âPIN ME / PIERCE MEâ is a collection based on the hopes of a promise that is only to be taken away. Inspired by the pinning of a woman by a man as a promise of pre-engagement in the 1950âs & 1960âs, âPIN ME / PIERCE MEâ combines romance and heartache; the optimism of being pinned with the devastation of having your heart pierced. Wool, Silk, Leather, Metal, Wood.â
Last year your collection had a lot of plaid patterns, are there any similar ideas that you have for this yearâs collection?
I like working in atypical color palettes as well as a variety of fabrics and this collection stays true to that aesthetic. Ochre, lavender, carmine, emerald, and taupe. Wool, lace, silk, and flannel.
WWeek 2015