Project Runway comes to Foster’s Hoosier Den

The Hoosier Den in Foster Quad transformed its usual look into IU’s version of the popular TV show Project Runway Saturday. \nThe contest was projected to have 12 contestants, three judges and a crowd of people. However, once the event began, three people competed for the $100 grand prize, and one judge and his friend judged the outfits while a few students watched.\nFreshman Polly Pinelli said she came because she loves the television show.\n“I thought it would be neat to see what students would create and their talent,” she said. \nFreshman David Campbell provided live entertainment. He said he plays guitar at any event that would like to hear pop/rock cover music, including The Bluebird and Kilroy’s Sports Bar. Free snacks were also available to everyone. \nHoosier Den facility director and event coordinator Meg Palm said the fact that few students attended didn’t ruin \nthe atmosphere.\n“I’m obviously disappointed, but the main thing that matters is that the people that were here had fun,” she said. \nOne of the judges, senior Quinto Ott, said he was a finalist on the real “Project Runway” show. He qualified for the show but was too young to compete at the time. He said before the show that he would be looking for a variety of different fashion elements in the outfits.\n“I’m looking for people who use materials well, looking for a sense of color and line, but most of all, a sense of personality,” he said.\nThe contestants had one hour to create an outfit out of materials that would typically be found in a dorm room, including bed sheets, shower curtains, feathers or paper clips. When the hour was over, the contestants came out with their designs, which included a black trash bag dress, a pink pillow case dress and an orange shower curtain dress. Each competitor had to tie in three surprise elements at the end, which could have ruined some of their ideas. However, at the end of the competition, freshman Maria Khan, who created the orange shower curtain dress, won the grand prize. A biology major, she said she has been considering getting a certificate in fashion design. \n“I wanted to experience fashion to see if I could live in this world,” she said. \nAll of the designers won a year’s subscription to InStyle magazine and will receive photos of the event. \n“Even though a lot of people didn’t come, I really liked how the room turned out and that people participating had fun,” Palm said.