“Making the Cut” has returned for a second season — and so has standout clothing from the Amazon Prime show’s newest group of designers.
The Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn-hosted reality program follows a crew of 10 fashion designers, competing for a $1 million prize to expand their business. Each week, the winner of the show’s latest design challenge has their pieces created for shoppers on Amazon’s The Drop — the site’s page for limited-edition curated collections of top pieces from influencers and designers around the world, available for just 30 hours. The latest is by Joshua Scacheri, the creative director of LOVE HERO, who won the second episode’s challenge this week.
Scacheri’s sustainable Drop designs are bold and vibrant, featuring lightweight pieces in deep purple and electric blue hues. The summer-worthy collection includes pull-on shorts, high-waisted pants and a sleeveless top that are easygoing in their relaxed nature and silhouettes. They’re additionally inspired by influencer Suede Brooks — who models the collection and served as a judge on Scacheri’s winning episode — as well as the Valley of Fire.
“The relaxed and tailored styles breathe mood-boosting colors with a summer feel that can be easily styled in a casual and modern way,” said Scacheri in a statement.
Indeed, the separates can easily be worn together for a breezy and bright ensemble. However, as Brooks shows in the collection’s imagery, they can also be paired with staple pieces like white tops and neutral trousers that many people already have in their closets.
Article by Footwear News
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Making The Cut spoilers ahead! On the latest episodes of MTC, which dropped today on Amazon Prime, the competing designers were paired up to collaborate on the perfect wedding look. The winners were Joshua Scacheri and Lucie Brochard (catch our chat with her on Monday) who had judges Heidi Klum, Winnie Harlow, and Jeremy Scott swooning over their design. It was the second win for Scacheri—no biggie!—and we caught up with him again on Zoom this week to hear how he’s staying cool under pressure and why the response to his appearance on the show is making him emotional.
Congratulations again! Two wins. How did that feel?
Amazing. Really amazing. A double whammy? I don’t know if that’s what they say. But it’s great! You still need to be grounded, but we can celebrate a little bit. I’m looking forward to the next challenge.
Heidi was a little critical of your runway look. How do you handle that kind of criticism when you’re in the moment?
It’s a critique, isn’t it? It’s a fashion competition. People are going to judge what you do. Some people like your stuff, some might pick up on little details that could be improved. In the real world, you would make things better because you’ve got your facilities or your team to work with you. Sometimes people will like it, or they don’t like it. I think Heidi did like it; she just wanted to make a few comments and shine the light more on Lucie, which is fair enough. She’s an amazing designer, I love working with her. It’s all cool. We won at the end of the day. It showed the people that we connected our creativity, and we respected each other’s crafts. I think that was the important takeaway from that assignment.
I know you work with a team now with your own brand. Are you comfortable collaborating with others?
I’m pretty comfortable with it. I love collaborating with people. Our recent campaign shoot with LOVE HERO was with a creative team, and all the film directors were people that I’ve worked with in the past who are now friends. They all come together and we collaborate on the ideas. For me collaboration is really key for bringing in different types of energy into a collection or to something you’re doing.
Where were you when the other designers looks were coming down the runway? Are you critical of your competitors?
We’re all backstage and there’s a TV screen. We don’t actually get to see the physical runway but then when we go up to speak to Tim, there’s a screen. Sometimes we could see the TV screen a little bit so sometimes we were trying to do a little cheeky look. I don’t think you’re not critiquing designers. You just go, ‘Okay. Is this good enough?’ Or are you better than them? There’s a motion going through your mind because you just want to make sure that you’re safe or if you’ve got a good chance of winning. There’s no negativity. We all have different aesthetics
The show hadn’t aired when we chatted last week. What kind of feedback have you gotten?
It’s been amazing. It’s just been so overwhelming with all the DMs and people following us. There’s messages [from] all around the world. People say, ‘You’ve inspired me, thank you so much.’ People of different genders who have bought the kimono from the outfit, it’s just amazing how versatile that look was! It’s been beautiful—I don’t know how to explain it. I’ve had attention before in my life and with my previous brand, but nothing like this on this level. To get messages from Brazil, Argentina and Australia…where I come from; it was quite emotional really.
How so?
I think as a designer you’re always protecting yourself. It’s a hard gig to do a brand. I’ve done it before, but it was a struggle. I knew that I needed to go work and get more experience. So moving to London, that’s where I got the experience. But I also saw the big luxury brands that work for this, it’s a struggle for them too. So when you get that sort of gratification from someone buying your clothes…not just buying them, but saying, ‘You helped me transform and gave me confidence.’ That’s what I take away, more than the monetized value of the transaction. That’s why I do it. Just to put smiles on people’s faces. When they wear my clothes and it makes them feel good, it’s an extension of their personality. If I can help them reinforce a personality, or make them come out of their shell, or make them feel complete in some way, that’s the beauty of a designer. That’s why I do it.
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The judges ultimately said “I do” to the collaborative efforts of Brochard and Scacheri, giving the latter his second win in a row, and citing specifically how each designer’s handiwork was evident in the finished runway pieces. Brochard ran point on the white wedding dress with its architectural top and voluminous free-flowing skirt, while Scacheri focused on the perfect-for-a-Disney-prince suit with its bright blue, double-breasted shawl-collar jacket and matching shirt paired with white trousers with a blue tuxedo side stripe. Both designers’ aesthetics melded in the accessible look, a breezy, pleated mauve and white chiffon shift dress with a high-low hem that ended just above the knee in the front and just below the knee in the back — a business-up-front, party-in-the-back detail that caused Scott to dub it “the mullet dress.” Brochard’s architectural style was evident in the soft pleats and the silhouette, and Scacheri’s penchant for color and graphic prints could be seen in the pale mauve and gray graphic print that subtly incorporated a palm-frond-on-pavement shadow he’d photographed on the sidewalk outside Beverly Hills City Hall.
Although the episode drew to a close without any designers actually departing the Malibu fashion bubble, the final few seconds found two contestants — Ferguson and OBlanc — very much in the hot seat.
The takeaway: Marrying the design skills of Brochard and Scacheri didn’t just win them a challenge, it created a beautiful dress that begs to be invited to the wedding, either as an after-party frock for the bride to rock or the rare bridesmaid’s dress you’ll wear more than once.
Article by Los Angeles Times
]]>Warning! Making The Cut spoilers ahead! In episode two, which dropped on Amazon Prime last Friday, the designers showed their best Resort looks to judges Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Winnie Harlow, Jeremy Scott, and guest judge Prabal Gurung. The winner? LOVE HERO designer Joshua Scacheri—aka the one with the dreamy accent! We chatted with the London based-designer via Zoom last week to hear how he conquered the challenge, why he decided to appear on the show, and how he’s a pioneer in sustainable fashion.
Congratulations on your challenge win! How did the competition feel for you?
I think it went extremely well. I always said on the show that I had won by just getting there, so anything else is a bonus. It was just an amazing experience. Especially coming from London and going all the way to L.A. to shoot it and getting to know designers and being on set with the beautiful celebrities. Tim Gunn and Heidi were amazing, as was the production crew. It was just a great experience for me. It kind of made me reassure myself that I can do what I do, and I do it really well. So I’m super proud.
The second episode was a Resort competition. How familiar are you with designing Resort?
I was born in Australia, so the beach and holidays are part of our lifestyle. I was comfortable because I just knew that I could adapt very quickly. I knew exactly what I wanted to do in terms of prints. That’s my forte—print and color! And I just really wanted to bring it back to my personal experiences. I had a good feeling about it when I started conceptualizing the ideas. It was a great moment.
Tell me a little bit more about your background.
I started off in Australia. I had my first brand back in 2006. Instead of menswear, it was a very cutting edge contemporary brand. Then I merged into womenswear about two seasons after, and that’s kind of when the brand started to really take off. I was doing Fashion Week and was featured in the big publications like GQ and Vogue. Menswear has always been the easiest path for me to go to, because obviously, I’m a man. But designing womenswear is also special to me, because I’m surrounded by women in my life. I’ve got a beautiful daughter, a great partner. For me, a woman is so powerful and so strong. Stronger than men to be honest. When designing for a woman, I’m always looking at their personalities, their lifestyle, and their attitude to things. A woman can be beautiful in any way. It comes across in the attitude and the confidence. So that’s kind of how I started my career. Then after seven years, I decided that I really needed to be in the epicenter of fashion so I decided to move back to Europe. I really wanted to get a better grasp on the industry. I moved to London. I wanted to focus more on tailoring.
Have you always worked in sustainable fashion?
I’ve been applying sustainability [practices] for probably about 12 years. I was going to set up a business with a friend of mine from Brazil, and we were going to import sustainable fabrics made by the Amazonian women in the Amazons. We were going to set up a little agency in Australia. Obviously it was so ahead of its time that it didn’t really take off. In the past five years, we’ve pushed sustainability. The big brands have been working for it, but it still hasn’t been a talking point for them until recently. It’s a talking point but for us, it’s a foundation. For us, it’s all about traceability, certifications and fabrics. Every fabric that we have, we know where it’s coming from. We’re using blockchain technology on our website and tracing back to the farms where we get the raw material. So it’s really an insight to where the products are coming from so the customer knows that they’re getting a legit thing.
How did Making The Cut come to you?
I was headhunted by the casting director. She hit me up on LinkedIn. And I was like, ‘Oh, okay. Not sure, TVs pretty messy.’ Then the first season came out. So I watched the first three, four episodes and thought of it like Project Runway. Obviously Making The Cut is different and the level of production I think is way better. I was working for a luxury brand at that time; for DAX, so it was hard for me to make a decision. Then I eventually came around and I decided, why not? Life is too short, you gotta take risks, and just go for it.
First impression of Heidi Klum?
I think every man in this world has the same first impression that I had. Yeah, she’s amazing. Heidi is beautiful, she’s smart, and she knows what she’s doing. She brings a vibrancy to the show. And she’s real. She’s not that type of person who is one person in front and then is a different person behind. What you see is what you get. And that’s what I think I love about Heidi. Tim is also amazing.
What’s next for you?
We went live [last week.] You’ll see our collection that we’ve been working on for the past eight months—putting the business together, and the collection and website. We’ll be doing a lot of content filming. We’re gonna release that and hope for the best and see where it takes us.
Why is your brand called LOVE HERO?
It’s two words that are really powerful for me. And for my team. Obviously, we need more love in the world. We’re going through a period where I think COVID has affected a lot of us and brought us together, but there is also still a lot of confrontation in the world. That’s a real representation of how I perceive the world to be in the future, for my children, and other people’s children to live better. Then, hero is all about feeling a hero to yourself, but also being a hero to the planet and really looking after doing well, and just doing little bits to help reduce your impact. Those two words sort of bolted together. And I think they’re quite catchy and beautiful. And it’s three co-founders, myself, my partner, and a friend Heather, who’s based in New York. We’ve all come together. This is the journey now. It’s really exciting. I’ve done this before, so I know what I’m doing. But I’m doing it now with a different perspective, and with a lot more knowledge and experience. And I’m really excited to see where this is gonna take us.
Article by Fashion Week Daily
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UPDATE: Making The Cut, hosted by Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum, returns to Amazon for season two July 16 with a lineup of 10 designers vying for the top prize. Amazon also revealed that Insecure and Queen & Slim designer Shiona Turini and Prabal Gurung will guest judge season two looks, joining judges Jeremy Scott and supermodel Winnie Harlow.
Amazon’s serving up a new round of high fashion looks as Making the Cut has been renewed for Season 2. The fashion competition show, hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, will return to for its sophomore season in the summer.
Making the Cut is filmed in Los Angeles and will feature supermodel Winnie Harlow and designer and Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott as judges for Season 2, with additional judges set to make cameos throughout.
Joining Season 2 is a diverse group of 10 entrepreneurs and designers from around the world who are ready to take their emerging brands to the next level and become the newest global phenomenon. The winner of the series will receive $1 million to invest in their business, the opportunity to create an exclusive line available in Amazon Fashion’s store, and a mentorship with Amazon Fashion.
BY ALEXANDRA DEL ROSARIO MAY 5, 2021
Read full article at Deadline.
]]>Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn will bring their sartorial insights back to the small screen this summer when “Making the Cut” begins streaming its second season on July 16.
The Amazon Original fashion-design reality show plucked 10 global designers to showcase their talents and compete for a $1 million prize to elevate their brand, in addition to a mentorship with Amazon Fashion—where the winner also has a chance to sell a collection. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video and filmed in Los Angeles, the eight-episode show will release two installments each week documenting the exploits and fashion foibles of its “visionary designers and entrepreneurs” jockeying for the chance to send their collection down the runway in the “epic” finale, airing on Aug. 6.
Supermodel Winnie Harlow and Moschino creative chief Jeremy Scott appear as regular judges throughout the season, joined by guest judges including costume designer and celebrity stylist Shiona Turini—who has collaborated with Calvin Klein and Kate Spade—and design icon Prabal Gurung.
The tech giant will maintain its tradition of allowing viewers to own the show’s top looks, whose limited quantities quickly sold out last season. The winning design from each episode will be available for shoppers to purchase the next day through Amazon Fashion’s Making the Cut storefront. After demand for season one’s styles drove items to sell out in less than two days, Amazon said it’s boosting “availability” this time around so consumers can “watch it and wear it.”
Amazon has given season one’s winner, Jonny Cota, considerable opportunities to court consumers, tapping the designer for a collection with The Drop that demonstrated the company’s singular expertise to merge content, clothing and commerce.
Hailing from five different countries, the new cohort of up-and-coming designs brings diverse design perspectives to the table. Los Angeles native Ally Ferguson cut her teeth at G Star Raw and Ed Hardy before founding Seeker—a “gender and age-inclusive, locally sourced, sustainable, organic hemp fashion label”—in 2016.
Brooklyn’s Andrea Pitter has spent the past decade dressing to-be-weds in her Pantora Bridal label. The Fashion Institute of Technology grad and Black entrepreneur also aims to increase representation throughout the industry.
Andrea Salazar brings her Colombian roots and British education to bear in SETA, the label she founded at age 22 after completing a master’s degree in international business in Brazil. Salazar moved to Miami to nurture SETA, which has appeared on the New York and Paris Fashion Week runways.
Based in Jaipur, India, Dushyant Asthana began experimenting with fashion by tinkering with his father’s 1960s and 1970s-era garments. Channeling an East-meets-West aesthetic influenced by India’s rich colors, textiles and art, Asthana designs “clothes for a global audience” from his current base in Los Angeles.
Franklin, N.Y.’s Gary Graham describes his approach to designing fashion as a “material culture of elegance and decay.” The designer’s ready-to-wear collections, known for engineered jacquards, knitwear, intricate detailing, embroidery and his own signature prints, have appeared in stores like Barneys New York and Dover Street Market.
Now based in London, former footballer Joshua Scacheri honed his design chops in Australia, where the label he founded in 2006 became a “go-to brand for menswear.” With stints at Britain’s top heritage brands under his belt, Scacheri precise tailoring and thoughtful design have appeared on global catwalks. The designer’s appearance on “Making the Cut” will inaugurate the launch of his “planet conscious clothing brand,” Love Hero.
Mixed-media prints and penchant for outerwear distinguish the designs of South Orange, N.J.’s Lendrell Martin, a Drexel University fashion design grad recognized by the Obama Foundation for his community-building efforts.
Parisian designer Lucie Brochard merges French, Vietnamese and Korean cultural influences in the design aesthetic she cultivated in part through her tenure with luxury houses like Christian Lacroix and Chloe. Her eponymous brand has traversed runways in Paris and Seoul and is distributed in the U.S., Korea, Lebanon and Germany.
Three months after graduating from Parsons New School, Olivia Oblanc launched her unisex Øblanc fashion brand, which aims to sustainably reinterpret workwear functionality by repurposing denim and recycling textile scraps. The New Orleans native collaborated with Adidas Originals and Kendall Jenner on a collection in 2018.
Polish native Raf Swiader tapped his experience in New York women’s wear and L.A. men’s wear when launching the “gender-optional” R.Swiader line. The Fashion Institute of Technology grad opened his first Manhattan boutique in 2016, which now offers a “clubhouse-like space” for his fans and followers.
BY JESSICA BINNS MAY 5, 2021
Read full article at Sourcing Journal.
]]>Amazon Studios fashion design TV show, ‘Making the Cut’ has unveiled the ten designers and entrepreneurs who will feature in season 2, set to air in July.
The eight-episode fashion show will debut on July 16 on Amazon Prime Video and will feature designers from six different countries, the UK, US, India, Columbia, France and Poland, competing to win 1 million US dollars to invest in their businesses.
Designers from the US make up half of the competitors, with Ally Ferguson, from Los Angeles, California, Andrea Pitter from Brooklyn, New York, Gary Graham from Franklin, New York, Lendrell Martin from South Orange, New Jersey, and Olivia OBlanc from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Season 2 will also feature British menswear and womenswear designer Joshua Scacheri, Colombian designer Andrea Salazar, Dushyant Asthana from Jaipur, India, Parisian designer Lucie Brochard and Polish-born, New York-based Raf Swiader.
Each episode will see the designers competing in assignments that “challenge not only their design skills but also their ability to run all facets of a fashion brand,” explains Amazon Prime Video.
Throughout the competition, designers who do not “make the cut” will be eliminated, with the winner crowned during the finale episode. The winner will receive 1 million dollars, alongside mentorship and the opportunity to sell a collection with Amazon Fashion.
Like with the first season, Amazon confirmed that winning looks from each episode will once again be immediately available to purchase in Amazon Fashion’s ‘Making the Cut’ store. This was so successful last season that most winning looks sold out in under two days, the retailer added, so it will be increasing the availability of winning looks this season.
Hosted and executive produced by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, the show will be filmed in Los Angeles. Judge’s supermodel Winnie Harlow and Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott will be joined by guest judges, including award-winning fashion designer Prabal Gurung and costume designer and celebrity stylist Shiona Turini.
BY DANIELLE WIGHTMAN-STONE May 6, 2021
Read full article at FashionUnited.
]]>Amazon’s “Making the Cut” has found its new designer cast.
The fashion competition show, which was created by former “Project Runway” stars Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, has revealed the 10 fashion designers who will be competing in the show’s second season that debuts July 16 on Amazon Prime Video. Each week two episodes will air until the finale on Aug. 6.
Amazon revealed in March that the reality show would be coming back for a second season with the addition of two new judges: Moschino fashion designer Jeremy Scott and model Winnie Harlow. The season will also include several guest judges, including fashion designer Prabal Gurung and fashion stylist Shiona Turini.
The show is bringing together a group of fashion designers from across the world, including the U.S., Colombia, India, England, France and Poland.
“Heidi and I are so excited to introduce the world to these 10 talented designers that come from different places and backgrounds, each with their own unique styles and creative sensibilities,” Gunn said in a statement. “Season two is fabulous and a testament to ‘making it work’ on so many levels. We filmed this season in one location — Los Angeles — during the pandemic, while watching these designers challenge themselves to grow their brands and become the next household name in fashion.”
Like the show’s first season, each episode’s winning looks will be available to purchase through Amazon Fashion’s “Making the Cut” store. The season two winner will receive prizes that include selling their designs through Amazon’s fashion platform, mentorship from Amazon Fashion’s executives and $1 million.
Here, WWD looks at the 10 fashion designers that will be competing in “Making the Cut” season two. Read on for more.
Ally Ferguson: Los Angeles, California
Ferguson is behind the gender-inclusive, sustainable hemp fashion label Seeker. She has over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, working at labels such as G Star Raw, Ed Hardy and Field Scout. She also founded Metta Agency, a design, development and manufacturing platform that worked on celebrity brands from the likes of Kim Kardashian, Tyler the Creator and YG.
Andrea Pitter: Brooklyn, New York
Pitter has over 10 years of experience in the fashion industry working in the bridal market. She runs Pantora Bridal, which offers unconventional bridal options that pair classic styles with modern details. She is also a fashion design graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Andrea Salazar: Medellín, Colombia
Salazar founded fashion label Seta in her home country of Colombia after studying in England and Brazil. She has since relocated and expanded her business to Miami and has participated in New York and Paris Fashion Weeks.
Dushyant Asthana: Jaipur, India
Asthana takes inspiration from the textiles, colors and art from his upbringing in India for his namesake label, which combines Eastern and Western styles. The designer is now based in Los Angeles.
Gary Graham: Franklin, New York
Graham has run his namesake label for over 20 years, where he has become known for his engineered jacquards, knitwear, intricate detailing and embroidery. His designs have been sold in Barneys New York, Barneys Japan and Dover Street Market, among other retailers, and he was a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist in 2009.
Joshua Scacheri: London, England
Scacheri has over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry. He established his first men’s wear brand in Australia in 2006 and moved to London six years later where he worked for British brands like Charlie Allen and on Savile Row.
Lendrell Martin: South Orange, New Jersey
Martin runs his own namesake label, which offers women’s and men’s ready-to-wear options made from mixed media materials. Through his brand, he mentors young men of color and supports several organizations, including the Obama Foundation.
Lucie Brochard: Paris, France
Brochard created her namesake label in 2015, showing two collections during Paris Fashion Week. She’s also presented at Seoul Fashion Week and at the Korean Fashion Arts — Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition. Her designs are influenced by her French, Vietnamese and Korean backgrounds.
Olivia Oblanc: New Orleans, Louisiana
Oblanc launched her namesake label in 2017 after graduating from the Parsons School of Design. Her unisex clothing and accessories brand focuses on reinterpreted workwear and graphic branding and offers sustainable options made from repurposed denim and recycled fabric waste. She’s also collaborated with Adidas and Kendall Jenner.
Raf Swiader: Sosnowiec, Poland
Swiader has nearly three decades of experience in the fashion industry. He runs his own label, R.Swiader, which offers gender neutral offerings that have been worn by Boy George, Evan Peterson, Daniel Gillies and other celebrities.
BY LAYLA ILCHI on May 5, 2021
Read full article at WWD.
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