Project Runway Season 12 is the twelfth season of the television show Project Runway, appearing on Lifetime. The season began airing on July 18, 2013 with 15 designers competing to become "the next great American designer." Kate Pankoke, a designer from Season 11 returned to compete once again for the grand prize. Pankoke was voted back by fans in an online poll, winning against Ra'mon Lawrence Coleman of Season 6, and Valerie Mayen of Season 8.
Supermodel Heidi Klum, Marie Claire creative director Nina Garcia, and fashion designer Zac Posen all returned as judges this season. Tim Gunn returned as the workroom mentor. This was also the first season to feature the "Tim Gunn save," which gave Gunn the opportunity to bring an eliminated designer back into the competition if he disagreed with the judges.
Belk was the exclusive retail sponsor for Project Runway's 12th season and has merchandised the accessory wall with an assortment of products.
In 2014, Alexandria von Bromssen, Kate Pankoke, Justin LeBlanc and Helen Castillo competed in the fourth season of Project Runway All Stars, with Alexandria placing 13th, Kate placing 11th, Justin placing 7th and Helen placing 3rd. In 2016, Alexander Pope, Ken Laurence and Dom Streater competed in the fifth season of All Stars, with Alexander placing 8th, Ken placing 3rd and Dom winning the competition. Helen Castillo and Ken Laurence would later reappear in Project Runway All Stars (season 6) where Helen placed 6th and Ken placed 4th.
^Note 1 : Miranda originally had one of the higher scores, however the judges reconsidered their scores since she had not used enough of the challenge material (the parachute) for her dress. She was told that, despite her outfit being good, she did not follow the rules. Therefore, she could be disqualified and eliminated from the competition.
^Note 2 : Because Sandro was missing, all three of the lowest-scoring designers (Miranda, Jeremy, and Sue) were safe.
^Note 3 : Before leaving the runway, Heidi told Alexander, Bradon and Miranda that they were close to being the winning team.
^Note 4 : Dom was initially called in the bottom along with Jeremy and Ken. However, the bottom three designers were given an extra hour in the workroom to make alterations to their outfit or redesign a new one. The judges gave Dom's second dress such high marks that it was named the second winner of the challenge.
the designer won Project Runway Season 12.
The designer was advanced to Fashion Week.
The designer won the challenge.
The designer had the second highest scores.
The designer had one of the highest scores for that challenge, but did not win.
The designer had one of the lowest scores for that challenge, but was not eliminated.
The designer was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated.
The designer lost and was eliminated from the competition.
The designer withdrew from the competition.
The designer lost, but was saved from elimination by Tim Gunn.
Model Elimination Table
Model
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Rayuana
DS
DS
DS,AV
DS
AP
DS
DS
KL
DS
-
DS
DS
-
WINNER (DS)
Ya
BM
BM
BM,KB
BM
BM
AV
AV
BM
BM
-
BM
AV
AV
AV
Ji Young
AP
AP
-
AP
SW
AP
AP
AP
AP
-
AP
JL
JL
JL
Cameron
KB
KB
-
KB
KL
KP
KP
KP
KP
-
KP
BM
-
BM
Molly
SW
KP
HC,KP
KP
HC
HC
HC
HC
HC
-
HC
HC
HC
OUT
Roberta
HC
JB
JB,KL
JB
KP
JB
JB
KB
JL
-
JL
OUT
Laura
KL
KL
-
KL
AV
KL
KL
DS
KL
-
AV
OUT
Nastasia
TW
HC
-
HC
ML
BM
BM
AV
AV
-
OUT
Briana
JB
JL
AP,JL
JL
JL
JL
JL
JB
JB
-
OUT
Shaya
ML
ML
-
ML
JB
ML
ML
JL
OUT
Liliana
JL
SW
-
SW
DS
KB
KB
OUT
Jessica
AV
AV
-
AV
KB
OUT
Viktoria
SM
SM
SM,SW
SM
OUT
Sophie
KP
TW
TW,ML
OUT
Jillian
KM
KM
OUT
Sierra
AB
OUT
The model won Project Runway Season 12.
The model wore the winning design that challenge.
The model wore the design with the second highest scores.
The model wore the design with one of the highest scores.
The model wore the design that had one of the lowest scores.
The model wore the design that landed in the bottom two.
The model wore the losing design that challenge.
The model was eliminated.
In episode 10, the models were not needed in the challenge.
In the Season 12 opener, the designers arrive on an airport runway and then must create looks from parachute materials. Kate Pankoke from Season 11 was voted to come on the show by fans.
Working in pairs, designers must give away samples of frozen yogurt while asking the samplers for words to describe the yogurt. The pairs must choose three of the words as inspiration for their designs and then create an outfit using unconventional materials won by playing carnival games at Coney Island.
Despite being safe from elimination, Sandro got into a fight with Zac Posen on the runway about his design. He then went back to the waiting room and got into a verbal altercation with Helen and Ken, at which point he stormed out. Tim Gunn informed the judges that Sandro was missing, which led to all three of the lowest-scoring designers (Miranda, Jeremy, and Sue) being safe. Sandro later apologized to Helen and Ken for his behavior during the next challenge before he went home.
Episode 5: YOU Choose Your Materials!
Original airdate: August 15, 2013
Working in small teams, the designers have to use items from two of three retailers as their material to create a luxurious collection. The stores were a vintage wallpaper store, a party supply/homewares store, and a food market.
Team Members
The Places They Chose To Get Materials
Jeremy, Karen, Kate
Party/Home Goods Store & Food Market
Bradon, Alexander, Miranda
Wallpaper Store & Party/Home Goods Store
Dom, Helen, Justin
Wallpaper Store & Food Market
Alexandria, Ken, Sue
Wallpaper Store & Party/Home Goods Store
Guest Judge: June Ambrose
WINNER: Jeremy
ELIMINATED: Sue
Episode 6: Let's Go Glamping!
Original airdate: August 22, 2013
The designers go on a luxury overnight camping trip, with campsite surroundings serving as style inspirations for this challenge.
The designers have to create a high-end performance wear for Heidi Klum's New Balance line, but the challenge time is not the same for everyone as they have to display their athleticism skills to earn some extra working time. Dom and Justin both won one extra hour of work because of their athletic skills.
The designers have to create a vibrant look for the Belk shopper, a modern southern woman. The winning look will be sold in Belk Shops and online. Dom, Ken & Jeremy were all the bottom and the judges decided to give them one hour to change or make their garments into stunning pieces.
The designers are on pins and needles when they're affected by a previous double elimination. In a fashion test, they must take a risk and spin out an avant-garde look inspired by butterflies. As a twist, and for the first time ever on Project Runway, the designers are given a second "make it work" challenge: to take a previous losing look from the season and transform it into a winning look.