Former Philadelphia University Student Wins Bravo’s Project Runway

Each week, Jay McCarroll strutted his stuff as a promising designer and sometimes bad boy on Project Runway, the fashion reality show on TV’s Bravo network. On February 16, 2005, millions watched as McCarroll grabbed the ultimate prize — $100,000 to launch his own design line.

The program started with 12 aspiring designers. Each week, one contestant was eliminated after participating in design challenges, which included wedding dresses, bathing suits and a Banana Republic challenge. Judges included supermodel Heidi Klum and designer Michael Kors.

Despite his prominent role each week as the cut-up with the beard and colorful bandana (his designs have done pretty well, too), McCarroll worked fairly anonymously in his small hometown of Lehman, PA until the final episode aired. But all that is bound to soon change.

“I don’t know what’s going to come out of it, but I’m definitely going to get an agent, and I’m definitely going to move to New York,” he says.

At Philadelphia University, McCarroll studied fashion design and made enough of an impression on several faculty members to be invited back year after year to critique the designs of senior students.

"College is the only place I believe you can make pure vision, conceptual garments, weird stuff,” he says. “It’s great for me to come back and see what the students are doing.”

Where does McCarroll think Project Runway will take him? Over the next five years, he hopes to act a bit, host a talk show, design a clothing line, get into housewares, bedding, kitschy lamps, whatever. “The doors are wide open because of this show,” he says brightly.

Find out more about Jay at www.jaymccarroll.com.

Gianna Cosentino '03

Gianna Cosentino, a native New Yorker, was exposed early to the world of fashion.  After taking courses at FIT during high school, Gianna realized she didn’t want to get caught up in the cutthroat environment.  She chose Philadelphia University because it offered her a chance to develop her style without trying to force her talent into a category.  Gianna’s greatest experience in life to-date was studying abroad in London ’s AIU.  She learned “how big and small the world is all at the same time” and would recommend the experience to anyone. 

In her last semester, Gianna landed a technical design position for Urban Outfitters.  Her ambition and confidence, she feels, helped her advance to a knit designer for Free People, where her favorite aspect of the job is the ability to work from home. By allowing employees to take shopping trips for vintage clothing and access to all kinds of magazines, Urban Outfitters’ designers find inspiration on their own.  Urban Outfitters is the anti-corporation where there is little computer work and the designs are raw.  So raw that they must notate to the manufacturer the samples are to be left as-is (unfinished edges, etc). 

Ultimately, Gianna would like to design more conceptually rather than mass market.  She values the aesthetic element of design over passing trends and would like to one day own a "concept boutique," where she could support students by selling their work along with high-end consignment and her own customized designs.  Gianna is constantly seeking knowledge and says, “If I ever felt like I wasn’t learning, I wouldn’t be happy.”

See Gina's winning design from the 2003 Fashion Show by clicking here >>

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