PROJECT RUNWAY judges got it wrong: Anna Yinan Zhou

Project Runway Season 20 features the best of the best, an all-star cast, of the current century’s best fashion show. S20 E9, Season 20 Episode 9, included the cast of Below the Deck, a popular television show apparently watched by many. Because I don’t have subscription tv, I don’t know much about its characters but I could tell from the episode that they have a beloved cast.

S20 E9 brought to audiences a Project Runway classic: the Real Client challenge. This provocation means each designer will be paired with a plebian from another universe who is an equal caliber of reality television stardom in another show - Below the Deck. The challenge was to redesign the formal crew uniform but add fashion. Functional but fashionable.

Sean Francisco designer, Anna Yinan Zhuo, was paired with Captain Jason Chambers, which by his title you can tell, is the captain of a ship. I immediately took notice of him because he said he lived in Bali, Indonesia and the Philippines. Captain Jason said he wanted his Project Runway runway look to pay homage to his Asian roots. Note that Captain Jason is a white man, the kind of white that could have been a Gobernadorcillo in colonial times. When he said he wanted an Asian inspired redesign for his captain’s uniform I knew the request was a cultural first for fashion television. It was perfect because Anna herself is Chinese. I was excited because the new captain’s design was going to be tailored by the best Asian fashion design, Anna Yinan Zhuo.

Captain Jason’s uniform needs:

• should be active ready

• loose light material

• could be one piece

• Asian theme needs to come out

• comfort

• relaxed

Anna’s design: a Kimono inspired jumpsuit with epaulettes.

Nica’s reaction: BRILLIANT. Wow. Yes, this is a new look!

Question to the reader: What images come to mind when you hear the word “Captain?”

[ insert your

answer

HERE. ]

[ in charge, uniformed,

ironed,

collared, straightened ]

- The Project Runway Judges

The judges critiques of Anna’s design included the descriptions: sags down, problem with fit and proportion, I wanted more authority from the captain, kimono inspired jumpsuit was not a believable captain uniform, felt too casual, big jump from the collar and tie look, why silk, too droopy, way to relaxed to find any authority.

Nica’s reaction: *rolls eyes*

Okay, I’m sorry, but in any ship I’m on, figurative or literal, I want to be in the care of a captain who is a jump away from the collared look. I want my captain to be relaxed and comfortable. Exactly like Captain Jason. I want someone in charge but not buttoned up because that feels too restricting. I don’t mind my captain being in silk because silk flows. It moves. It’s inviting.

Note to reader: I’ve been on boats and let me tell you, not all captains rock the formal buttoned up colonial-look. That uniform is for show. When a captain is being a captain, depending on the boat, they are wearing active wear.

For culture, I’m sorry Project Runway judges got it wrong: they couldn’t see the authority in Anna Yinan Zhou’s kimono inspired look worn by Captain Jason.

Time to redesign everything,

~~ Nica C.T.