Project Runway All-Stars with Marchesa Co-Founder Georgina Chapman

Marchesa co-founder and Project Runway All-Stars judge Georgina Chapman recently shared her thoughts on the current All-Stars season and her new documentary about the inner workings at Marchesa.

When Project Runway All-Stars returns to Lifetime this week for “A Very Unconventional Christmas,” Georgina Chapman will be joined by guest judges Kylie Minogue and LaLa Anthony for the holiday themed design challnge. Special guest Fawaz Gruosi will also make a cameo while the designers create a non-Christmas look using only materials found in a Christmas store.

Following Project Runway All-Stars, Lifetime will debut a new half-hour documentary special on the inner workings of Marchesa with Georgina Chapman and fellow designer Keren Craig.

Ahead of this week’s episode of Project Runway All-Stars, The Deadbolt spent a few minutes with Georgina Chapman to learn more about the global marketplace, the challenges All-Star designers face, her documentary, and how pregnancy impacts her designs.

THE DEADBOLT: Since fashion has become so accessible from shows like Project Runway, even your upcoming Marchesa documentary, how do you feel about more designers entering the market as compared to years past? Do you think it’s good for the industry?

GEORGINA CHAPMAN: I think it’s probably the same as it’s always been. Yes, you get your shows like Project Runway and that gives designers exposure, which is a wonderful thing, but there is still the same amount of stores. There are still the same amount of websites and the same amount of customers.

So really, at the end of the day, it’s talent and hard work that wins. I think that’s what we see on Project Runway. We genuinely have really, really talented people there and I do believe a lot of guys have bright futures.

THE DEADBOLT: With someone like Emilio, who’s more of a costume designer, do you think he has an advantage or he’s more at a disadvantage?

CHAPMAN: That’s hard for me to say because I trained in costumes as well. So I might think he’s at a great advantage. I come from a very similar background to him, if not the same background. It’s always worked for me.

I think, yes, I did have to learn on the job a bit more that other people would’ve been prepared for after their college. That’s true, but sometimes that gives you a fresher eye.

THE DEADBOLT: With the documentary that’s going to air after Project Runway, about Marchesa and your line, how does pregnancy affect your design process?

CHAPMAN: It’s funny because I sometimes feel I’m most creative when I’m pregnant. I guess because I am physically creating at the same time. I just keep going. The show must go on. You just work through. Obviously some days you’re a little more tired than you normally might be but I do feel very creative when I’m pregnant. I love tapping into that energy because I think that’s what my whole physical being is about at this time.

Project Runway All-Stars airs Thursday nights at 9/8c on Lifetime.