Project Runway’s brand new look

We’re one episode into the third season of Project Runway Australia.

Some of the program’s most promising contestants have already been eliminated — including week one’s cute-as-a-button couture designer, Anthony Allars, whose dreams of winning the competition turned to dust thanks to a poorly finished hemline.

But fashion is a cutthroat world, something Project Runway judge Jarrad Clark knows all too well. The New York-based Australian’s experience spans working with the major creative heads in fashion, Australia and worldwide, as the global production director of IMG Fashion.

Embedded in the fashion scene since the age of 23, Clark has previously worked as Australian Fashion Week’s event director. He currently works on international large-scale fashion events, including Berlin, New York and Toronto Fashion Weeks.

It’s this wealth of experience that saw him invited to be a judge for this third series, dispensing no-nonsense advice to the 12 contestants as they present their (hopefully) finished designs each week.

“I favour encouragement. I want the designers to do well,” Clark said of his judging style.

“They have put themselves up on this runway and it is tough at times because they let themselves down with their unfinished or poorly executed ideas. However, that’s real life and part of the process of working in any industry, so we have to point it out with the hopes that they will develop with each challenge.”

Clark, who jumped at the chance to get involved with the show (partly because it meant he “got to come home for an extended trip” — he admitted his busy travelling lifestyle meant he’d seen few previous episodes), is part of a drastically altered line-up for Project’s third season. Glamazon model Megan Gale replaces Kristy Hinze as the show’s host, and designer Alex Perry takes over from Henry Roth as the contestants’ mentor.

And as one could reasonably expect for a show about fashion designers, this season Project is stuffed full of colourful queer characters, from 21-year-old Dylan Cooper, who lists his best asset as his eyebrows without a hint of sarcasm, to flamboyant Slovakian designer Matcho Suba, whose personality is even louder than his clothes.

But even with a bunch of couture-creating queens living in close confines, the show is lower on the snark factor seen in the US version. These designers seem a little more level-headed, a little less willing to believe their own hype, than their American counterparts.

“As Australians I believe we have a wonderful relaxed sensibility and are mostly down-to-earth, not only in our design but also in our work ethic,” Clark said.

“It’s always great to have a few Australians around when working internationally to ensure a state of calm and good humour. This translates into our design and is probably why some of our most successful exports have been from our more unpretentious products.”

That’s all well and good, but everyone loves a catfight — it’s what the high-pressure environment of reality TV competitions feed on. Did Clark witness any hair-pulling or name-calling?

“The designers were mostly on their best behaviour when they were on the runway, and that’s the only time we see them,” he said.

“However, I am sure there was tension — I know if I was held in the hotel for that long without phones or internet I would be going crazy.”

And while Clark refused to name names when it came to his favourites for the season, he revealed that the pool of talent among the 12 designers was tipped heavily towards one gender.

“Right from the first episode, the boys where the ones to look out for, and I am pretty certain the final three will have long fashion careers. Although there was a real dark horse among the girls and I am sure she will be snapped up into a role as soon as the show is finished,” he teased.

info: Project Runway Australia, Mondays at 8.30pm on ARENA