If you’ve ever been a fan of the television show Project Runway, there is one stand-out designer who helped put the show on the map, and that person is designer Austin Scarlett. Gaining international recognition for his designs on the original season of Project Runway, his work has been described as “magic” and “a tour de force” by The New York Times and “worthy of a goddess” by Elle magazine.
Austin began designing as a child, hailing from Cottage Grove, Oregon, Austin moved to New York as a teenager to pursue his education in fashion design, studying at the Art Students League of New York and The Fashion Institute of Technology – FIT. Austin went on to become one of the youngest designers in history to be named Creative Director of a couture wedding and eveningwear collection, Kenneth Pool, in 2006, creating six seasons of gowns for the design house.
As a multimedia artist, Austin’s work with theatre and television provided another outlet for his abundant creativity, and a platform to share his philosophy of beauty with the world. In 2010 he developed, hosted and designed his critically acclaimed television program, On the Road with Austin and Santino. Austin again captivated the hearts and minds of millions with his unique style on Project Runway All-Stars in 2012.
Austin launched his bridal collection with Neiman Marcus, where Fashion Director, Ken Downing sang accolades of the collection, proclaiming, “Cinematic Sirens! Sexy, Feminine and full of Austin’s signature glamour. Utilizing luxury silk fabrics from around the world, intricate hand draping, and meticulously constructed corsetry each gown is perfectly balanced of lines that are the overall hallmark of Austin’s collection.
Every gown carrying the Austin Scarlett label is made-to-order, by hand, in the heart of New York City. This process involves precision hand cutting, highly skilled construction, and careful hand finishing. With Austin’s strict guidelines for haute couture, each dress is inspected by Austin himself before completion, to ensure each gown is perfect for his customer.
Images Courtesy of Austin Scarlett