Bravo has some top quality programming (get it?) with Top Chef, Top Design, and Shear Genius, among many others. It lost Project Runway to Lifetime this year, and I think the show has definitely suffered since moving. Perhaps to fill its void, Bravo has come up with a new show called Launch My Line. It is a reality/competition show, hosted by Dean and Dan Caten (designers of the line D Squared), where each person is competing for a chance to launch their own fashion line. The twist however, is that each contestant knows relatively nothing about designing and creating clothes. There are stylists and dressers and fashion critics who know a lot about the industry, but on the other hand you have a choreographer and a marketing executive. To help them launch their line, each contestant is paired with a fashion expert. I hadn’t really heard of any of these fashion experts, but I can’t really call myself one, so I trust Bravo.
Their first challenge is to come up with a name and a concept for their line, and then design a signature look. At first I found myself comparing the show to Project Runway. There is no Tim Gunn (although D Squared are so cute and awesome), no Mood Fabrics, and there were no Quick Fire challenges like on other Bravo shows. But after my initial thoughts that it isn’t Project Runway, I realized that the show is incredibly unique. Each contestant brings their own perspective to clothing design and I really enjoyed seeing how they conceptualized a line without any prior experience. In my mind, there is already a front-runner, but I don’t want to spoil too much. There are also a couple of contestants who I already find to be divas and rather pretentious. I was pleasantly surprised by the show. I expect quality programming from Bravo, and I was not disappointed in the least. For anyone who likes Bravo shows, or fashion, you will love Launch My Line. Be sure to tune in Wednesday at 10 pm on Bravo.
Meet the Contestants:
- Dan Karaty, Choreographer
- David Applebaum, Architect
- Eric Cubeechee, DJ
- Kathy Rose, Jewelry Designer
- Kevin Black, Music Mogul
- Louanna Rawles, Stylist
- Marilyn Crawford, CEO
- Merle Ginsberg, Fashion Critic
- Patrick McDonald, Fashion Writer/Dandy
- Vanessa Gonzalez, Event Designer
