Austin Scarlett
Encyclopedia
Austin Scarlett is an American fashion designer and artist most popularly known for his appearance the first season of Project Runway
and his recent series, On the Road with Austin and Santino
.
in Wanaque, New Jersey, and the Fashion Institute of Technology
in New York City, where he specialized in couture and evening wear design and received his degree in fashion design. He also received fine arts training at the Art Students League of New York.
Scarlett found success on the first season of the Bravo reality show Project Runway
in 2004-2005.
During the airing of Project Runway, he became known for his ability to produce glamorous fashions under the tight deadlines and unusual requirements of the competitive reality show. On the very first episode of the program, he created a gown entirely from cornhusks, a design which Tim Gunn
as well as each of the three judges, later cited as one of the most impressive he had seen in the entire history of the series.
After Project Runway, Scarlett produced couture collections under his own name for fall 2005 and spring 2006.
In January 2006, he joined New York-based bridal-design house Amsale as Creative Director of its luxury gown collection, Kenneth Pool, where he served until 2009. His dress designs for the KP collection are still extremely sought after by brides internationally.
Austin’s involvement as fashion designer and connoisseur for print, and the web include features in The New York Times, Town and Country, Madame Figaro, Elle, In Style, New York Daily News, and Woman’s Wear Daily.
Austin and his designs have been featured on episodes of TLC's Say Yes to the Dress
.
He has been portrayed on Saturday Night Live
by comedian Fred Armisen
, in a spoof of Project Runway.
Austin has designed theatrical costumes for Shen Wei Dance Arts, performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the opera “El Cimarron”, Greenwich Music Festival, “Trace” with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, “Remember Me”, David Parsons Dance as seen on PBS.
In 2010 Scarlett joined season two
star Santino Rice
in their show On the Road with Austin and Santino
. The series premiered July 29, 2010, on the Lifetime network, and followed the pair cross country as they created couture designs using local resources.
Scarlett has also lent his design talents to many charitable causes, including The New York Public Library, New York City Opera, Live Out Loud, Equity Fights AIDS, Women In Need, and many others.
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
and his recent series, On the Road with Austin and Santino
On the Road with Austin and Santino
On the Road with Austin & Santino is a reality show on the Lifetime channel that follows fashion designers and former Project Runway contestants Austin Scarlett and Santino Rice as they travel to small towns around the USA and make a custom dress for a woman or girl who has a special occasion...
.
Early life and education
Scarlett, son of Debra Little and Christopher Scarlett, was born in Cottage Grove, Oregon. He attended Lakeland Regional High SchoolLakeland Regional High School
Lakeland Regional High School is a comprehensive regional four-year public high school and school district serving students from two communities in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States...
in Wanaque, New Jersey, and the Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
in New York City, where he specialized in couture and evening wear design and received his degree in fashion design. He also received fine arts training at the Art Students League of New York.
Career
While still in school Austin worked as a design assistant and patternmaker on various projects ranging from opera to dance, film, and on Broadway. Austin also worked as an assistant costume archivist at The Museum at FIT, with their collection of Haute Couture and textiles.Scarlett found success on the first season of the Bravo reality show Project Runway
Project Runway
Project Runway is an American reality television series on Lifetime Television, previously on the Bravo network, which focuses on fashion design and is hosted by model Heidi Klum. The contestants compete with each other to create the best clothes and are restricted in time, materials and theme...
in 2004-2005.
During the airing of Project Runway, he became known for his ability to produce glamorous fashions under the tight deadlines and unusual requirements of the competitive reality show. On the very first episode of the program, he created a gown entirely from cornhusks, a design which Tim Gunn
Tim Gunn
Timothy M. "Tim" Gunn is an American fashion consultant and television personality. He was on the faculty of Parsons The New School for Design from 1982 to 2007 and was chair of fashion design at the school from August 2000 to March 2007, after which he joined Liz Claiborne as its chief creative...
as well as each of the three judges, later cited as one of the most impressive he had seen in the entire history of the series.
After Project Runway, Scarlett produced couture collections under his own name for fall 2005 and spring 2006.
In January 2006, he joined New York-based bridal-design house Amsale as Creative Director of its luxury gown collection, Kenneth Pool, where he served until 2009. His dress designs for the KP collection are still extremely sought after by brides internationally.
Austin’s involvement as fashion designer and connoisseur for print, and the web include features in The New York Times, Town and Country, Madame Figaro, Elle, In Style, New York Daily News, and Woman’s Wear Daily.
Austin and his designs have been featured on episodes of TLC's Say Yes to the Dress
Say Yes to the Dress
Say Yes to the Dress is a TLC reality series which follows events at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. The series shows the progress of individual sales associates, managers, and fitters at the store, along with profiling brides as they search for the perfect wedding dress...
.
He has been portrayed on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
by comedian Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen is an American actor, comedian and musician best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and portraying off-color foreigners in various comedy films such as EuroTrip, Anchorman and Cop Out...
, in a spoof of Project Runway.
Austin has designed theatrical costumes for Shen Wei Dance Arts, performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the opera “El Cimarron”, Greenwich Music Festival, “Trace” with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, “Remember Me”, David Parsons Dance as seen on PBS.
In 2010 Scarlett joined season two
Project Runway (season 2)
Project Runway Season 2 was the second season of Bravo's successful Project Runway, a reality competition for fashion designers. Season 2 began airing on December 7, 2005. Following a nationwide search earlier in the year, sixteen designers were chosen as semi-finalists and brought to New York...
star Santino Rice
Santino Rice
Santino Quinto Rice is an American fashion designer and television personality. He is best known for his appearances on the reality television programs Project Runway, RuPaul's Drag Race, and On the Road with Austin and Santino.-Early life:Rice was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri...
in their show On the Road with Austin and Santino
On the Road with Austin and Santino
On the Road with Austin & Santino is a reality show on the Lifetime channel that follows fashion designers and former Project Runway contestants Austin Scarlett and Santino Rice as they travel to small towns around the USA and make a custom dress for a woman or girl who has a special occasion...
. The series premiered July 29, 2010, on the Lifetime network, and followed the pair cross country as they created couture designs using local resources.
Scarlett has also lent his design talents to many charitable causes, including The New York Public Library, New York City Opera, Live Out Loud, Equity Fights AIDS, Women In Need, and many others.