Jay McCarroll
Encyclopedia
Jay McCarroll is a fashion designer who gained fame after winning the debut season of the competitive reality show Project Runway
in 2005.
as his favorite designer. He moved to London
to study at the London College of Fashion
, and lived in London selling clothes in Camden Market
after he graduated. He sold clothing in Amsterdam
before moving back to the U.S..
Like the show's other participants, McCarroll was struggling to get recognition as a fashion designer before the show began airing on December 1, 2004, on the Bravo cable television
network. As the winner of the show's first season, McCarroll was awarded $100,000, a mentorship from Banana Republic, and a spot in the prestigious 2005 New York Fashion Week
event. However, Jay turned down the money and the mentorship, citing a contractual clause stipulating that the Project Runway production company would own a 10% stake of all his professional ventures in perpetuity. The company has since dropped this clause.
In April 2008 McCarroll launched his blog and designer fashion boutique, The Colony by Jay McCarroll.
After leaving New York, McCarroll now teaches at Philadelphia University
and has a fashion line on QVC.
McCarroll is a designer for Field of View winter guard in West Chester, Pennsylvania
.
McCarroll has appeared numerous times on the PBS TV show Quilting Arts.
In an episode aired on 5 April 2010, McCarroll won the seventh season of Celebrity Fit Club
on VH1
, having lost 40 pounds over the course of his time on the program.
McCarroll returned to Fashion Week on September 15, 2006, debuting his new collection, Transport, with a show under the prestigious tents. He explained, "My new collection will take the fashion consumer to a higher plane of consciousness and encourage people to see fashion from a different perspective."
His collection was sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States
, reflecting his anti-fur stance. He also mentioned that this was his first showing since the first-season finale of Project Runway
. He changed the theme of his collection, which was initially inspired by the Pet Shop Boys
' 1986 hit "West End Girls
." The collection featured more of a futuristic theme and had both men's and women's looks.
The entire process of his designing, building, showing and attempts at selling his Transport line was documented in a feature film called Eleven Minutes, which debuted at the Philadelphia Film Festival on April 5, 2008.
It was reported on August 6, 2007, by The Daily 10 on E! that McCarroll was homeless and relying on the kindness of friends who are allowing him to stay at their apartments. "I haven’t been living anywhere for two years," he says. "I sleep at other people’s houses. I sleep [at my studio] if I’m drunk."
However, the New York Post reported three days later that the aforementioned news of McCarroll's homelessness was actually a product of sarcasm and that, according to a friend, "Jay is not homeless. He lives in a beautiful building on the Upper West Side, and has recently been tapped to head up the re-launch of classic '80s sportswear brand Camp Beverly Hills
, and also has his own line and show premiering on QVC this fall." In addition, McCarroll himself filmed a video clip poking fun at the 'news,' in which he lay on the streets with a sign saying, "Will Design for Food."
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 2005.
Career
McCarroll lists Alexander McQueenAlexander McQueen
Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE was a British fashion designer and couturier best known for his in-depth knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, his tendency to juxtapose strength with fragility in his collections, as well as the emotional power and raw energy of his provocative fashion shows...
as his favorite designer. He moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to study at the London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, short courses and business-training in fashion, make-up, beauty-therapy and lifestyle industries...
, and lived in London selling clothes in Camden Market
Camden Market
The Camden Markets are a number of adjoining large markets in Camden Town near the Hampstead Road Lock of the Regent's Canal , often called collectively "Camden Market" or "Camden Lock". The stalls sell crafts, clothing, bric-a-brac, fast food, and other things...
after he graduated. He sold clothing in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
before moving back to the U.S..
Like the show's other participants, McCarroll was struggling to get recognition as a fashion designer before the show began airing on December 1, 2004, on the Bravo cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
network. As the winner of the show's first season, McCarroll was awarded $100,000, a mentorship from Banana Republic, and a spot in the prestigious 2005 New York Fashion Week
Fashion Week
A fashion week is a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, which allows fashion designers, brands or "houses" to display their latest collections in runway shows and buyers and the media to take a look at the latest trends. Most importantly, these events let the industry know...
event. However, Jay turned down the money and the mentorship, citing a contractual clause stipulating that the Project Runway production company would own a 10% stake of all his professional ventures in perpetuity. The company has since dropped this clause.
In April 2008 McCarroll launched his blog and designer fashion boutique, The Colony by Jay McCarroll.
After leaving New York, McCarroll now teaches at Philadelphia University
Philadelphia University
Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a private university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Philadelphia University's student body consists of about 3,500 individuals from all 50 states and over 50 countries...
and has a fashion line on QVC.
McCarroll is a designer for Field of View winter guard in West Chester, Pennsylvania
West Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
.
McCarroll has appeared numerous times on the PBS TV show Quilting Arts.
In an episode aired on 5 April 2010, McCarroll won the seventh season of Celebrity Fit Club
Celebrity Fit Club (U.S. TV series)
Celebrity Fit Club is a reality television series which follows eight overweight celebrities as they try to lose weight.This show is based on the British version, which aired on the ITV Network from 2002 until 2006...
on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, having lost 40 pounds over the course of his time on the program.
In the media
Since winning Project Runway, McCarroll has been interviewed by various media outlets, such as The Village Voice. He has had to spend part of his time living in New York, working on his new projects and trying to strengthen his position as a designer. He helped pick contestants for the second season of Project Runway, and filmed a one-hour documentary, Project Jay, which focused on his attempts to establish himself after his win. The special first aired February 22, 2006, on Bravo.McCarroll returned to Fashion Week on September 15, 2006, debuting his new collection, Transport, with a show under the prestigious tents. He explained, "My new collection will take the fashion consumer to a higher plane of consciousness and encourage people to see fashion from a different perspective."
His collection was sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
, reflecting his anti-fur stance. He also mentioned that this was his first showing since the first-season finale of 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...
. He changed the theme of his collection, which was initially inspired by the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
' 1986 hit "West End Girls
West End Girls
"West End Girls" is a song by British pop duo Pet Shop Boys. Written by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the song was released twice as a single. It is a synthpop song, influenced by hip hop music. The lyrics focus on class, and inner-city pressure, and were inspired by T.S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land...
." The collection featured more of a futuristic theme and had both men's and women's looks.
The entire process of his designing, building, showing and attempts at selling his Transport line was documented in a feature film called Eleven Minutes, which debuted at the Philadelphia Film Festival on April 5, 2008.
It was reported on August 6, 2007, by The Daily 10 on E! that McCarroll was homeless and relying on the kindness of friends who are allowing him to stay at their apartments. "I haven’t been living anywhere for two years," he says. "I sleep at other people’s houses. I sleep [at my studio] if I’m drunk."
However, the New York Post reported three days later that the aforementioned news of McCarroll's homelessness was actually a product of sarcasm and that, according to a friend, "Jay is not homeless. He lives in a beautiful building on the Upper West Side, and has recently been tapped to head up the re-launch of classic '80s sportswear brand Camp Beverly Hills
Camp Beverly Hills
Camp Beverly Hills was a clothing line, popular in the 1980s.-Origin:It began in 1977, as an inexpensive alternative to the stores of Rodeo Drive. During the next decade, the line became popular after introducing some of the first casual clothing to use pastel colors...
, and also has his own line and show premiering on QVC this fall." In addition, McCarroll himself filmed a video clip poking fun at the 'news,' in which he lay on the streets with a sign saying, "Will Design for Food."
External links
- Official Jay McCarroll Website
- Olympus Fashion Week Jay McCarroll's Spring 2007 Collection
- Fashion Wire Daily Jay McCarroll's Spring 2007 Collection Reviewed
- Jay McCarroll shares his favorite NY places at ontheinside.info
- Eleven Minutes—official website of feature documentary on the making of his Spring 2007 Collection
- Elle Tell All: Project Runway featuring Jay McCarroll's blog