Project Runway 3, Episode 6: A Fine Line Between Innovation and Insanity

Previously, the designers created modern clothes for fashion icons. Angela, Laura, and Jeffrey didn’t get along very well. Michael won the challenge and his model Nazri got to appear in a Tresemme ad in Elle. Bradley lost because he doesn’t know anything about Cher.

It’s morning at the Atlas Apartment. Michael feels proud to have made it through five challenges. He’s more motivated now that he has a win under his belt. I thought Michael should have won the first challenge as well; I absolutely loved his coffee-filter dress. Robert tells him he’s representing their apartment. Vincent is upset that Bradley is gone. He says the judging is subjective and can go any way. He reminds us that he cashed in his 401(k) to get back into fashion. He’s done something risky, but he thinks he has the talent and construction ability to get to the final three.

The designers gather at the runway and Heidi brings out the winning and losing designers’ models. Obviously Michael keeps Nazri, which is a little disappointing, since I liked Katie. Laura doesn’t look happy. Heidi says that the challenges have been easy so far. Angela blurts out a disagreement. Heidi thinks that compared to last season, things have been pretty calm. Alison interviews that she feels like she’s been here for months working constantly. Heidi warns that the next few challenges will be tough. Robert thinks that’s absurd. Heidi won’t say anything now - the designers will learn about their next challenge tomorrow morning.

Night turns into day and it’s… tomorrow morning! Tim wakes up the guys at 5 a.m. for a field trip. Michael looks a little nervous. Vincent answers the door to his apartment and Tim instructs him to tell Kayne and Jeffrey not to wear open-toed shoes. Vincent wonders if they’ll be digging. Yes, Vincent. You’ll be digging for your sanity. Laura is wearing her riding outfit again.

The designers pile into a van and are driven out on the New Jersey Turnpike. Alison says she was humming the Sopranos theme. Hee! I love Alison. Laura says the weather was horrible and New Jersey looked awful, as usual. But it’s the Garden State! No one has any idea where they’re going. They wind up at a warehouse, which Robert describes as like waking up in a strange nightmare. Can you wake up in a nightmare? Laura says they were taken to a loading dock and led to the front of a rolling garage door. Tim tells them they’re in Newark and their next challenge is being the garage door. The door goes up and everyone peeks underneath it to see a bunch of garbage. Derelicte! It’s a Derelicte line! Okay, not really. It’s recyclable material. Robert describes his initial reaction as, “Shut up!” He doesn’t want to work with trash. Who does?

Everyone dons hilarious yellow safety vests and helmets. Tim introduces them to Matthew Coz, who works in waste management. He tells them that there are 500,000 tons of recyclable material created. Tim says the designers each get three bins to collect their materials. This challenge is about innovation and creativity. They’ll get 30 minutes to get the recyclables before they head to an art supply store in Manhattan. Michael says this challenge forces them to think outside the box. I love Michael but he needs to not use clichés like that.

Everyone digs through the recyclables. Laura wonders if she can make fur trim out of shredded paper. She’s found some Styrofoam peanuts, too. Jeffrey finds an issue of Martha Stewart Living. Kayne says that this is normal to him - he grew up white trash and he and his sister always went Dumpster diving. Michael seems pleased with what he has. Vincent says he wants to make art, not trash. Alison is excited that they’re not working with fabric for a change. Time’s up! Michael celebrates by beatboxing. Laura tries to dance along but he makes her stop.

Kayne tells us that only having 15 minutes and $25 at the art supply store was stressful. Jeffrey has gotten some acrylic paint so he can stain newspaper and make a textile pallet. Tim alerts the designers that time is up from the info desk. They only have ten hours until their deadline, midnight. Angela notes that they usually have two days, so it’s a pressure cooker. Kayne says this definitely challenges them to get their creative minds working and see what they can come up with.

Alison has tried to make a skirt out of some really cute striped paper, but she’s not sure it’s going to turn out all right. She says they have to keep in mind the steps they’re taking; there’s no room for error. Angela wants to go with a simple design. She loves patchwork, so she’s going back to what she knows. Michael has chosen some stiff materials and is letting them speak to him. Whatever form and shape they take, he’s letting it happen. Vincent isn’t sure what will happen, so he’s just letting things come. In other words, he has no idea what he’s doing. Laura says he’s crazy and will crack any day. “He’s not mentally stable.”

There are seven hours left. Robert and Kayne grab a few seconds for dinner and Kayne wants to talk trash about someone. Classy. Robert says he doesn’t want to have to face Laura by himself. Kayne says he’s better off shooting himself in the face. Robert thinks sometimes she wants to do that to him. Kayne allows that her dress is cute. It’s made from a nut sack, and she’s pleated it so the butt reads, “For nuts only.” Heh. Robert thinks it’s a straightjacket, which means Laura is sewing for herself. Kayne notes that Laura kissed him on the cheek and Robert says he saw and thought Kayne might get a rash. What’s with all the Laura hate? Jeffrey, an avowed Laura hater, says that she’s boring and he hopes she gets sent to the guillotine. He can’t believe she’s making another high-waisted skirt.