The Cut, Episode 12: Garbage In, Garments Out

Previously on The Cut, the designers partnered up, carrying two mannequins throughout the five boroughs of New York City. They had to barter and beg for clothing from the locals, and redesign them to fit their mannequins before presenting them at the Style Forum. Tommy chose Princess and Chris as the clear leaders, while Deanna and Wes were deemed "out of style" due to their unmarketable designs.

Back at the loft, Elizabeth shares that she is really excited to be in the final four. It is a huge honor for her because she is not a professional designer. Chris has already lived his dream having actually met and worked for Tommy. It has taken him ten years to get here. Chris thinks Tommy already has an idea of who he's looking at. Felix has no interest in working with anyone other than Liz. He says, "After I win, I will definitely hire her!" Chris isn't interested in what Liz does. Her clothes don't excite him, and he thinks she wouldn't have made it this far without Felix. Meanwhile, Princess is beat down tired. She doesn't know what's coming next, but she plans to work her butt off for this next project. Hopefully she can bring it home.

The designers meet up with Hilfiger at the Port of Bayonne, in Bayonne, New Jersey. Tommy greets the final four and congratulates them. He points out the garbage barge behind them, and explains how it will sail away to Staten Island to unload at its dumping grounds. It will take two hours to get there and during that time the designers must board the barge and dig through the hidden treasures to find the materials to make a beautiful design. He says they are going to have to improvise, adapt, and overcome. "As a designer, you sometimes have to make something beautiful out of nothing." Tommy has literally given them garbage to work with. He is not going accept any excuses this time. They are down to the wire. There will be no more teams and the designers will be working by themselves. He needs to see something great. This will give him the opportunity to see for himself whether or not they individually have resourcefulness, stamina, and drive. They will be given 48 hours to complete the assignment, $500 each that they can use to hire any help they need, and a model from Elite Model Management. The outfits should be ready to go to any store in America. Tommy will be the judge at the Style Forum.

As the ultimate winner will become a part of the Tommy Hilfiger family, Tommy thinks it is important for him to know them all personally, so he is going to invite the designers to his home. They will have the opportunity to talk to him individually and meet his family. Telling the designers to "work hard," he leaves them to begin garbage diving.

The designers jump into the barge. Felix finds a life preserver, puts it on, and runs through the hills of cast off furniture. Chris starts ripping out a zipper! Princess thinks the assignment is brilliant and says she jumped right in there, knew what she wanted, had her vision, and took what she needed! Princess is ready to send the other designers home.

Felix finds a plaid couch of soft pinks, greens, and blues; all the colors that are in the Hilfiger palette. He skins the couch, thinking maybe he can make a plaid blazer. Chris runs across some red satin. As Tommy had never seen him make a dress, he wants to show Tommy that he is definitely thinking about men AND women. Liz has hit the jackpot. She finds a couch with gorgeous patterned upholstery. She's going to make a dress as she's confident with her dress designing ability. Felix helps her unbury the couch and she completely tears it apart taking the fabric, webbing, lining, and stuffing. Meanwhile as the barge is slapping against the waves, Princess is busy throwing up over the side. "Your girl sure got sick on the barge, it was like ooohhh, it was so bad." Her buddy Chris covers her with a coat, while she complains that Felix and Liz act like they're working on a group project.

Felix calls Liz “the rookie of the year”. He has been impressed with what she has made with no formal design training. Liz thinks it's nice that she and Felix are not threatened by each other. She enjoys their camaraderie and is glad she and Felix can walk this journey together. Felix says that if he had more time, he would have organized all the garbage by color and alphabetical order. He calls himself, "Hector Protector the Garbage Collector." The search ends as the barge enters Miller's Landing in Staten Island. The designers pile their collected treasures into the waiting cabs.

At the SoHo loft, Chris is laughing because Liz is fretting over her lack of wardrobe. He thinks it's hilarious when Liz freaks out. She is nervous going to Hilfiger's home. She is the only designer that hasn't spent any one-on-one time with Tommy. They get in the cab and Felix promises that she can spend more time with Hilfiger, because he has been told he talks too much. He thinks Tommy is a pretty casual man and Felix feels comfortable. Chris' stomach is tied up in knots and he thinks this is his last chance to shine. Princess wonders if Tommy likes her. She says she has a little sparkle and a little personality. As the four pull up to Tommy's home, Chris says, "Man, this is big!"

Tommy answers the door, and introduces his girlfriend, Lizzy, and escorts them in to meet the rest of his family. Princess thinks his home is beautiful and found the experience warm and inviting, like being at a friend's home. Liz and Princess sit on either side of Hilfiger during dinner. Tommy asks each of them, who they think, besides themselves, is a strong player. Liz, sharing that she feels honored being among the final four, says Felix is very talented, and she appreciates that they have created a positive working relationship. Princess tells us what Liz does, she does better, what Felix does, Chris does better, and then snipes to Tommy that nobody expected Felix and Liz to still be here. He asks Princess how she likes working with Chris. She thinks the two of them could make millions! Chris tells us that Tommy has already provided the opportunity to reach his dreams. To meet him and to have dinner with him was the ultimate for him. The designers thank Tommy as they leave to complete their assignments.