‘Project Runway’ finalist has designs on a career in high fashion
Written by Caroline Zentner
Friday, 27 November 2009
In the fashion world, branding is a top concern for designers and Johnathan Kayne looks to slip in his brand wherever possible. So Oklahoma-based Kayne didn’t hesitate to talk about his upcoming trip to Kayne-ada. “This is my premier showing in Canada, so I’m excited,” Kayne said just prior to his presentation to high school and post-secondary fashion design students at Lethbridge College Friday evening. Kayne, a finalist in the third season of “Project Runway,” is in the city for the first showing of his 2010 grad, prom and evening gowns at several events organized by Angeline McDonald at Bells & Bows Bridal Centre. But for students who are dreaming or just starting their careers in the fashion industry, hearing Kayne talk about his life gave them an insider’s view into what could be their own future. “The main thing I can share with them is that my experience is real,” he said. “I actually started probably just as them — unsure if I could make it in the fashion industry. At this point I feel very good about where my career is at. But it’s something you work very, very hard at.” Fashion design wasn’t Kayne’s first career choice. He grew up in Nashville in a large lower middle-class family. With five sisters and two brothers, Kayne saw his parents sometimes lived from paycheque to paycheque. “I wanted a career that was really stable and something in the medical field or veterinary medicine,” he said. After working for a veterinarian from ages 15 to 20, two of his sisters told him about an opening for a sketch artist at the shop where they bought their formals. Kayne started drawing custom designs for customers, graduated to become a buyer and gradually realized he wanted a career in fashion. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology, he opened his own clothing business in Nashville but eventually moved to Oklahoma to buy a store there. Along with running the store and designing, he got captivated by “Project Runway.” He auditioned for the second season and made it to the final interviews before he was cut. He worked hard on his designs and came back the following year and made it to the top five. Ever since his career has continued to grow. He designs shoes and is collaborating on several other projects. “It has been a whirlwind so far,” he said. “Really, the main thing is make sure you love it and you’re passionate about it because there’s going to be hurdles and triumphs in any career, I feel. If you’re passionate about it then you can get through anything. I feel I’ve been very blessed in the fashion industry so far.” His advice to the fashion students was to stay true to themselves and figure out what they want to say with their designs. From a business perspective, he said it’s important to know the customer, what they want to wear, where they’ll wear it and how much they want to spend. “For a lot of these students Johnathan is doing what they hope to do someday,” said Vicki Charge, chair of the school of media and design. “The fashion show, that’s five per cent of what you do. Behind the scenes there’s a lot of planning and networking, late hours, drafting and sewing.” Kayne will have a trunk show today from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Bells & Bows and an evening runway show at Henotic from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
