Sixteen designers gathering on a runway seems normal, almost mundane. But turn that runway into a landing strip, add a few overpowering egos and garments made from parachutes, throw in a Syracuse University alumnus and it’s the thrilling 12th cycle of “Project Runway.”

Season 12 of the reality show aired Thursday night on Lifetime and opened with 16 designers — 15 new contestants and one season 11 veteran — meeting Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn at an airfield.

Suddenly, the designers looked up to find skydivers launching themselves from airplanes. One lively contestant yelled, “Look, toy soldiers! No, they’re puppies! Oh, they’re people.” This contestant was Timothy Westbrook, a graduate of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Westbrook graduated in 2011 with a degree in fiber arts and material studies.

And that day, the designers were tasked to create a garment from the skydivers’ parachutes.

As a student at SU, Westbrook was already demonstrating his talent for fashion design. Gabrielle Traub, also a 2011 VPA alumna who studied voice performance, said she collaborated with Westbrook on multiple projects.

“My senior year, I decided to direct and produce my own opera,” Traub said. “I decided to do ‘The Magic Flute,’ and I asked (Westbrook) if he wanted to design and create all of the costumes.”

Traub said that working with Westbrook led to a sold out show and rave reviews. She contributes these results to his extreme attention to detail and a willingness to listen to what other people want.

But he has is own style that Traub describes as ethereal. He meshes the imaginary and fantasy with real life. She feels, however, the overarching theme in his designs is sustainability and repurposing.

While he worked on the opera’s costume design, Traub said Westbrook only used second hand materials. He made prom gowns into capes, bed sheets into pants and even used cassette tapes to make different pieces. In an interview on the “Project Runway” webpage, Westbrook even said that he is most proud of a piece he made from cassettes.

“He has this way of finding things and creating something that is very cohesive,” Traub said. “His creative knowledge astounds me.”

The first challenge on the reality show — using the parachutes for clothes — seemed like the perfect opportunity for Westbrook to turn trash into treasure.

In an online Q-and-A with “Project Runway,” Westbrook explains that, “classical styles and political activism and sustainability influence my work now.”

In Thursday night’s episode, all of these influences came through in his white and yellow dress with an origami inspired, structured back and a deconstructed, burnt front.

When his dress was in front of the judges, Westbrook enthusiastically provided a history for his piece and said he drew inspiration from World War II and the bombing of Hiroshima.

Further, Westbrook stayed true to his eco-friendly beliefs when he sent his model down the runway sans makeup, hair styling and shoes. Meanwhile, Westbrook presented himself to judges Heidi Klum, Zac Posen, Nina Garcia and Kate Bosworth, in gold, sparkly high heels. His confidence and upbeat personality radiated from him as he stood on the runway.

Unfortunately, his glamorous shoes, his model’s natural look and his first garment did not make good first impressions. The judges said his work muddled and his model looked like she had been, “found in the woods.” For this, Westbrook was put in the bottom three, while fellow contestant Brandon’s flowing blue gown won first place.

In the end, Westbrook was saved and will compete another week, while designer Angela was sent home for her ultra-short, electric blue trench coat.

As Westbrook said in his “Project Runway” Q-and-A, “I’m ready for anything and I know my voice. I never hear ‘no,’ I only hear of one more way I can do it, which in the long run means there must be another new solution.”

Published on July 20, 2013 at 1:35 pm

Contact Katie: kjrichar@syr.edu | @ktjrichards