‘Project Runway’ contestant’s history-making, all plus-size runway show

Project Runway made show history this week when one of the finalists debuted an all plus-size collection at their New York Fashion Week show. As anyone with a passing knowledge of the reality show knows, though the designers themselves often represent a wide spectrum of humanity, the models themselves tend to be very traditional size 0-2-or-4’s, so it’s a big leap forward to present an entire collection that embraces and celebrates a different body type.

So whose collection is it? Well, we don’t know exactly. Because this current season of Project Runway is still airing, and we won’t get to NYFW on the show for another several episodes,the show has the top six designers present collections- 3 are decoys, 3 are the “real” finalists. Also, names are kept off the collections to avoid le spoilers. Still, as Mashable reports, chances are likely the collection belongs to contestant Ashley Neil Tipton, who’s known for her plus-size designs.

We may not for SURE know who the designer is (or whether she’s a real finalist or a decoy) but we do know that the audience ate this collection up with a spoon and at least one judge was a big-time fan. “I’m very proud of it. It’s a big moment for not only the runway, but New York Fashion Week,”  Project Runway judge Zac Posen told the New York Daily News. We co-sign this statement and for the record will state that we LOVE these looks. The explosion of pastels, the yards and yards of lace, the Coachella-eat-your-heart-out FLORAL CROWNS. We die. It’s no surprise that Project Runway rocked an all plus-size collection this New York Fashion Week. For the past couple years, this particular fashion week has been getting its act together when it comes to inclusivity. From Rebekah Marine, a model with a bionic arm who rocked the runway this week to Madeline Stuart, a teen model who also happens to be NYFW’s first-ever model with Down syndrome, this major fashion event has been getting super-expansive with the notion of what it means to be a NYFW model.

Also, Lane Bryant’s #PlusNotEqual movement has been taking the week by storm (they straight-up SHUT DOWN Times Square yesterday for a body positivity rally), and have been bringing the issue of size inclusivity to everyone’s attention. We are so glad Project Runway joined the inclusivity jamboree and made such a beautiful and important statement on the runway.

Check out all the gorg designs from the history-making collection in the Insta video below:

Related:

#PlusIsEqual is the body-positivity movement taking over New York Fashion Week

The first model with Down syndrome at NYFW absolutely ruled the catwalk

(Image via Twitter)