Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste: 'Project Runway' star's first fashion show was at NYFW
'Project Runway' returns with an all-new Season 19! The hit Bravo show features 16 budding designers from across the United States and abroad, each ready to prove they have what it takes to showcase their collection at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) and be the next great name in fashion. Each 90-minute episode tests the contestants’ creativity and technique with challenges such as producing a “hauntingly” chic look, to an unconventional cocktail dress!
Prajje Oscar Jean-Baptiste is one of the 16 designers who will be competing on 'Project Runway' Season 19. But what sets this designer apart from his fellow designers on the show is the fact that he has already managed to have the honor of presenting his collection at NYFW! The designers competing on the show will have to impress the judges- Nina Garcia, Elaine Welteroth, Brandon Maxwell, and Christian Siriano, to win the competition and take home the cash prize of $250,000. If you're curious to know more about Prajje then read on.
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Who is Prajjé Oscar Jean-Baptiste?
Prajje Oscar Jean-Baptiste is a 37-year-old fashion designer from Philadelphia. The Haitian-born designer's life was far from easy. After losing his mother when he was just a toddler, he was left in the care of his grandmother as his father moved to America. At the age of 13 he was adopted by a friend of his father and brought to Massachusetts. While in high school Prajje attended a class at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and found his calling in fashion. Soon he was Boston designer Andrea Alexander‘s assistant, helping with everything from sewing to organizing shows. He produced his first solo show as a high-school sophomore.
Encouraged by his adoptive parents, Prajje went to the prestigious Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and later launched his self-titled line, Prajjé Oscar. The designer got his first big break when he was selected to present his spring/summer 2012 collection at New York Fashion Week by Celebrity Top Chef Marcus Samuelsson. This opened the doors to several other fashion shows in Miami, Washington, D.C., Boston and New York, where he presented his exquisitely crafted collections. His work was also featured in Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, Elle, Rolling Stone, and Teen Vogue. Prajjé describes his design style as “retro chic, yet remarkably wearable” and is best known for his glamorous evening dresses and luxurious fabrics.
Prajje works with skilled artisans in Haiti to develop his one of a kind couture pieces and ready to wear collection with the intention of spreading awareness of the beauty and vibrancy of Haiti. Thanks to the pandemic, the designer had to shift his focus from his signature evening dresses to leisurewear and move his business online. We can't wait to watch Prajje's journey on the show.
'Project Runway' Season 19 premieres on Thursday, October 14, at 9 pm ET/PT.