aloha project runway!

project runway season 8 cast

the project runway premiere is just hours away and will be our chance to officially meet kama'aina designers andy south of waipahu and nyc-based ivy higa (who grew up in kona)! i have been a devoted PR fan since season one so you can imagine how absolutely thrilled i am to have not one but TWO hawaii designers who will be rocking the runway on tv's favorite fashion show.

this should be an exciting summer for the hawaii fashion community who are surely pinning their hopes that the PR spotlight will extend its glow across the pacific and prove to the rest of the world that island style has stepped into the modern day. of course, the h|h 'ohana already adores hawaii's style makers so let's have a look at the portfolios that impressed tim gunn to invite andy and ivy to join him inside the project runway workroom.

andy south fall 2010 ollection

ivy h. spring/summer 2010

gorgeous designs, no? in their casting sessions, andy showed a lovely coat with a collar referencing rice paddy workers and a blouse with a stunning sleeve detail inspired by chinese lanterns while the designs ivy presented were influenced by samurai warriors in both silhouette and pattern. it should be quite fun to watch both designers work hints from their pacific rim upbringings into their runway offerings!

let's just hope that michael kors reserves his witty zingers for the other designers and that heidi klum has no reason to "auf weidersehen" either andy or ivy off the runway. and, since hawaii always loves to cheer on our island friends, remember to check in every friday for an episode recap so we can talk story on how andy and ivy fared in the latest design challenge.

andy's links: casting video | closet tour | at home | photos

ivy's links: casting video | closet tour | at home | photos + website | facebook | twitter

project runway kicks off tonight on lifetime at 6p hst (oceanic channel 448) | 8p cst | 9p pst/est.

are you excited to follow andy and ivy this season?

{photo credit: 1/lifetime; 2/andy south; 3/eric hason}