Tampa fashion designer Ben Chmura will make his national debut on "Project Runway" when the Lifetime fashion series heads back to New York for Season 7 premiering Jan. 14.
The 30-year-old is known locally for his involvement with Sweatshop - a one-night-only multimedia exhibit held over Labor Day weekend at Czar in Ybor City - alongside area tastemakers Nessie Fernandez, Raven Reda and Kamran Mir.
Chmura debuted his fall/winter 2009 collection, Taliesin, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin estate and the eponymous Welsh mythological hero for a retro-futuristic look, at this year's Sweatshop extravaganza.
"This year we didn't hold back," Chmura told the Tribune in September. "I'm just pleased to be a part of something that has such an influence on the community. It's really encouraging."
The arts community has been hit especially hard by the struggling economy, he said, but added that he is sticking to his creative guns.
"It's been tough, there's no two ways about it," said Chmura, who sold his car earlier this year to support his passion. "Its hard, but this is the time to focus. I'm serious about this. It's what I love to do."
"Project Runway" host Heidi Klum, mentor Tim Gunn, judges Michael Kors, a leading designer, and Nina Garcia, fashion director for Marie Claire magazine, will be joined by 16 new designers, including Chmura, vying for a shot to make their way to Bryant Park and show their collection in front of top industry insiders during New York Fashion Week.
The winner receives an editorial feature in Marie Claire magazine, the opportunity to sell their line on Bluefly.com, a $50,000 technology suite by HP and Intel to create, design and run their business, and a cash prize of $100,000 from L'Oréal Paris to launch their own fashion line.
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