Q&A With Project Runway’s Daniel Feld & Wesley Nault
Feld, 26, and Nault, 24, are former contestants of season five’s Project Runway on Bravo, better known for their off-camera romance that blossomed on the show and went public after their departures. In a sit-down with the two over coffee in the heart of NYC’s fashion district, Feld and Nault reveal insight into their upcoming brand due out in Spring 2010, and life after reality television.
Nicole: What was it like to be a contestant on Project Runway?
Daniel: It was an honor and privilege to be chosen. However, you don’t know how you will be characterized after the editing is complete. The producers try to give everyone character traits.
Wes: I was really excited to be on the show, and I work well under pressure; but the pressure of cameras made it difficult at times.
D: Plus, we met each other and it lead to greater opportunities, like working on projects for the NY Yankees. We recently designed luxury box staff uniforms for the Yankees, and Jenny Steinbrenner (daughter of George Steinbrenner) loves the collection. And we are spokespeople for Brother International, the sewing and embroidery machine company that sponsors Project Runway.
W: Project Runway gave us overnight exposure.
N: How did you come up with the name WesFeld for your collection?
D: The New York Post actually gave us that title, but people on the set of P.R. were calling us that before, including Tim Gunn.
N: How would you describe the collection? Who are you designing these clothes for?
D: The clothes are ready-to-wear, avant-garde, real clothes for real women.
W: We are designing for a high-end luxury market; definitely aiming at an older, more mature consumer who values our inspiration. That inspiration is from things that wash up upon shore, like seashells, exoskeletons, starfish, sea glass. We are working with corals, opaque, and neutral colors.N: How did you come up with such a unique idea?
D: We were actually having a conversation about barnacles and their texture, and how nature can be embroidered onto a piece, and we wanted to replicate that in a modern way.
N: What do you hope your buyers will feel wearing your clothes?
W: We want the consumer to react positively to this collection. We want women to feel confident, sophisticated, and sexy (but not overtly sexy).
N: Where will your collection be sold?
D: We are selling at boutiques, like Saks and Bloomingdales. The buyers at Saks are excited, and the buyers at Bloomingdales responded well towards us. They are looking to work more with designers to develop little boutiques within their store. This September will be the first viewing for Saks and Bloomingdales, and then the whole collection is due out Spring 2010.
N: Describe your typical day as designers. What are some of your struggles?
W: We live and work in a studio in Long Island City. We work 24 hours, and we’re lucky if we get 2 or 3 hours of sleep. We take care of emails in the morning; source fabrics; meet with vendors for the show; and go on meetings with buyers. We are building a brand from the ground up, so aside from designing the collection, we are handling the business/administrative side.
D: We also take on mini projects on the side, like designing costumes for Audi and a Hilton hotel opening, as well as designing for weddings and men’s suits.
N: How do you sustain a relationship while working together? Do you find it poses problems or helps to build a stronger brand dynamic?
D: We compromise a lot and it’s a journey together, and we get to celebrate our success together. It is very motivating, especially because it is a hard industry and the creative energy takes a lot out of you.
W: Plus, we have a similar aesthetic, but different specialties. Daniel’s specialty is eveningwear and draping; mine is tailoring and mathematical. It is a well-rounded balance.
N: Who is your favorite designer(s)?
W: Balenciaga.
D: Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, and Charles James.
N: What is your obsession of the moment?
D: Bowties for men.
W: The airplane “fleet” pins that I designed.
N: Where do trendy designers like yourself tend to shop?
D: I shop mostly at Prada, J. Lindeberg, and Tokyo 7 in the East Village. You can find some great deals there. I found this Burberry shirt there.
W: I like Burberry, J. Lindeberg, as well, and Zara.
N: What advice do you offer to aspiring fashion designers?
D: Be your own artist and develop your own image. Don’t be afraid of rejection and be completely open-minded.
W: It’s important to put yourself out there. We put ourselves in front of cameras to be criticized by a panel of judges, as well as American viewers. People who get into this industry tend to only see the glamorous side of it, and not the business aspect. If you are building a brand, it’s not only about designing; but eventually you will get to that point where it will be solely about design.
