Somebody had to go first, and on Wednesday’s Project Runway season premiere, it was Jerry Tam. The 32-year-old established designer –he owns his own line, FORM–sent down a raincoat and dress combo made out of shower curtains that judge Michael Kors likened to a scary nurse. Calling from New York, Tam says he’s still shocked that he was auf’d first. “I had a lot of friends that texted me – and they just couldn’t believe that I was eliminated first after seeing some of the garments, such as Blayne’s and Stella’s,” he said. But Tam says he’s made peace with the decision – even if he still thinks his garment was better and more innovative than everything else out there. –Brian Orloff
Was it exciting to take part in the grocery store challenge? It has such a history on the show.
When I heard [what the challenge was], I was kind of upset in the beginning because I thought they would have a more creative opportunity for us to design. But lo and behold, I had a great time with it. I understood the challenge. I picked out some great things . . . that Tim Gunn wasn’t aware of. When he came around and said everyone was using tablecloths, mine was a shower curtain and a few other items [like] cheesecloth. So, in the end I had a good time with it – and made a wearable garment. I thought my model looked very chic on the runway. So I was completely shocked that I was eliminated.
What was your reaction to the judges’ feedback?
I kind of held my head up high and just wished Stella would go before I did, and just left it up to the gods. Concerning their criticism, I didn’t get the criticism that I normally receive. I just got really weird opinionated criticisms like “freakish nurse.” I’ve never seen a freaky nurse in my life. Or a killer. Those things are something I didn’t really welcome because it wasn’t true criticism of the craftsmanship, the quality, the details.
What did you think about Kelli’s winning dress?
The irony is, I did buy coffee filters. And if that’s all it took to make the winning dress, I should have made some coffee, put it on a girl and used the filters and just slapped them on there. It was really cool to look at – but the innovation and styling behind it, it wasn’t all that.
When you were standing on the runway, did you have any inkling it was your time to go?
I first looked at my model and we were like, ‘What are we doing here? We’re stuck between a whipstitched garbage bag and a diaper.’ Literally that was in our heads . . . I made real garments. I was really blindsided and anxiety hit me – and I just didn’t even know what to think or do. I walked off the runway in disbelief. I’m still in disbelief. But now that I know all the characters and what the challenges are really about, I’m OK with it in the end.
Jay Sullivan/Bravo
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