Everyone is born with some kind of talent. Whether or not they choose to acknowledge their gifts, or have the courage to do something with them is a whole other story.
I got my first apprenticeship with Craig Robinson by bringing in an armful of garments to his Fifth Avenue atelier. He took my spunky attitude under his hardcore wing. I was immediately humbled by his precision and old-world tailoring techniques. “Josana! What the fuck are you doing?” he’d say. I remember trembling with the needle in my hand. His words were like a whip, and I was his worker-slave. Craig is a supremely talented designer and tailor, and it was a huge honor to work with him. I still consider him a friend and design mentor.
I fell upon my second apprenticeship while walking in the Lower East Side. I was walking down Ludlow Street when the prettiest girly dresses I had ever seen in the window of a shop caught my eye. I walked in and met an awkwardly sweet lady named Mary Adams. Her store was full of ruffles, corsets and petticoats. I told her that I loved her dresses and I wanted to work there. Sure enough, she hired me immediately. I sat in her store hand sewing and chit chatting the days away.
Sure enough, I got a call from a friend letting me know that auditions were in May. So I got my portfolio organized, put on my racecar suit and a giant feather in my hair, threw some dresses into a garment bag, and marched right over to the auditions for Season 5. It was intense and my knees knocked for the first time in my life. I can assure you that I was the only designer rocking a racecar suit and Christian did tell me “Josana, girl, you are fierce!” And then I heard nothing for a month.
I got a call on Thursday, July 3rd in the middle of the day from someone casting Project Runway 6. They told me that I was perfect for the show, and wanted me to get an audition video in their hands by Tuesday July 8th!
So I did. This is the video – type in the password blueberry to watch:
Josi Blue from Nicholas Forker on Vimeo
I got a call from that same casting person an hour after the video was viewed. I was invited to meet Tim Gunn for an interview as part of the Season 6 semi finals. I rolled into the Empire Hotel in NYC with my 3 gorgeous models only to hear “What’s up, Josana Blue!” The casting director was calling my name and welcoming me with a huge grin and a high-five.
I had made an awesome Josi original the day before to wear to the audition. It turned out fantastic. I styled my look with a giant feather, purple and pink hair flowers that matched the ruffles around the bottom of my bright yellow backless, quasi-cancan-dancer-meets-cindy- lauper-freaky-1950’s-housewife dress. And the casting people loved me!
I was able to charm them into cracking a few smiles and eventually give me some encouraging commentary, though.
