While you're breathlessly waiting for our opinions on the second half of Rami's collection, head on over to AfterElton and EW and check out what chrome dome himself has to say:
AfterElton
AE: Something that comes up frequently in discussions of your work is that you were too good, too polished, already too successful. In fact, Tim Gunn made a comment that this was literally the first season there could have been any real competition for you. Do you think that you were being held to a higher standard because of that?
Rami Kashou: I think I'm successful in terms of creating a brand that is acknowledged, and a reputation, yet still needing backing in terms of finance. So it's a question of successful in the PR department, in reaching out to certain celebrities and making collections, staying above water and doing what I love, but still waiting for that moment when I can have investors behind my company.
AE: I noticed when Tim visited you in Los Angeles on the second to last episode, you introduced your partner as one of your best friends, rather than as your boyfriend or partner. Our readers all commented on that and I was wondering — were you hesitant to be identified as an out gay contestant, and what was the reason you didn't identify your partner that way?
RK: You can't judge a book by its cover. People hear something, and they immediately assume that I was trying to hide that he was my boyfriend. We are together. He is my boyfriend. But here's the thing: this has been a very difficult experience, and we were split up during that time. We had some major issues. And I've been so consumed in my work.
EW
EW: On the subject of draping: Do you feel like you were portrayed in the right light in regards to that throughout the season? You mentioned it was only four of 11 challenges...
RK: I think it was used in a way that... It was a marketing thing. It was a way to stereotype me to make my part in the show more controversial. It's just very simple: Go to ramikashou.com and you will see that I do so much more than draping. You have to have a signature, and I'm very proud of it. It was used on the show to create controversy, and some people will eat it up and fall for it, and those who know better, know better. It's that simple.
The other thing that the judges dinged you for was colors. Do you regret using the colors you used in your finale line?
RK: Absolutely not. I'd rather show more color than less. Quite frankly, every season is about new colors. It's about new ideas. If they chose a more black collection than a collection that had more color, I don't think that's a negative thing. How can you criticize color? You might be a fan of green; I might be a fan of blue. It's a personal take. If you look on the runways, the magenta color is a very common color for this coming season. I would not change my choice of colors. Absolutely not.
[Photos: WireImage/Getty Images]
32 comments:
Thanks for the interview links! Always interesting to find out more about the designers.
Rami sometimes "answers" questions like a politician. He doesn't answer the question, he talks about what he wants to talk about.
Rami was "waiting for that moment when I can have investors behind my company".
I don't deny that there's a serious business side to Fashion, but for me....it's more exciting and, YES, inspiring to see competitors who are still just dreaming for a chance to make a collection that 'the world' will see.
I just miss those starry-eyed amateurs talking about Fashion Week as though it were paradise.
Is Project Runway still a competition for aspiring designers, or it becoming JUST a marketing showcase?
I do NOT mean this as an assault on Rami or his designs. I'm only wondering if the fundamental nature of the entire SHOW is changing.
-Ignatz
That's what you get for hiring those professionals to be on the show. Bring me raw talent!! That's far more interesting than a self-absorbed, self-important well-established designer.
I'm pretty charmed lately by Rami. He was always very clear about his aims and business sense - I can see how that can turn people off, but I like his clear, gracious answers, congratulate him on his success, and even forgive him for being mean to Sweet Pea. I also liked the way he answered the question about identifying his boyfriend as such... Poor guys, all that pressure on their personal lives that we watchers don't even consider.
Why is it that this very talented man bores me so?
Yikes about the boyfriend! That explains things and it's unfortunate that had to be addressed. It brings up the fact there these people may be low rung celebs but they can suffer from the down side of it.
I agree with Bill there is a vibe to Rami's interviews liken to a shrewd politician. He can be polite, charming and gracious but there are vague and veiled answers.
He covered his tracks about his wearability comments towards Christian but he also implied that Christian's situation of being fresh out of school was the deciding factor for Rami losing the contest.
Then again I really don't have any seriously negative feelings about Rami as a person. He may come off as a little snobbish sometimes but I find hisinterviews less perturbing than some of the ones Jack or designers from past seasons have made.
Frank
I'm sorry to hear that he and his partner were having so many problems. I can see how that would happen in the context of an experience like this.
I hope they're doing better now.
Anne
Bill, new photo?! Now I have to go back and figure out which one is you again, and I JUST had it straight!
Anne
poor guy, he obviously doesn't have a clue about colors. the problem wasn't that he used colors at all, or even that were were reds or greens or whatever - the problem was that the exact shades he used were dated and/or ugly and didn't correspond well with the dresses.
I give Rami credit for not going on about "wearability" with Christian, via interviews.
However, I will: "moss green dress" sounds a lot more wearable than "vision-obscuring neck ruff".
A year of so ago, before this edition of PR, Rami was on the Tyra Banks Show, showing a few of his designs. Of course, not knowing he would be a contestant on PR, I didn't pay much attention to his mini collection. I guess it was pretty unmemorable, because I can't remember anything about it. I do recall Tyra saying he was one of her favorite "up and coming" designers.
----StkrShock
I think Rami deserves a lot of credit for not divulging every detail of his personal life and for choosing not to fully answer certain questions. If he wants to be evasive about certain subjects and give vague or veiled answers that’s fine with me. He has every right to keep his private life private if he so chooses.
How was he "used" for controversy about his draping? I mean, it wasn't like the whole Laura-Plunging-Neckline complaint where she only used a small number of times, Rami really did use draping 5 times (according to the Project Rungay boys.) So I don't see it.
Oh, that makes me sad about Rami and his BF. Poor boy, if he needs some comfort I'm sure I can find something for him to drape!
I do think he's really quite talented, and I love the work on his website, but his Fashion Week collection just fell flat for me. He psyched himself out and didn't stay true to who he was.
" Bill said...
Rami sometimes "answers" questions like a politician. He doesn't answer the question, he talks about what he wants to talk about."
That is because he has likely consulted with a PR professional who taught him that. When you are working the media for publicity and public relations for your business (and that IS the only smart reason to be interviewed), you are supposed to stay on message and not get dragged into negativity.
He wants to get it out there that he is looking for investors, but if, in the same interview, he went on about the other designers, and how he was robbed, and other stuff that might have happened, he would turn off the very people he is using the media to try to reach.
That's not as much fun for readers looking for dish, but it is smart for his aims.
--GothamTomato
I definitely feel for Rami, especially regarding his boyfriend. But as Tom and Lorenzo so clearly understand, PR is not primarily a show about fashion, or making fashion, or a showcase for those making fashion, or furthering a designer's career/business. It's a Reality TV show. It's designed for drama - to hook us (and we fans are hooked!), to tell a story, to entertain. Rami knew when he auditioned (or should have known), like everyone else, that you sign away your right to tell the story, to your "personal life" as it stands up to and during the taping of the season. So while I wish him well, and I do understand his desire to tell his side of things - that's not what you get when you sign the contract. Hell, I auditioned on cam for the (never-produced) TGGTS men's edition, and I got scared by the forms I had to sign, even down to telling them how many and how big my closets were (and this was just the beginning).
You bring up a very good point GothamTomato. It behooves rami from a business point of view to maintain a certain public image to court investors.
Christian can be more colorful since that's the image that was presented already on TV and that's part of the brand you're getting.
Personally I think that's where Jack is falling short in the interviews. Some of his snarky comments about the other designers may make for an entertaining read but they could make some investors hesitant in wanting to deal with him.
The man is not an untalented designer, I wish he would make more effective use of his time in the spotlight in order to get his own collection out there. After all Victorya managed it and she did not have even have half the media attention he had prior to the show being aired
Frank
Great interviews! Thanks, guys. I wish him the best!
he says he does more than drape, and tells you to go to his website so he can prove it... but i did. look at his summer spring line, and tell me that's not primarily draped clothing.
i love the look, it's beautiful and flowy. but i'm a size two, and my ass would still look the size of texas.
If anyone is interested, here is Rami's hot boyfriend's website:
http://www.jeffmarchelletta.com/
Rami continues to impress me.
Great interviews, very professional. Addresses questions about his personal life honestly and brings the conversation back to the work which is first and foremost.
He doesn't slam and get "bitchy" regarding the other designers, but also does not compromise on his opinion.
Just an all around good guy. Smart. Creative. Talented. Driven. - and yes Attractive.
I'm really hooked. I think he's going to go far.
oh my god I'm so behind...too many posts bitches hahaha how the fuck am I going to get any work done around here? I'm kidding I'm LOVING this.
Interesting questions and definitely interesting answers, and that's all this homo here is going to say.
Lots of interesting stuff here. I like this guy.
Some things Christian (and many PR viewers) should keep in mind: Rami knows that celebrities wearing your designs is good PR, but that's not where the money is.
He's got a boutique/studio, but it's not Beverly Hills (or even more glamorous west-LA) etc. I'd like to know more about how he's built his business up to this point and appreciate that he started from scratch.
-- desertwind
I enjoyed reading the interviews. Thanks for links. I would never find them otherwise.
I like what Rami said about the color critique. I really liked the magenta with black.
I have also seen it popular for this Fall Winter season.
He does have class.
The judges look for thing to nitpick on, Christian's all black and repetitive, Jillian with a scattered collection and Rami with some colors some may not like.
It's all subjective if you ask me. All 3 of them were fantastic.
Ah, so his boyfriend's an actor. Makes sense, then, that he doesn't want to bring his boyfriend into the public limelight if there's any possibility that it may hinder the guy's career.
Still think his stuff's boring but he does seem to exhibit good business sense, is making his own way in the business and seems pretty even-keeled and that's got to stand him in good stead much more than a shock of fashion brilliance that fizzles quickly.
He's definitely got industry longevity in his future so good on him just for that.
Oh dear he has someone already.
My heart breaks :)
Awesome! Thank you for the links, guys.
Rami is an amazing designer and a great guy too. Thank you for the links. I'm glad you guys are doing more news, interviews and stuff like that.
I think Rami has used this show as a free infomercial for his clothing line. I love him, his clothes are gorgeous but I feel he's taken a place that should have gone to an unestablished designer.
If Rami was so established he would not have done the show.
I'm so happy for him.
Bravo Rami!
How was he "used" for controversy about his draping? I mean, it wasn't like the whole Laura-Plunging-Neckline complaint where she only used a small number of times, Rami really did use draping 5 times (according to the Project Rungay boys.) So I don't see it.
I agree. I don't know how this could be drape-gate or anything when he's the one who continued to insist on draping everything except for the Hershey's challenge. Did Tim say, "Rami, you must drape this challenge so we can get get it on tape and then slam you with it?" I don't think so.
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