Project Runway designers try to make cut

On Project Runway, mentor Henry Roth passes on wisdom learnt in his years in the rag trade to Australia's up-and-coming fashionistas.

But at the season two launch of the Foxtel program the designer bowed to a more senior figure - his father.

Roth, who was born Henry Weinreich, introduced the contestants to his parents Aneta and Joseph Weinreich, who launched the Henri Josef label in Sydney in 1953.

While Roth and his father clearly share the gift of the gab, Mr Weinreich kept his advice simple and to the point.

"Be yourself, never worry about your competition, give good service to the customer, and don't skimp on good quality," he told the Project Runway designers at a fabric store in Sydney's Surry Hills.

Mr Weinreich also declared the biggest talent in the room, and indeed "the best designer in Australia", was his wife.

Project Runway Australia, which is based on the American show hosted by Heidi Klum, started last year with model Kristy Hinze at the helm.

The new series premieres on July 8, with 12 designers vying to take out the competition and showcase their collection at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.

Roth said now that the show is more established, the quality of designs has soared.

"The competitors are more headstrong at winning the competition, they know what's at stake, and they know it's going to make or break their careers," he said.

The 12 designers represent a broad range of fashion styles.

Twenty five-year-old Anthony Capon, who completed his Bachelor of Fashion Design at the Canberra Institute of Technology, is inspired by musicians and doesn't like to take fashion too seriously.

"I'd love to dress Bjork one day," he said, referring to the avant garde Icelandic singer and composer.

"I love the swan dress and I love that she can take the piss out of herself."

Gold Coast girl Yopie Stafurik wants to be the next Collette Dinnigan.

With a lot of big personalities competing for one prize, Stafurik admits tensions boil over at times.

"There was heaps of bitchiness, I have to be honest, but we've kind of laughed it off," she said.

Roth just says it comes with the territory.

"This is fashion. It's supersize egos, supersize creativity, and supersize bitchiness at times."

The 12 designers come from just three states - NSW, Victoria and Queensland - and Roth threw down a challenge to designers from the other states and territories.

"When you look at (Brisbane designer) Juli Grbac having won it last year, you can't deny it now, Queensland is the state to watch," he said.

"Brisbane is very avant garde. I think they're prepared to take more risks.

"However, Melbourne still is the fashion capital of Australia. It just oozes fashion, and Sydney is brash, it's glamorous, it's hard-hitting."

Project Runway Australia is on Arena on Thursday nights at 8.30pm.