Alumni

FIDM Alumnus Kenneth Barlis to Compete on Project Runway Season 19

FIDM Alumnus Kenneth Barlis (pictured at left) will be one of 16 new designers from around the globe competing to win $250,000 and the opportunity to debut an original collection at New York Fashion Week on season 19 of Project Runway. The 32-year-old is the latest in a long line of FIDM-trained competitors such as Fashion Design co-chairperson Nick Verreos, past winner Leanne Marshall, and finalists Sergio Guadarrama and Candice Cuoco, among many others.   

Christian Siriano will return as the designers’ mentor and judges Nina Garcia, Brandon Maxwell, and Elaine Welteroth will also be back for the fashion competition series. Guest hosts will appear throughout the season, including Taraji P. Henson, Gigi Hadid, Jason Wu, Christopher John Rogers, Wisdom Kaye, Billy Porter, Andy Cohen, and former Project Runway host Karlie Kloss. Runway shows will take place at cultural destinations such as Lincoln Center and the hidden gardens at Rockefeller Center.

Kenneth, who hails from Zamboanga in the Philippines and is based in San Diego, California, established his brand in 2012. Since then, he’s dressed celebrities such as Carrie Underwood, Kehlani, and Offset and participated in San Diego Fashion Week. “Every collection, every season is different but I think the common thing for me is going back to being whimsical and very fairy tale-like,” he told the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Name Drop San Diego podcast. “I’m a very hopeless romantic.” 

Watch the premiere of Project Runway season 19 on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 9:00/8:00C on Bravo.

Categories:  Fashion Design Alumni