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Minneapolis Designer Making a Splash After Project Runway

By Nicole Crosbie

Minnesota designer, Danielle Everine, competed on Project Runway this past season in hopes of becoming America's next top designer. Everine is the second Minneapolis designer to make their way to New York to compete on one of the most popular fashion related shows on television. While she didn't make it to Fashion Week (eliminated in episode 5), Everine is eager to continue her fashion career back in the Twin Cities. WCCO recently sat down with the designer to talk about all things fashion.

WCCO: Tell us about your design background and how you got started.

Danielle Everine: I was always interested in clothing as expression and was never satisfied with garments that I found in stores. At a young age-from about 8 to 10- I started sewing clothing for myself because I was interested in expressing myself that way. I really taught myself how to sew and I continued to get better and better. In college, I studied fine arts. I was interested in the art of fashion and how clothing works in our society. I was able to take a costuming class where I learned the terminology and learned to read draping and tailoring books. From there, I was able to excel and teach myself beyond what I was able to learn in college.

WCCO: What makes you so passionate about fashion?

DE: I think clothing can really represent us at a first glance to the people around us. You can have clothing that really shows who you are and can empower you to do great things. Clothes can show people that you're a strong, powerful person and it makes you feel much more capable of what you thought you once were.

WCCO: Tell us a little bit more about your own personal style, what sets you apart for other designers out there?

DE: I love garments that are beautiful, yet functional. Pretty much everything that I wear I can hop on my bike or motorcycle or in the winter hop on my skis and go anywhere, but at the same time the clothes are beautiful. People would look at my clothes and think that I'm adventurous, yet elegant at the same time. It's a tricky dichotomy that I like to play with.

WCCO: How did you decide to apply for Project Runway?

DE: I got an email one day out of the blue suggesting that I apply [for the show]. At the time I was working as a designer at Target and I really loved it and I thought, 'I don't know if I should do Project Runway because I love my job and I would have to give up something I like doing.' I started discussing it with people and they were like, 'You should do something crazy and who knows what this opportunity could bring? You should do it.' So, I submitted a video and I kept getting called back and it just kind of snowballed from there.

WCCO: What was your reaction when you found out you made it on the show?

DE: Since I had gotten such a positive response, I was thinking, 'Yep I'm probably going to go through with this,' but it was amazing. It's indescribable how you feel. It's kind of unreal.

WCCO: What was your family's reaction to the news? Were they surprised?

DE: I called my fiancé and told him and he was like, 'Of course you did.' He wasn't surprised at all -- he's so supportive. My parents have been incredibly supportive of what I do all along too. The really cute thing is, they weren't really sure what the show was, but were like, 'Whatever it is go for it and we're very proud and we'll have to tune in now.'

WCCO: Now that the show is over, what's next for you?

I'm going to continue to sell my work at Cliché in Uptown and I'm thinking about starting a handbag line. I'm also pursuing a design company with my soon-to-be husband, David, and we sort of hope to hope to be this generations' Charles and Ray Eames of design.

Nicole Crosbie loves fashion and shopping, she has lived in Minnesota her whole life and loves finding new places to shop, eat and explore in the Twin Cities. She has degrees in public relations and psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

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