Next in Fashion Season 2 : The Experience of a Lifetime
During our first model fitting on episode 1 of Next in Fashion S2.
The truth is, Next in Fashion came at a time in my life when I was confused about what I wanted to do with my career.. If you’ve seen any of my interviews about the show, you know I was incredibly open about this from the start. When the casting team originally reached out to me, I said “Who?? Me??? I don’t even know what I’m doing with my life!!” All I knew is I wanted to keep making work and I’d find a way to make a living out of it sooner or later. From the first phone call I had with the casting team, they told me they believed in me and that you only get opportunities you truly deserve. I was terrified, but I put my faith in them that this was something that would be great for me. I am so thankful every single day that I just went for it.
An image I submitted to casting of me working in my little studio.
If you watched the show, you may have heard me mention that I only started sewing “4 years ago” at the time of filming. It’s true. I was terrified that I didn’t have enough knowledge to be in that type of environment with some of the best designers in the country. Even though it was a tiny sliver of the experience of everyone else in the room, I knew I busted my booty in school and I could lean on the skills I did have. I worked so hard every single day of undergrad trying to soak up every ounce of knowledge I could. I think that dedication and drive to succeed (and a big stroke of good luck) is what allowed me the opportunities I had in such a short amount of time. I am thankful to my past self for putting my head down in college and always putting the work first, even when it felt like the last thing I wanted to do.
My friend, Grant, and I leaving the undergrad studios for the last time in May of 2021.
When I got the call that I’d be heading to NYC to film the show, I had a bit of an anxiety attack. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself and I was still struggling with even knowing if I deserved to be there. I had massive imposter syndrome, comparing myself to the previous season wondering what the hell they were thinking even wanting me involved. However, a little voice inside me told me I could do it and it somehow overpowered my fear to lead me on the journey of a lifetime…
Ethan, my now husband & then boyfriend, took this photo of me right after he gave me a pep talk when I was really nervous to leave for NYC. It was like 4am here to catch a very early flight…
Soon enough, we were on set starting our first challenge… this was the day we met Gigi and Tan… from our first conversation (much of which was left out of the edit), they told me how much I deserved to be there and how it wasn’t luck but instead hard work… I felt so welcomed by them and so proud to be standing in front of two change-makers in the industry.
The first time we met Tan & Gigi, I remember actually screaming at this entrance…
The first day of filming before changing into my outfit for the episode… bathroom selfie feeling all the jitters behind my face shield!
Fast forward to surviving a few challenges and I was having fun… like serious fun. Getting to make work on fancy machines with unlimited fabrics and materials, surrounded by other incredible designers… Meeting Donatella Versace herself??? Seriously, what more could you want as a young designer? I was seriously having the time of my life. I’d do it over 248310413 million times if I could.
Hearing our challenge for episode 2… I loved how much color was in this episode, not to mention how fun the plants were!
Let’s be real though, reality tv is no joke when it comes to emptying out your baggage, even if they don’t show it all in the edit. They ask about every last detail of your life and want you to elaborate on all of it - it's emotional and sometimes the questions get a little overwhelming. For me, I had just lost my grandpa suddenly about a month and a half before filming and I cried WAY more than they showed in the final cut. I was tearing up at the most random times and feeling so emotional and grateful knowing he’d be proud of me. It even became a joke with the cast, that I of course played along with, because it was pretty hilarious being my little ball of emotions. I was even crying at other people crying… Let me tell you, they saved my ass in that edit. It was usually just a grateful emotional cry - as you may have seen in my exit interview… I just couldn’t stop my eyes from leaking at that point in my grief. I had a new perspective on how much I appreciated life and opportunities like NIF after my grandpa left us.
If you watched this episode, you know I got roasted for this look… And with a smile on my face too!! Lol…
I quickly became close with the other designers. We’d have long talks in the green room and on the bus to and from set and the hotel. We’d support each other and celebrate our wins while also being there for each other during our lows and eliminations. I think we became such fast friends because we all had common goals and outlooks on life. At the time of filming, Next in Fashion was a complete secret, complete with lots of NDA’s… we only had each other to talk about the things we were going through. It made us form a bond and quickly as we leaned on each other throughout the process. We even made a groupchat where we shared countless laughs sending each other memes and reflecting on the insane times we had. I love living in Ohio, don’t get me wrong, but I hate that I’m not in the same zip code as any of the other designers from the show… I can tell you I’d be calling them up for dinner dates every other night. The best group of people and energy to be around.
Amari, Des, Bao, Meg, and I after a long day of filming. We’d all go out for drinks after every runway show day. This was actually the night I got eliminated! As you can see, we had nothing but support & love for one another.
I was so inspired by the backgrounds and industry experience of the rest of the designers, from day 1 I just felt lucky to be included in the bunch. The talent just poured out of every last person on that set. From all of the crew to every person in the cast, it was an amazing group of people to be a part of and work with every day.
The chaos of the workroom during episode 2 - such a fun challenge! You can see a sliver of me just to the right of Qaysean, behind that plant! Lol.
Funny enough, I never really viewed it as a competition… Looking back, that might have been my downfall considering the entire point was that it was literally a competition. I couldn’t help it though, I was like a wide-eyed puppy just blown away by the experience of it all. I was so excited about the chance to create in a community again, it felt like I was back in school with the hustle and bustle of the studio and everyone running to their machines to meet the deadlines. Plus, the cast was just so supportive of one another that it didn’t feel like we were even competing… It more of just felt like we were uplifting one another to be the best that we could be in that moment. When someone’s sewing machine would act up or a needle would break, you could count on someone being there to help you - even if that meant taking time away from their own look. I loved every second of it.
All of us in NYC for the premiere of NIF at a private dinner hosted by Tan & Gigi.
At the time of the show, I had only ever done one runway before. Due to COVID, my senior runway presentation was canceled so I didn’t get any runway experience in college. I was able to do one show during Atlantic City Fashion Week just a few months before filming. Then, just like that I had 4 professional runways under my belt with insane production quality and top notch models and hair and makeup teams. I couldn’t have felt more lucky.
My team’s looks on the runway during episode 2!
As the challenges came and went I felt a refreshed sense of creativity and inspiration to start my own brand - something I was scared of for so long… I never felt like anyone would be interested in buying my work or that it was something that I could achieve by myself. I’ve realized though that fear only hinders you from achieving great things… You truly never know until you try. That change in perspective has allowed me to take the chance on myself. It’s been a long time coming and is still in the works… Fashion really is incredibly expensive - especially when you care about the quality of your garments and the treatment of those who work for and with you.
Being eliminated honestly came with more pride than disappointment, I’ve watched many reality tv exits and never in my life did I think I’d be doing one… Of course I cried, because apparently that’s just part of the reality tv gig. LOL… I’ll never forget the conversations I shared with both Tan and Gigi the day after I was eliminated when I was in the green room. They both went out of their way to make me feel special and tell me they believed in me. They are both truly such warm and inviting people who are beyond genuine in their care for others. I am so grateful that they are exactly who I hoped they’d be and more.
Fast forward to celebrating the premiere of NIF in NYC with the cast, we had an absolute blast… Netflix gave us the real celebrity treatment with a premiere party, a Times Square billboard, and even a private car for the night that took us to the party and out to bars afterwards before we returned to the hotel. I of course took Mama B along for the ride… she even stayed out with us for the after parties!! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it millions more times, I am so lucky to have the mom that I do… she is everything!!
My mom is a huge fan of Queer Eye so she obviously was SO excited to meet Tan at the premiere party. I was so happy to share this night with her!!
The show came out in March of 2023 and instantly brought with it opportunities that I’d never thought I’d receive this early in my career. I had an influx of custom project inquiries, I was being asked to be a part of big photoshoots, did a few podcasts, and even had some PR boxes sent my way! It was really cool to see how people found my work after the show and wanted to stick around to hear more about me and my life. I even received fan art.. That was a crazy realization that people around the world were watching the show and somehow resonating with my story. I got dm’s from so many people saying they always wanted to sew but felt like it was “too late” for them to start and that I inspired them to go buy their first sewing machine in their 30’s. That to me was cooler than anything.
The group photo we took at the premiere party in NYC! Everyone was so giddy and kept cracking up while they were trying to get us in position… not sure it it was the excitement or the free cocktails. Shot by the incredibly talented @thetylertwins.
I also had a sort of mini local press tour. Being from a small town just outside of Cincinnati, OH, we love when cool stuff happens to those in our community. Everyone knows Ohioans love an Ohioan success story.
I was lucky enough to be interviewed by local news outlets, did a few radio appearances, and was even invited to speak to art students at local high schools. I also taught a free workshop on fashion/costume design with the Ghostlight Stage Co. I really enjoyed sharing my experience with the community in hopes of inspiring other young people to chase their dreams.
My friends and family in my hometown also threw me an epic premiere party at a local theater. I felt so lucky. It has truly been an amazing experience and has humbled me so deeply. I am so grateful for what NIF has given me.
A photo Ethan snapped of me during my interview with Cincinnati’s Fox 19 news.
If you haven’t seen the show yet, you can check it out on Netflix! It’s a great watch for some background noise while you’re working on your own creative projects or to provide some inspiration when you’re stuck in a creative rut. For more behind-the-scenes from the show & my thoughts behind each look, check out my instagram!
Until the next crazy adventure!!
xo, Eliana