Fashion Reverie Exclusive: “Project Runway Junior’s” Matt Sarafa

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart started composing by age three, Pablo Picasso painted Picador at eight years of age, physicist and Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie taught herself French and Russian by age four, gymnast Nadia Comaneci won three Olympic gold medals by the age of fourteen, and Tatum O’Neal won an Oscar at age ten. All these prodigies demonstrated intellectual and creative brilliance at a very early age, and while some of these prodigies and others continued on their trajectory toward creative, physical, and intellectual superiority, others retracted and floundered.

Still, what’s evident about most child prodigies is not only their early talent but also support systems that facilitate the development of their intellectual and creative gifts. “Project Runway Junior” is attempting to provide that support to your fashion design prodigies.

Though this new and more youth-focused version mirrors the more well known, 10-year “Project Runway” reality competition show, “Project Runway Junior” seems fresher and essentially more joyous without some of the bad-tempered, over competitiveness that occasionally pops up on the veteran show. And without doubt, the fresh-faced, bright-eyed designers are not only infectious, but are also incredibly talented prodigies in their own right.

Matt Sarafa is one of the shining young beacons of design promise of “Project Runway Junior.”  Though he has appeared on Lifetime’s “Threads” as a fashion design competitor a few seasons ago—at the tender age of 15—he is still ebullient, passionate, and a magnet of charm and fashion-forward sensibility.

On the eve of the premiere of “Project Runway Junior,” Matt Sarafa spoke with Fashion Reverie about his design aesthetic, his passion for fashion, and his future projections. Oh, to be so young again!!

Fashion Reverie: Now, you were on of “Project Runway Threads” previously, how did you get on ”Project Runway Junior”?

Matt Sarafa: I heard about the auditions for “Project Runway Junior” and it sounded so amazing. It sounded better than “Threads,” because on “Threads” you were only on for one episode and they picked a winner every episode. “Project Runway Junior” is similar to the regular “Project Runway.”

That said; I put together a design portfolio of some of my current work and I auditioned and I got the call that I had made. I was ecstatic because this is always what I wanted to do.

FR: How did you get involved in fashion?

Matt Sarafa: I stumbled upon watching “Project Runway” and the show immediately caught my attention.  I had always loved painting and drawing.  When I saw on “Project Runway” how designers are able to take their design concepts and take it from sketches to an actual garment I knew immediately that this is something I was meant to do. I started sketching and sewing and here I am today.

FR: Have you had any formal training?

Matt Sarafa: I have taken a couple of sewing classes, but I don’t attend a fashion and design high school like some of my competitors on the show.  So, I haven’t had a lot of formal training; I have done most of this on my own.

FR: Do you plan to go to fashion school after high school?

Matt Sarafa: I do plan to go to college and study fashion design. My top choice is Rhode Island School of Design and Savannah College of Art and Design. I am now submitting applications to those select schools. It has been so crazy with the show, my last year in high school and getting ready for college. It is tough to balance it all.

FR: Who are your favorite designers?

Matt Sarafa: I love designers that are edgy and think out of the box. My all time favorite is Alexander McQueen. I also love Givenchy, Versace, and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

FR: How would you describe your design aesthetic? 

Matt Sarafa: The overarching approach to my design principle is edgy, and pushing boundaries. Though as of late I have gotten into urban street wear and clothes that would appeal to the average consumers. I understand that everyone is not going to wear a red-carpet gown, so I am looking to craft garments for regular consumers.

FR: Now, you guys are making clothes very quickly on “Project Runway Junior.” How difficult is it to come up with a design and execute it so quickly?

Matt Sarafa: I am a perfectionist and it was very difficult to let go of that while filming “Project Runway Junior.”  You only have one day with the challenges and they are very strict with the time limits.  I had to accept that not every design is going to be 100 percent perfect and every seam doesn’t have to be absolutely straight. I definitely struggled with time management and my obsession with perfection.

FR: Who was your favorite judge on the show?

Matt Sarafa: All the judges are amazing. However, if I had to choose a favorite it would be Kelly Osborne or Hannah Davis. Hannah Davis is so sweet and I look up to Kelly Osborne as a fashion icon. She is so cool and her hair is amazing.

That said; all four judges were extremely nice and Tim Gunn was so supportive and he has been my idol since I started watching “Project Runway.” Getting coached by Tim Gunn and getting his critiques on my designs and my design process was worth its weight in gold.

FR: Could you talk about funny moments from the show?

Matt Sarafa: We are working under extreme conditions and getting very little sleep between filming. Coupled with having to create and execute runway worthy garments for every episode made for some pretty funny moments. We were all so tired that we couldn’t really think straight. We all made a lot of clumsy mistakes, myself included.

The whole experience was really fun. And there are lots of funny moments that you will see on the show. We did go to Mood to buy fabrics and other moments on the show I cannot talk about. Your readers will just have to wait and see.

FR: How is “Project Runway Junior” comparable to “Project Runway”?

Matt Sarafa:  Being on “Project Runway Junior” helped me understand what designers on “Project Runway” go through. People make fun of people crying on reality competition shows but these shows are so hectic and intense that your emotions are always right on the surface. You are working so hard around the clock, and you have to improve significantly through out the competition and continue to make good product.  It is really tough and now I understand how people can have mental breakdowns. I almost had one!!

FR: What have you learned about fashion and what have you learned about yourself by being a contestant on ”Project Runway Junior”?

Matt Sarafa:  Getting mentored by fashion icons is so valuable and has helped me grow as a designer. I loved getting constructive criticism from the judges because that is the best way to grow and learn. It was a great learning opportunity.

Tim Gunn’s critiques were really helpful. One thing that Tim Gunn said to me that has really stuck with me is that simplicity is just as powerful as lots of embellishments. Now, I really step back and examine my designs to see if there are too many ideas going on at the same time.

FR: What’s next for you?

Matt Sarafa:  I just launched my own site, mattsarafa.com. My hope is to launch my own fashion line and my own cosmetics line. I do have a youtube channel, “Make Up by Matt,” where I give makeup, fashion, and beauty tips. I also have a few projects and collaborations I cannot talk about right now. But, if your viewers follow me on social media, they can get more details.

—William S. Gooch