Week 4: Survive in Style

This week's episode starts with a twist: Karlie presents the next challenge only moments after the runway elimination. The designers will be going to an undisclosed location that represents where fashion began. While the designers are expecting to go somewhere foreign or exotic, they wind up at a campsite.

The challenge this week is to create high fashion looks that are "survival chic." In addition to it being an unconventional materials challenge, the designers will work, sleep, and do the runway show outdoors, which has never been done before in the history of Project Runway. The designers were given 20 minutes to forage for whatever materials they could collect from outside with items like sleeping bags, ropes, maps, leaves, umbrellas, et cetera.

THE RUNWAY

Hits:

Hester Sunshine

Hester's inspiration for this look was an alternative fairy forest creation. The judges thought this look was playful, joyous, and loved that she designed a corset with a glue gun. Brandon said, "It took my breath away when it walked out."

Rakan Shams Aldeen

Rakan was inspired by healing and bandages. The judges thought that his look was impeccably styled, chic, and well-edited. Nina said, "You took something that was really practical and gave us something that was really fashionable."

Winner: Renee Hill!

Renee was inspired by the idea of a scout leader. The judges loved this look so much that Brandon wanted to know where he could get it. Elaine said, "In the words of Destiny's Child, this is a survivor."

Misses:

Sonia Kasparian

Sonia's inspiration was a post-apocalyptic Amazonian princess. Sonia's model actually tripped on the runway because Sonia did not trim the lining. As the judges are critiquing the look, pieces of tape come undone in the wind. Karlie, unlike the rest of the judges, liked this look. Brandon, however, hated the look so much that he said, "All I want to do is eat a baked potato."

Kovid Kapoor

Kovid was inspired by functionality and just wanted his model to be comfortable. Even though Christian and Marni warned Kovid that there was too much going on, Kovid insisted on keeping the look as is because he is a conceptual artist. The judges did not like the fact that Kovid described this look as being all about functionality when it was not functional at all. Nina said, "I'm not buying this whole conceptual design."

Out: Afa Ah Loo

Afa was inspired by his Polynesian culture and fishing. The judges thought this look was pretty skimpy on clothing, especially for a challenge about survival clothing. Karlie said he, "could have been so much more innovative with the materials."

So, was Project Runway Season 17 Episode 4 in or out? This week, I'm going to go with out because the judges seemed to really dislike Kovid's design, the fact that he doesn't understand conceptual, and that he hides behind being an artist. Despite this, the judges decided to sent Afa home.