J A C K S O N , M I S S I S S I P P I
Growing up in a small town in West Virginia, Aaron Michael always knew he was different. He was never interested in the same things as other kids his age- he had a passion for fashion.
“I loved everything that society told me not to love, but that was just who I was.” Said Aaron Michael, Fashion Designer and contestant on Project Runway’s latest season.
Five years ago, Aaron moved to Mississippi with no clue what he was going to do here. What he did know, was that he wanted to be closer to his sister that lives in Madison, and to be able to watch his nephews grow up.
“I was working as Director of Sales at hotel, when I had this urge to breakout my old sewing machine. I just started making one or two costumes for fun, and then it turned into working 40 plus hours making costumes on top of working full time at the hotel.”
Little did he know that picking back up on his old hobby would open the door for so much more. Aaron had the opportunity to debut some of his pieces at New Orleans Fashion Week, where he was able to get his foot in the door of the fashion world. A week and a half after fashion week went by and Aaron quit his job at the hotel to pursue fashion designing full time.
“You can take the boy out of the dress, but you can’t take the dress out of the boy,” Aaron said this quote truly applies to him and how he has always felt about his love for fashion.
Aaron describes his brand as timeless, easy, and effortless. He is passionate about designing and creating pieces that are seasonless, this way they can be worn no matter the time of year and fit a variety of shapes and sizes. He is also devoted to creating custom designs for his different clients. He can design anything from a bridal gown to pageant dresses, and anything in between. Aaron sells his pieces on his website, where you can also reach out to him about a collaboration.
Being on Project Runway taught him so much about who he is as a designer. Competing in many different challenges with limited time for each, Aaron created gorgeous looks this season. There was an unconventional materials challenge, where he designed and created a dress out of straws and plastic mats from a cocktail lounge. Another iconic moment on the show was when he was paired with one of the Real Housewives of Potomac and created a custom look for the Housewives Reunion. He nailed that look and stole Gizelle Bryant’s heart, where she publicly told Aaron he would be creating more looks for her in the future.
Aaron has spent years watching the show, so it was truly a dream to have the opportunity to be on the show. Part of the audition process was for him to design and submit three original looks. On his walk around Fondren to go buy fabric for his submission, he found himself inspired by the signage for Walkers Drive- In, Campbell’s Bakery, and the outside of the Fondren Corner building. This was all in the middle of the pandemic, so Aaron was really feeling the effects of this. He craved the liveliness of the typically busy streets of Fondren, so he channeled all of that into his designs for the audition.
Aaron got the call on April 28th and left for filming on May 9th. He said one of his favorite memories from the season was the very first day of the competition. The contestants stood on the greenery at the Lincoln Center in New York City, and people bustled about while they were filming. Aaron said people would walk by and stop to take photos of them, not even knowing who they were but they snapped a shot anyway because cameras were filming. He said it made him feel like he was somebody.
“I got to live out my dream and become the person I have always wanted to be,” said Aaron.
Fun fact about Aaron’s wardrobe from the season, on every episode Aaron was wearing pieces from Swell-O-Phonic. One of the more recognizable pieces was his “Jackson, Jackson, Jackson” t-shirt from Chane’s Studio.
Aaron said Mississippi has been so good to him over the years. It’s so important to support small business, especially after the crazy few years we have all been living in.
“Shop local and support local people,” said Aaron, “if we don’t then we will all be living in a land full of Walmart’s.”
Aaron has truly made Mississippi proud, finishing sixth out of sixteen contestants, and he said that life has not been the same since his return from the show. He’s overwhelmed with the love and support he has received on social media from his fellow Mississippians.
“I loved everything that society told me not to love, but that was just who I was.” Said Aaron Michael, Fashion Designer and contestant on Project Runway’s latest season.
Five years ago, Aaron moved to Mississippi with no clue what he was going to do here. What he did know, was that he wanted to be closer to his sister that lives in Madison, and to be able to watch his nephews grow up.
“I was working as Director of Sales at hotel, when I had this urge to breakout my old sewing machine. I just started making one or two costumes for fun, and then it turned into working 40 plus hours making costumes on top of working full time at the hotel.”
Little did he know that picking back up on his old hobby would open the door for so much more. Aaron had the opportunity to debut some of his pieces at New Orleans Fashion Week, where he was able to get his foot in the door of the fashion world. A week and a half after fashion week went by and Aaron quit his job at the hotel to pursue fashion designing full time.
“You can take the boy out of the dress, but you can’t take the dress out of the boy,” Aaron said this quote truly applies to him and how he has always felt about his love for fashion.
Aaron describes his brand as timeless, easy, and effortless. He is passionate about designing and creating pieces that are seasonless, this way they can be worn no matter the time of year and fit a variety of shapes and sizes. He is also devoted to creating custom designs for his different clients. He can design anything from a bridal gown to pageant dresses, and anything in between. Aaron sells his pieces on his website, where you can also reach out to him about a collaboration.
Being on Project Runway taught him so much about who he is as a designer. Competing in many different challenges with limited time for each, Aaron created gorgeous looks this season. There was an unconventional materials challenge, where he designed and created a dress out of straws and plastic mats from a cocktail lounge. Another iconic moment on the show was when he was paired with one of the Real Housewives of Potomac and created a custom look for the Housewives Reunion. He nailed that look and stole Gizelle Bryant’s heart, where she publicly told Aaron he would be creating more looks for her in the future.
Aaron has spent years watching the show, so it was truly a dream to have the opportunity to be on the show. Part of the audition process was for him to design and submit three original looks. On his walk around Fondren to go buy fabric for his submission, he found himself inspired by the signage for Walkers Drive- In, Campbell’s Bakery, and the outside of the Fondren Corner building. This was all in the middle of the pandemic, so Aaron was really feeling the effects of this. He craved the liveliness of the typically busy streets of Fondren, so he channeled all of that into his designs for the audition.
Aaron got the call on April 28th and left for filming on May 9th. He said one of his favorite memories from the season was the very first day of the competition. The contestants stood on the greenery at the Lincoln Center in New York City, and people bustled about while they were filming. Aaron said people would walk by and stop to take photos of them, not even knowing who they were but they snapped a shot anyway because cameras were filming. He said it made him feel like he was somebody.
“I got to live out my dream and become the person I have always wanted to be,” said Aaron.
Fun fact about Aaron’s wardrobe from the season, on every episode Aaron was wearing pieces from Swell-O-Phonic. One of the more recognizable pieces was his “Jackson, Jackson, Jackson” t-shirt from Chane’s Studio.
Aaron said Mississippi has been so good to him over the years. It’s so important to support small business, especially after the crazy few years we have all been living in.
“Shop local and support local people,” said Aaron, “if we don’t then we will all be living in a land full of Walmart’s.”
Aaron has truly made Mississippi proud, finishing sixth out of sixteen contestants, and he said that life has not been the same since his return from the show. He’s overwhelmed with the love and support he has received on social media from his fellow Mississippians.
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