0

Your Cart is Empty

Princess Awesome + Project Runway: Fashion Startup

by Rebecca Melsky December 01, 2016 2 min read 5 Comments

In October of 2015, we got an e-mail out of the blue.

“...Our show is looking for people with great ideas and products but need the support of investors and mentors who know the fashion business. These investors will not only be offering a cash investment; but also their own ideas and connections. This show is for a major cable network company and being produced by some of entertainment's biggest names.”

It was from the producers of a new show, Project Runway: Fashion Startup - sort of like Shark Tank, but just for fashion companies. Because it was totally new, they were searching for companies to audition for it. They had found us on Kickstarter and thought we would be a good fit.


 We spent the night before our first day of shooting walking around New York. Here we are at the Empire State Building.

Intellectually and rationally, we knew this was an amazing opportunity. The benefit of just being on Shark Tank, regardless of whether or not the company gets an investment, is worth about the same as $4 million in advertising. Shark Tank gets 36,000 applications each year. Here was a similar opportunity - just for our industry - and all we had to do was say yes, we’d audition.

So we embarked on what became a seven-month-long application and audition process. There were questionnaires and essays, Skype interviews and video submissions, phone calls and a whole lot of waiting. We maintained a “This probably won’t happen, but we’ll keep going as long as we can” attitude and hung on through the process.

At this point, Princess Awesome was only in its first six months of selling factory-produced clothing. We had just launched a new website, just started advertising, just begun the work of running a business. We were learning everything about running a clothing company on the fly - it was like trying to get a drink of water from a firehose. On top of all of that, we were now also getting ready to pitch to investors for the first time, and on national television.

In May of 2016, we found ourselves on a train up to New York, a suitcase full of Princess Awesome samples tucked carefully at our feet. On our way to shoot a reality TV segment - something neither one of us ever thought we’d do, and certainly not less than a year after Kickstarter-ing Princess Awesome into existence.


All spiffed up and ready to film!

Our segment will air on the season finale on December 15 on Lifetime. Will you watch with us? What do you think will happen? We’re not telling, but we will say we’re really proud of our company and thrilled to have had the opportunity to share it with Project Runway: Fashion Startup.

Rebecca Melsky
Rebecca Melsky

Rebecca Melsky is a co-founder of Princess Awesome and its Chief Executive Officer. She and her husband are raising three kids in Washington, DC.


5 Responses

Devorah Walder
Devorah Walder

December 15, 2016

In the same way that Rebecca Melsky inspired & empowered her students, she is now continuing to help girls find & express themselves. Go you! Making a difference in the lives of our future female leaders. Thank you!

Melissa
Melissa

December 13, 2016

DVR is set, and I’ve shared this blog post on FB so friends might tune in as well. I love what you’re doing, especially as the mama of a 4yo girl who wants to be an astronaut when she grows up. Yes to girl-positive clothing!!! (As a side note, your customer service is amazing. Last month I needed help adding an item to an order I’d just placed, and it was late at night. I chatted with a Rebecca, and I believe it was THE Rebecca! So kind and helpful.) I wish you all the success in the world, and I’ll be a lifelong customer. Huge gratitude!

Betsy Hatcher
Betsy Hatcher

December 04, 2016

I have been watching Fashion Startup this season and will definitely be watching on December 15th! Wishing you the best of luck!!

PirateJenny
PirateJenny

December 01, 2016

I will totally be watching!! How exciting for you guys to appear on the show!Congratulations.

Sharon Swearingen
Sharon Swearingen

December 01, 2016

I love the whole concept of your clothing line with 7 granddaughters and with some of them trying to express themselves not only as princesses but also Super Heroes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles i dinosaurs etc. breath of fresh air Keep up the great work! Princess Awesome ???

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in Awesome Thoughts from our Blog

About the Designer - Carrie Cantwell

by Eva St. Clair September 02, 2023 3 min read

I’m an illustrator, surface designer and educator based in Atlanta, GA. I live with my boyfriend and our three rescue kitties, who very often make it into my art, especially the two black cats.

I feel very comfortable creating art for kids, because I'm really a kid at heart. I love cute animals and bright colors. I find it particularly satisfying to distill complex concepts into simple shapes that are stylized but easily recognizable.

Read More
Remembering Sienna Farr
Remembering Sienna Farr

by Eva St. Clair August 18, 2023 2 min read 5 Comments

Sienna Farr was one of Princess Awesome's first models, before our Kickstarter, before we were much more than a dream and a few dresses made of tee shirts and quilting material. She died in a fire that also seriously injured her mother on August 11, 2023, aged 13.

Read More
Represent Aviation for Girls in our Design Contest!
Represent Aviation for Girls in our Design Contest!

by Eva St. Clair June 26, 2023 1 min read

Princess Awesome is so proud to partner with Women in Aviation International to sponsor a design contest during the summer of 2023. We are looking for your awesome ideas for new clothing that features airplanes, helicopters, engineering concepts, schematics - anything that has to do with aviation.

Read More