Season 1

Top Designer Season 1 was the first season of Top Designer.

The season featured 12 designers from all over USA.

The winner, Zac MacCrum, of the first season received the winning prize of $100,000, a mentorship with Banana Republic to aid in developing his own fashion line, and a feature and a six page fashion spread in the Elle Magazine.

The judges for the first season were model and host, Karolina Kurkova, fashion designer, Marc Jacobs, and editor in chief of Elle Magazine USA, Anne Slowey.

Contestants
The 12 fashion designers competing in the first season were:

(ages listed are the designers' ages at the time the show was taped in the winter of 2006.)

Episode 1: Welcome to the Runway
Original airdate: March 15, 2007

Designers created a sexy outfit for a night out on the town representing who they are as designers. The designers had a budget of $70 and one day to complete the challenge. The winner received immunity and could not be eliminated for the next challenge.


 * Guest Judge: Patricia Field.


 * WINNER: Valerie
 * ELIMINATED: Boris

Episode 2: Be Jealous of My Style
Original airdate: March 22, 2007

Designers used plain white cotton jersey to build a garment that conveys "envy." They had a budget of $50 USD and one day to complete the design.


 * Guest Judges: Constance White & Paul Berman


 * WINNER: Irena
 * ELIMINATED: Alisha

Episode 3: Commercial Appeal
Original airdate: March 29, 2007

Designers created a holiday dress to fit with Banana Republic's current line. They had to pick their fabrics at the studios and had two days to complete their designs.


 * Guest Judge: Deborah Lloyd


 * WINNER: Zac
 * ELIMINATED: Andrei

Episode 4: Collaboration
Original airdate: April 5, 2007

The designers created a new look for rising rock star Sarah Hudson. A team event with three teams, each with a lead designer and two assistants. Each team had $150 USD and one day to complete the design.


 * Guest Judge: Sarah Hudson


 * WINNER: Irena
 * ELIMINATED: Ken

Episode 5: "Model" Clients
Original airdate: April 12, 2007

Working with their chosen models, the designers created a wedding dress for that model. The designers had a budget of $300 USD and two days to complete the design.


 * Guest Judges: Amsale Aberra


 * WINNER: Sara
 * ELIMINATED: Totty

Episode 6: Making A Splash
Original airdate: April 19, 2007

Designers made swimsuits, then attended an evening party with their swimsuit-clad models. The designers had a budget of $75 USD and five hours to complete their garments. The winner was the designer who received a mention from New York Post reporter Richard Johnson on "Page Six," the newspaper's gossip column.


 * Guest Judges: Constance White & New York Post reporter Richard Johnson


 * WINNER: Randel
 * ELIMINATED: Sidney

Episode 7: Design A Collection
Original airdate: April 26, 2007

Designers created a collection for the year 2055 as one team. Randel was the team leader for this challenge. Each designer had a budget of $50 USD and one day to complete the collection.


 * Guest Judge: Betsey Johnson


 * WINNER: Valerie
 * ELIMINATED: Sara

Episode 8: You've Got Mail
Original airdate: May 3, 2007

Designers redesigned the uniform worn by United States Postal Service workers. The designers had a budget of $100 USD and one day to complete the design.


 * Guest Judge: United States Postal Service worker Becky Negich.


 * WINNER: Zac
 * ELIMINATED: Randel

Episode 9: The Red Carpet
Original airdate: May 10, 2007

Designers created a dress for Access Hollywood reporter Nancy O'Dell to wear to the Grammys. The designers had $300 USD and two days to complete the design.


 * Guest Judge: Nancy O'Dell


 * WINNER: Valerie
 * ELIMINATED: Matt

Episode 10: Reunion
Original airdate: May 17, 2007

All of the participating designers gathered for a reunion hosted by Tim Gunn and Karolina Kurkova on the eve of New York Olympus Fashion Week at which the final three designers displayed their collections.

Episode 11: Finale
Original airdate: May 24, 2007

The final three designers—Irena, Valerie and Zac, were visited by Tim Gunn at their homes to show the progress of their collections. Each designer created a twelve piece collection for a showing at New York Olympus Fashion Week.


 * Guest Judge: Parker Posey


 * WINNER: Zac
 * ELIMINATED: Irena (1st Runner-Up), Valerie (2nd Runner-Up)