A Sneak Peek at Project Runway's Winning Collection

Project Runway Winning Collection — (Image credit: Adam Kremer)

FASHION DESIGN is her first and true love, but Project Runway winning designer Dom Streater is a science geek at heart. "I wanted to be a marine biologist or an astronaut," she says. "I even went to space camp!" So it comes as no surprise that the 25-year-old Philadelphia native looked to one of her favorite sci-fi movies, Blade Runner, for inspiration when designing her finale collection. It was the film's final scene, in which antagonist Roy Batty recites his famous "tears in rain" soliloquy, that lent itself to Streater's own custom-made, graphic blue-and-purple prints (she took textile design courses at Moore College of Art Design), which won her the top prize in the competition. "She pushed herself outside the boundaries of what was expected," says Marie Claire Creative Director andPR judge Nina Garcia. "Her designs were consistently cool, young, and fresh." Streater worked 72 hours straight to complete a final range that included a dress made from thousands of metal door braces (which had her clearing out two Lowe's and one Home Depot) for an unconventional-materials challenge. After some much needed downtime, she plans on buying a studio space in her hometown to focus on her fall 2014 collection that will debut at Philly Fashion Week in February. As for a joyride in her new Lexus (part of the winning prize package), that may have to wait. "I don't have a driver's license," she says. "For now, my boyfriend's going to have to be my chauffeur."

1. On Project Runway season 12 winner Dom Streater: TOP $225, Nonoo; nonoony.com. SKIRT $895, Ports 1961; ports1961.com for stores.

2. JACKET, SWIMSUIT, BAG PRINTED SCARF Dom Streater.