by Oanh Ly
photos by Ryche Guerrero

They Sew, She Cuts. That is the clever and appropriate tagline for the Bravo network’s Project Runway. The show is a competition where fashion designers cut, glue, sew, trim, and bleed to become the next big thing in the fashion world. Contestants participate in a fashion design challenge every week and are judged and eliminated by host Heidi Klum (to whom the “she” in the tagline refers) and fashionistas like Designer Michael Kors and Elle Magazine Editor Nina Garcia.

This year, the winner of Project Runway, the ordained next big thing in fashion, is 34-year-old Vietnamese American Chloe Dao from Houston, Texas. Dao beat out other more favored hopefuls at the spring 2006 New York Fashion Week runway show. Dao was selected by Kors, Garcia, Klum and guest judge Actress Debra Messing of Will and Grace as the winner, citing her amazing lines, quality construction, and perfect fit on a woman’s body.

Dao went days without sleep and worked to the very last minute for this title.

“The competition was the fashion equivalent of war. After this, I feel like I can do anything,” says Dao.

The show awarded Dao $100,000 for seed money to start her new clothing line and a new convertible. But since the success and cult-like following of Project Runway, life hasn’t changed that much.

“I’m more recognized. But I still live with my mom in Houston and I’m still running Lot 8,” says Dao.

Lot 8 is Dao’s retail store located in Houston’s trendy Rice Village area. She designs original clothing for the boutique and is hands-on at managing the store. She put the money she won from Project Runway back into the store to launch Lot 8’s online shopping business.

“After taxes, you really only get $60,000. That’s not enough to produce and launch a whole new line. So I put it back into my store,” says Dao.

Dao’s new additions to her boutique line this year is a collection of upscale evening dresses. This is Dao’s first foray into the more expensive evening garment.

Although Dao is being modest about the changes in her life, the notoriety of the show has brought her a few new opportunities. Celebrities and rappers have called, asking her to design some clothes. There was talk of book deals and speaking engagements. She’s been featured on the cover of Forbes Asia and US Magazine and asked to judge televised beauty contests. And the God of all department stores, Bergdorf Goodman has contacted her. But she was reluctant to make any huge changes.

“I’m so not ready to do Bergdorf. If Bergdorf calls you, you have to be ready to ship. They have standards. It’s a serious commitment. Not a thing you take lightly,” explains Dao.

Instead of jumping into the big time with the department store giant, Dao decided to take things slow and keep her life and career manageable. This practice in reality-checking and cool-mindedness is characteristic of Dao’s very simplistic way of life. She will impress without making a huge splash. She’s not a talker. She’s a doer.