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Columbia Falls Native Showcases

Fashion Wares on Popular Lifetime Show

Brady Lange featured on “Project Runway” spinof “Under the Gunn”

By T R I S T A N S C O T T o f t h e B e a c o n
F
ashionistas likely wouldn’t peg Montana as an
epicenter of style, but Columbia Falls native

Brady Lange, who recently described one of his
clothing designs as appealing to a “girly tomboy” who
wears heels and shoots a gun, has elevated a measure of
the Treasure State’s aesthetic to the national stage.
With a lair for street wear that’s “bright, fun and
youthful,” Lange acknowledges that Montana isn’t known
for crop tops and mini-skirts, and you won’t ind legions of

haute couture models traipsing down a catwalk.
Still, there’s something about the wide open, un-
restrained spaces that informs Lange’s work, which
has recently been met with positive reception on
the Lifetime fashion competition series “Under the
Gunn,” a “Project Runway” spinof that premiered
Jan. 16.
“Montana always has a really close place in my

heart and always inluences me and what I do, even if
it’s not blatantly obvious,” Lange said. “There’s a sense
of freedom and adventure that I take from growing up
in Montana. It’s in the core of my inspiration.”
Lange, 29, who’s lived in Portland for the past de-
cade, previously auditioned for “Project Runway” but
didn’t make the inal cut. When the Lifetime network

contacted him about appearing on “Under the Gunn,”
a spinof hosted by fashion maven Tim Gunn that came
about after Heidi Klum was unavailable for another sea-
son of “Project Runway,” he jumped at the opportunity.
Columbia Falls native Brady Lange on the set of “Project Runway” spinof “Under the Gunn.” PHOTO COURTESY ADAM TAYLOR | LIFETIME
After working for Portland fashion luminary Adam
Arnold, from whom he learned volumes about the in-
dustry, Lange launched his own label last year and ped- coaching and directing the designers. Designer Rachel wanted Lange, who chose the former.
dles his wares at BradyLange.com.
Roy, celebrity stylist Jen Rade and Marie Claire senior “We had to make an outit that was relective of our

“In the last year I’ve really been getting a great re- fashion editor Zanna Roberts Rassi serve as the judges. style to show the mentors. I basically had one chance to
sponse. It’s been kind of crazy because I feel like I’ve In the irst two episodes, Gunn presents a challenge to try to impress them and it was really fun to get that ex-
had a lot of things happen in the last year,” he said. “I the designers while Guerra, Chee and Verreos assess the perience,” he said. “I personally really like constructive
feel really fortunate to live in Portland, because it’s a skill level of the contestants and determine which four criticism. So getting it from people who have been in the
creative community that fosters good design. It’s really designers will be a part of their teams. In the following industry was really beneicial.”
supportive.”
episodes, Gunn presents new challenges to mentors as The winning contestant receives a cash prize of
Since the show’s irst three episodes have aired (the they tease out the best in their designers and guide them $100,000, a sewing and embroidery studio from Broth-
season features 13 episodes), Lange said the spotlight on through the competition.
er Industries, an all-expense paid trip to Paris, a 2014

his career has broadened and brightened exponentially.
Each team will then compete in a series of challeng- Lexus CT 200h and the opportunity to design a collec-
“It’s totally impacted my career in a positive way. es until one alumni and one designer remain.
tion sold exclusively at francesca’s. The winning men-
It’s just kind of boosted me and has gotten me a lot of On the irst episode, the designers were asked to tor receives a 2014 Lexus CT 200h, a fashion spread in
publicity and upped my sales. It’s been really positive,” create a look that showed their distinctive vision. Early Marie Claire magazine and a spot as guest editor for one
he said. “It’s been slightly overwhelming but really cool. on, Lange seemed to be a favorite and all three mentors year.
Overwhelming in a good way.”
were impressed by his portfolio and street style.
Lange could not say if or when he leaves the show,
The concept of the show preserves elements of Using fabrics that were supplied, Lange made a pen- which he’s been watching with friends at a neighbor-

“Project Runway” while changing and adding others.
cil skirt out of a wild print, topped with a black, cropped hood bar every week.
The irst episode saw a group of 15 designers — in- tee. In interview sound bites, Lange said he would want “It’s interesting seeing yourself on TV. It’s totally bi-
cluding Lange — gather in Los Angeles. But only 12 de- Mondo as a mentor. Guerra thought “a trillion girls” zarre. It’s a surreal experience,” he said.
signers made it through. To winnow the ield, the de- would want to wear the looks Lange creates, and ex- Although he’s always been interested in fashion, he
signers were broken into two groups. The irst, which pressed his ambition to have Lange on his team.
didn’t understand how to channel his creativity toward
included Lange, did an initial challenge to determine In the workroom, Lange seemed calm and collected.
clothing until college, when his style lourished.
which designers would continue.
Then the mentors, after consulting the designers’ “As a kid I was always drawing clothes and doing
Hosted by Gunn, the show follows “Project Runway” portfolios and observing them in the workroom, saw the fashion sketches, but as a career it just kind of hap-

alumni Mondo Guerra, Anya Ayoung-Chee and Nick clothes on the runway. After the runway show, mentors pened,” he said.
Verreos, who as “mentors” are tasked with managing,
chose their designers —both Ayoung-Chee and Verreos
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