Hauppauge Middle School Student to Compete on Lifetime’s Project Runway Junior Starting December 22, 2016
Thirteen-year-old Hauppauge Middle School student A’kai Littlejohn is a fashion designer who will compete on the second season of Lifetime’s Project Runway Junior beginning on December 22, 2016. “While kind and humble, A’kai truly is a prodigy with a highly dedicated work ethic,” stated Kari Littlejohn. “In addition to his passion for fashion design, he is on the Hauppauge Middle School high honor roll; is a student council member; and participates in cross country and track and field.”
A'kai was only a toddler when he first displayed his love for design by starting to sketch fashion illustrations at three years of age. He began learning how to hand stitch from his aunt at the age of four and continuously created intricate garments out of any material that he could find. At the ripe age of nine, A’kai interned with a Long Island fashion designer. There he was mentored about the business aspects of fashion design as well as the technical language for the various design techniques he already was intrinsically employing to create his own unique designs.
A’kai’s style aesthetic is best described as classic American, and his favorite designers are Ralph Lauren and Chanel. He is particularly keen on details in his own designs – such as color, textiles and silhouette. A’kai debuted his highly anticipated inaugural spring/summer 2017 collection, which can be viewed on his website: akailittlejohn.com and Instagram: akailittlejohn
A’kai first applied to be a Project Runway Junior cast member last year but was too young to participate at only 12 years of age. Not so this year. “I'm so proud and excited to be a designer and cast member on Project Runway Junior,” he stated. “It is so cool to have this opportunity, and I'm so grateful to be a part of such a successful show.”
Several members of the Hauppauge School District community are equally proud to be the beneficiaries of A’kai’s fashion design skills. At the end of each school year, A'kai presented a custom-made garment to each one of his teachers. “These experiences helped to cultivate his confidence as a child fashion designer, and the joy would show on his little face every year!,” described A’kai mother Kari Littlejohn. “Amazingly, all of his teachers still have the original pieces he created for them and wear them on the last day of school each year!”
The second season premiere of Project Runway Junior returns Thursday, December 22, 2016 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime. Emmy® Award winner Tim Gunn and fellow co-host, Supermodel Hannah Jeter, are once again joined by returning judges: Fashion Designers Kelly Osbourne and Christian Siriano and Seventeen Magazine and Cosmopolitan Executive Fashion Editor Aya Kanai to find the freshest force to be reckoned with in the fashion world. Ages 13 to 17, these Project Runway Junior designers prove amazing talent develops at a young age.
The winner of Project Runway Junior will receive a full scholarship to the prestigious FIDM in California; a complete home sewing and crafting studio, plus, the dream machine, all courtesy of Brother; a feature in Seventeen Magazine; and a $25,000 cash prize, to help launch their line. Also, butter LONDON will supply a year’s worth of products and the opportunity to consult with butter LONDON to create a limited edition nail color collection. The styles from their finale collection will be manufactured by Los Angeles Development House, Lefty Production Company.