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Project Runway's Jay Nicolas Sario

           "The food sucked; at one point I asked for Burger King because that just sounded so good,” confessed Jay Nicolas Sario while describing the culinary options available during his recent stint on Lifetime's Project Runway, Season 7.
            Sario, a Philippines native currently residing in San Francisco, is relieved to be finished with Project Runway and reality TV.  “I don’t think I would do a reality TV show again… They took my wallet, my ID, my credit cards, cell phone, and my house keys; so that way if I try to run off, I couldn’t go anywhere,” laughs Sario.
            During the preview for the Discarded to Divine charity auction at the stunning De Young Museum in San Francisco, Sario, who is dressed in chambray shorts, a grey blazer, and straw fedora, discusses his life following Project Runway.
            “I miss Anthony,” reflects Sario. “We bonded from the very beginning. He is so funny. He doesn’t have to try hard. I think he got offended when I told him, ‘You can just talk and you don’t even realize you are funny,” laughs Sario.
            However, there is one castmate who Sario felt no remorse at leaving behind. Many may remember the animosity exhibited between Mila Hermanovski and Sario, which began at the beginning of the season.
             Even though Sario did end up losing in the final Project Runway shootout between his, dare we say it, archenemy Mila Hermanovski, don’t shed any tears for Sario. He still showed at Bryant Park with a Samurai-inspired collection that got critics’ pens writing. “This is the first collection I’ve ever done. It’s feminine, strong, sophisticated, and it’s just beautiful,” says Sario.
            Following his first collection debut at Bryant Park, Sario was at a loss for what to do next. “After fashion week, I was really confused,” explains Sario. “I was like, ‘what’s next for me? Do I move to New York or LA, or do I stay in San Francisco?” It didn’t take long for Sario to realize that his heart is in San Francisco. “I want to be a big fish in a small pond,” says Sario.
Keeping in the aquatic vein, Sario designed a “Fiji Water” dress, which is to be auctioned off at the Discarded to Divine charity auction, taking place on Thursday, April 24, 2010. The dress has paillettes, reminiscent of fish scales made entirely out of Fiji water bottles, which decorate the hem. “I wanted to create a dress that is fluid, that has movement; so I made paillettes out of the water bottle. There is a pattern behind the bottle, inside the bottle… I picked up the flower and the logo, and I did the clear ones as well,” explains Sario. The effect is striking, and keeps in perfect harmony with Sario’s proven innovative design talent.
            Although Project Runway is finished, Sario isn’t. “I know that staying in San Francisco, living here, designing here, that I will be the kind of successful designer that people will respect. Not just in San Francisco but hopefully outside too,” says Sario.
 
 Sario is continuing to work with Gap Inc, where he is a visual merchandiser and is currently designing his Spring 2011 collection.  You can find him on Facebook www.facebook.com/jaynicolassario ; (Sario is currently beating Mila with over 2,000 friends to her 500).
 
Discarded to Divine is a reception and auction of unique fashion and home-décor using discarded clothing and materials. Discarded to Divine is sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society in San Francisco benefitting those who are victims of poverty, homelessness and domestic abuse.
 
For more information visit: www.svdp-sf.org/DISCARDED/