Bell Media orders Canadian adaptation of fashion format Project Runway

Bell Media has commissioned a Canadian version of fashion competition format Project Runway.

Coco Rocha

The 10-episode project, produced by Bell Media Studios, will go into production this summer and premiere on streaming service Crave later this year.

The local adaptation will be hosted by Coco Rocha, who will also serve as a judge alongside Jeanne Beker.

Created in the early 2000s by Eli Holzman, who is now president of Sony Pictures Television nonfiction, the Project Runway format sees contestants compete to create the best outfits, with a panel of judges then weighing in.

In the US, the show has been on air since 2004, providing a launchpad for fashion designers including Christian Siriano, Austin Scarlett, Leanne Marshall, Irina Shabayeva and Michael Costello. In October, it was announced that the US version was moving from Bravo to Disney’s Freeform for its 21st season.

The show has aired in more than 125 countries and the format has been remade in about 30 territories. In Canada, Bell Media has licensed the format from Fremantle.

A Canadian version of the format previously ran for two seasons on Canadian cable network Slice and then broadcaster Global.

The new Canadian iteration is produced in collaboration with Toronto Metropolitan University’s Fashion at The Creative School programme. Executive producers include Bell Media Studios’ Jennifer Couke and Michelle Crespi, Toronto Metropolitan University’s Charles Falzon and Bell Media VP of content development and programming Justin Stockman.

Michela Di Mondo is executive VP and executive producer for Fremantle. Spyglass Media Group owns the format to Project Runway.