NIKOLAKI x VIVA PAPER TOWELS.....Making of a Custom NIKOLAKI Gown from Viva Paper Towels

 Violet Queen - Kari Brown, VP/Sales, Viva Paper Towels, and the NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos & David Paul Custom Gown created using Viva Paper Towels

After wrapping up the episode in which the designers of Season 22 of "Project Runway" had to create runway-worthy looks using Viva Paper Towels, as Consulting Producers on the show, we were very happy that the episode turned out well and that the designs were great! Towards the end of us working on the season, we were then even more excited when we were asked to create a custom gown for a "very special client" who happened to be Kari Brown, VP of Sales, Viva Paper Towels, in...VIVA PAPER TOWELS! Oh, and there's a catch: After the show ended, and we had to return home to Los Angeles, we had ONE WEEK to do it! Naturally, David and I were up to the challenge! 

Here's the Behind-The-Scenes SCOOP:

Bolts of Paper Towels & Dyed Paper Towels

Step 1: After getting home from being away for almost 3 months for filming on the East Coast, we got right to work. First, we were lucky enough to have the extra bolts of Viva Paper Towels that the designers did not use during the challenge. We actually traveled with them in a BIG duffle that was provided to us by production (to help in the transportation of the bolts). If you are wondering, no, we did not carry on these bolts (too big for the overhead LOL!). 

Step 2: Dyeing! David began the dyeing process to turn the bright white paper towels into the color that Kari chose: a "Viva Purple", or violet color. I think we took EVERY RIT Dye in this color at every Michael's location in the entire LA area! The dyeing process took a while, and he had to be very careful since wet paper towels act like cellophane and stick to themselves, so he took many, many hours, doing the dye process in separate batches and then, of course, allowing them to dry in the sun.

Step 3: Draping the Sample:

Gown Drape - The gown sample was done using Viva Paper Towels as the "muslin", so I knew exactly how the "fabric" would drape

Top Drape: Here is the overpiece that I draped in Viva Paper Towel "fabric" over the base of the gown, to get the one-shoulder top section drape

The Back Fall/Cape: To finish off the design (and give it some stage drama!), I added this back cascading "fall"/cape to the back one shoulder of the gown

Steps 4, 5, 6, 7: Cut the Dress, interface it, line it, and SEW IT!

(Clockwise from left) Close-up of the dyed Viva Paper Towel"fabric", fused with interfacing to give it body/structure and stability; Top Drape, sewn; and Lined top section in black duchesse satin

Finished Gown:

NIKOLAKI/Nick Verreos & David Paul Custom Gown created from Viva Paper Towels - One-shoulder draped gown with side-front slit, fit-to-flare shape and back cape

Close-up Detail of Draped Top Section - NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos & David Paul "Viva Paper Towel" Gown

Fashion Sketch: Of Custom Gown created for Kari Brown, using Viva paper Towels - Sketch by Nick Verreos/David Paul

Viva Queen: Kari Brown, VP of Sales, at an event for Viva Paper Towels/Kimberly-Clark Corp, Houston, Texas

For MORE Behind-The-Scenes on the Making of this Gown, WATCH our LATEST PODCAST: