Kate Pierson and winner Myles Zurnik-Traxler both wearing the ?winning? outfit.
Kate Pierson and winner Myles Zurnik-Traxler both wearing the ?winning? outfit.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 10, 2009 / FW/ — Myles Zurnik-Traxler, age 14, won the 2009 Wee Scotty Project Junior Runway Challenge that was held Sunday, October 25, 2009 at the DOGPATCH STUDIOS in San Francisco.

Now on its third year, the Wee Scotty Project Junior Runway Challenge encourages budding designers ages 7 – 14 to exercise their creativity and create a showcase garment. As it was in the first two competitions, the Junior designers were given one week to design and sew their creations.

For the 2009 competition, Kate Pierson of the B-52s was the competition muse and also one of the judges, joining Simon Ungless, Director of the School of Fashion at Academy of Art University, musician Eoin Harrington and (MC) Renee Richardson of the KFOG morning show on the board.

Students from the Academy of Art University assisted the junior designers by helping them translate their design concepts into fashion illustrations, an important step in the development of their creations. In addition to creating showcase garments, the Project Junior Runway competitors also modeled their own designs in the grand finale.

Kate Pierson and runner-up Phoebe Gillan and Wee Scotty founder Lynne Gallagher
Kate Pierson and runner-up Phoebe Gillan and Wee Scotty founder Lynne Gallagher

Before the arrival of the guests, and while working backstage with the contestants, Kate Pierson spent time with the junior designers and selected the “winner” herself.

By doing so, Kate Pierson was able to wear a replica of the winning outfit created by Myles Zurnik-Traxler (age 14) onto the runway at the end of the fashion show when the “winner” was announced. Runner-up was Phoebe Gillan (age 13).