The Project Runway Canada winner used to design outfits for Avril Lavigne

Leeland Mitchell doesn’t do quiet. The spunky fashion designer, known for his punk-rock vision and playful, over-the-top, drag-inspired costumes, emerged victorious as the winner of Project Runway Canada last week. Over the course of the competition, Mitchell impressed judges week after week thanks to his ability to execute unbelievably detailed costumes in remarkably short amounts of time. His finale collection, “Big Trouble in Little Chinatown,” was a cultural explosion that fused Mitchell’s Scottish and Chinese heritage into a punk-rock hallucination—think Alexander McQueen meets Tripp NYC. In the glow of his big win, we caught up with Mitchell to talk about his past gig designing celebrity costumes and bringing the fun back into fashion.

Did you watch Project Runway Canada when it aired the first time around in 2007? I was a little bit too young to watch it back in the day, but I have watched the US version of Project Runway for a long time. I fell into Project Runway because it was really the fashion show. I was in junior high at the time, and I remember thinking how cool it was to watch a show where people are creating things from their minds. I was like, What’s sewing?

What was your entry point into fashion? I fell in love with costume design first. As a kid, I was drawn to Queen Amidala, Glinda from The Wizard of Oz—all these incredible costumes. Then, when I was 14, I joined the cast of Toronto’s Rocky Horror Picture Show and started making my own costumes. I played Columbia, so I made a gold sequin top hat, a corset, a tail coat and shorts. I’m self-taught when it comes to sewing, so I did an awful job. From there, I started doing cosplay and making my own costumes, and I eventually made my way to designing costumes for drag queens.

What made you want to participate in Project Runway Canada? I first found out about it through a casting call. I didn’t know it was Project Runway—the call was for an unnamed fashion reality television show, and something about it just called to me. I thought, I’ve done so much in my life at this point. I’ve sewn for celebrities and famous drag queens. Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to put my money where my mouth is and show off my skills as a designer.

Celebrities, you say? A few years ago, I was hired to make an outfit for Avril Lavigne, and I did such an incredible job overnight that she hired me as her costume designer for a couple of years. So I made all of her tour outfits, these different iterations of Avril Lavigne’s punky outfits. That was so much fun. From there, a friend dropped my name to someone who works with a company that makes costumes for a lot of musicians and performers, so I’ve worked for Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, Kim Petras. I made gloves for Ariana Grande.

How did it feel to be chosen as a competitor? When I first got the call, I was in the process of making a Wicked costume, so I was wearing my little Glinda crown and had a wand in my hand. It was manifestation. It felt so crazy, like a new chapter of my life was on the horizon. I knew that, no matter the outcome, I would come out a better person.

Did you have to turn down work in order to do the show? Right before the show, I had an interview to sew for Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball tour. But, at the end of the day, I figured this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Lady Gaga was just one night, but Project Runway is a bigger thing that I can put my name behind and show people what Leeland Mitchell is about.

What defines you as a designer? Some of the main things that come through in my designs—and who I am as a person—are joy, fun, camp and costume. Those are four words I always stay true to. My designs always make someone feel something. Jeanne Beker cried on the finale episode because she was so happy! I remember some of the other designers in the competition looking at my stuff and going, What the hell is he making? But then, when they saw it walk down the runway, they realized, Oh my god, that’s pretty good.

Can you share some of your favourite moments from the show? I remember walking up the runway that first time and seeing Jeanne Beker, like, what a goop. That was crazy. One of my favourite moments of the entire season was on episode seven, at the end of the challenge where we had to take an item of Giant Tiger clothing and use it as inspiration for a design. There were five designers left, and they had us all hold hands. In that moment, we weren’t designers. We weren’t competitors. We were just friends. The most surprising thing about this experience is how well we all got along. I message my fellow finalists, Charles and Curtis, every day, and we roast each other non-stop.

What was the most challenging aspect of the competition for you? We were working these crazy hours, trying to get things done in two days, put on a runway show, then starting everything all over again the next day. Sometimes we would do two or three challenges in a week so there was a lot of pushing your creative brain to keep coming up with new silhouettes, new colours, new concepts that seemed fresh and didn’t touch on old designs or things you had made previously.

When they announced your name as the winner, what was going through your head? I was standing up there and smiling, because I was thinking, If I don’t win, baby, it’s all good. I was feeling so proud of Charles and Curtis because they’re my best friends in the world. So when they called my name, I was in shock. I didn’t believe it. I still have a hard time believing it. That moment is something I’m going to remember for the rest of my life. It’s been three days, and the response so far has been magical. I’ve gotten so many incredible messages from other local designers and people from across the country who have said, “Thank you for being yourself. I can tell you’re this funny gay guy who’s campy and unapologetic, and I really love that.” I love that people are able to see themselves in me.

Now that it’s all over, how are you feeling? It’s incredible. It feels like the end of The Little Mermaid—I’ve got my legs and I’m saying, ‘But, Daddy, I love him!’ I feel so grateful and so rewarded. I am so indebted to everyone involved in creating the show, so I feel incredibly thankful as well.

How do you plan to spend the $100,000? I want braces, and I want to get a dog. I really also want to be able to put money back into the community. There are all these really talented crafters, rhinestoners and seamstresses who haven’t been given the opportunity to showcase themselves in the same way I have, so I want to be able to give those people a chance.

So what’s next for Leeland Mitchell? I’m going to concentrate on building my brand up a little bit, then I’m going to focus on bringing the fun back into fashion. I want everyone to be able to laugh and let their hair down a little bit, to be weird and kooky and fun. I learned that just watching a TV show can give people hope and show them that you can have a sense of humour and laugh at fashion. You can have fun with it and it’s totally cool and acceptable.

Lightning Round

Which judge did you vibe with the most? Jeanne Beker Who did you learn the most from? Jeanne Beker Easiest challenge? The Cashmere challenge. I made that coat from toilet paper in two hours Favourite fashion designer? Jeremy Scott or John Galliano Secret talent? I can roller skate like a beast Favourite food? Sushi Heels or flats? Heels Celeb you’d most like to dress? Cardi B Life motto? As long as everybody has fun, that’s all that matters

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.