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Project Runway Season 14th premiers this Thursday, August 6th, and your closest ties to the show lie with two designers competing: Amanda Perna from Delray Beach and Merline Labissiere, who was born in Miami but now resides in Savannah, Georgia.
SouthFlorida.com reports that 28-year-old Perna is originally from Coral Springs, and previously competed during Season 9 back in 2011. After quitting her job with Calvin Klein, she launched her own line, House of Perna, which will be debuting its second collection this spring. In the article, she mentions that her factory is actually in Miami, and she hangs out in Wynwood and South Beach when she's here.
As for the Miami-bred Labissiere, SouthFlorida.com reports that she's of Haitian descent and is trying to move back to Miami after sticking around town post graduation from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). On her off time she's a major thrifter and will be seen this season dancing around between sketch tables. A home tour on Lifetime reveals that she teaches sewing to inner city kids as well.