Tim Gunn tapped
to "make it work" at Liz Claiborne

Tim Gunn, whose fashion know-how on the popular television reality show Project Runway has made him a household name among fledgling designers, will become the new chief creative director of Liz Claiborne Inc., the company said on Thursday.

Gunn--known for encouraging fashion designer contestants struggling over garments to "make it work"--will be responsible for attracting and developing creative talent at Liz Claiborne, whose brands include Ellen Tracy, Juicy Couture, Lucky Brand Jeans, Laundry by Shelli Segal, and Liz Claiborne.

He will report to Chief Executive William McComb and said in an interview he will start on or around March 5.

Gunn, who has been on Project Runway since its launch in 2004, said he was looking forward to the challenge of working with a group of brands with such a wide range of customers and price points.

"It sounds rather daunting, doesn't it?" he said in an interview. "It's formidable, but it also makes it so exciting."

Although it was his role as the avuncular and discerning mentor on Project Runway that has garnered him fame, Gunn has served since 2000 as the chair of the department of fashion design at Parsons the New School for Design in New York.

Gunn, 53, said he was looking forward to applying his skills in "the real world" after being in academia for nearly 30 years.

In addition to Project Runway, he is slated to appear in his own show on the Bravo network, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, later this year.

McComb-- who said that the company supports Gunn's ongoing TV responsibilities--said Gunn's role at Liz Claiborne will not involve overseeing brand positioning and product design.

"Tim will be a spokesperson for the creative community; a champion of product innovation, integrity, and exceptional price-value; and a catalyst for the creation of the irresistible product our consumers want and deserve," McComb said in a statement. (Reuters)