Designer Christopher Palu on 'Project Runway', living on LI

On season 10 of "Project Runway," Massapequa's Christopher Palu won a Lord and Taylor challenge, which means his gown is being sold there. Credit: Nina Ruggiero
"Project Runway" season 10 finalist and Long Islander Christopher Palu didn't have the pressure of showing at New York Fashion Week this February, and he enjoyed his role as a spectator.
"There were a lot of highs and lows and a lot of cohesion, and like every fashion show, there is that," he said of the season 11 finale Friday at Lincoln Center.
Although the designers were not revealed to the audience to avoid spoiling upcoming episodes, Palu revealed to Newsday that designer Michelle Lesniak Franklin created one of the eight collections presented.
"One designer who really stuck out to me a lot was Michelle because she had a lot of innovative ideas and that's what fashion is about," he said. "She was fun and creative and that's what the fashion industry needs right now."
Palu is currently working full time designing for fashion house Haute Hippie.
"I'm doing gowns, tops, dresses," he said. "There's sequins, fur. It's very fabulous."
Though he is working in Manhattan, Palu is living back home with his family in Massapequa.
"I actually had to move back on LI with my mom and family," he said, "but I'm never there because I work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. I don't have a life right now so it's nice to be back at home with family."