News

After surviving nine episodes in style, CIA grad Valerie Mayen ’05 ended her run as a contestant on Project Runway during its tenth episode on September 30, 2010. The Cleveland Institute of Art community was proud to watch this talented designer in action these past weeks! Read the Plain Dealer's article about Valerie's final episode.

As one of the final ten Project Runway contestants, Valerie participated in New York Fashion Week. Check out the Plain Dealer’s review of her vibrant, impeccably constructed collection.

Valerie graduated from CIA in Illustration and started her own fashion label, Yellowcake, soon afterwards. Working out of her studio space in downtown Cleveland, Valerie designs and makes apparel and accessories for her line. Watch a video of Valerie giving a tour of her Cleveland studio and talking about her CIA education.

She is also a Cleveland advocate—winning a number of local fellowships and grants to keep her business alive and grow the fashion industry in northeast Ohio (including a Creative Workforce Fellowship in 2009 and a COSE Arts Business and Innovation Award in 2010).

Valerie is currently one of the top Project Runway fan favorites—you can help her win the vote by clicking the Facebook “like” button beside her photo on her Project Runway profile.