Tessa Clark

The emerging designer attended the University of Cincinnati's Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning school and acquired impressive experience interning for Marchesa and VPL in New York City, in addition to working at Michelle Boor Paris-Vienna in Paris, France. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design, she established herself as an integral part of the team at Idlewild, a high-end womenswear boutique located in the heart of Cincinnati's Historic Over-The-Rhine community—and the home of Grind and Glaze's (Tessa’s brand) first collection. Tessa was a cast member on Season 17 on Bravo’s Project Runway Reality TV show, where she finished as one of the top 5 remaining designers. Tessa used her platform on Project Runway to raise awareness of sexual abuse through a design challenge. Tessa strongly believes that it is important for our society to understand that trauma and abuse can happen to anyone, at any age, and be perpetrated by any person. Tessa bravely found her voice and acknowledges that she is but one representation of what a survivor looks like.