South Philly Review

McCarroll and his fellow designers had no idea what to expect when they first faced hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn in July '04.

"The show, in my experience, was a lot of fun," he said. "There was no formula. It was very hard and motivating. Surreal -- like fashion summer camp filmed on television. I just went away and it was on TV and then my whole life changed."

Although he was entitled to several prizes, including $100,000 and a mentor from Banana Republic, McCarroll declined, saying he "wanted to pursue other financial avenues."

He returned to the Big Apple, where he stayed until this past summer. While there, Bravo filmed the one-hour documentary "Project Jay," which chronicled the months following his "Runway" win.

The show may not have been turned into a series, but his time in front of the camera didn't end there. The "Project Jay" crew followed McCarroll around for a year for what became the 105-minute documentary "Eleven Minutes," set to hit the film circuit this year. The premise centers on McCarroll's '06 prep for the debut of his collection Transport during Fashion Week in Bryant Park, where 12 months of work went into an 11-minute catwalk show, hence the title.

"It showed everything from collecting ideas, hair, makeup, jewelry, working with assistants, PR, production, backstage, press and into the show and after the show into sales -- the whole process top-to-bottom," he said. "[The fashion show] was one of the most heinously stressful events of my adult life and I will never do that again."

Making the decision to move to Philly was a no-brainer. Here, he said, he can be more relaxed and with friends and colleagues in a less chaotic environment.

"Everyone on the outside thinks New York is the center of the universe and from the inside the people who live there truly believe it," he said. "Philadelphia is manageable for me. I have a perfect, cute little house, a cat and a car. I like the fact that there are families here, parks, but the neighborhoods are still kind of grimy -- raw and real and still developing."

McCarroll, too, is still developing. In fact, he never really stopped: He plans to unveil and sell a woman's line on West Chester-based shopping channel QVC in the summer, including a beaded sweater and a color block design coat; he writes a blog on this season of "Runway" -- its fourth -- for elle.com; and his bags and accessories can be found at Mew Gallery, 906 Christian St., and Topstitch, 311 Market St.

But he won't be leaving his new home -- where he's still recognized from the Bravo shows -- any time soon. "Oh, God, no!" he said.

Just like his signature circle designs, first seen on "Runway" and now incorporated into his pieces, the city is something McCarroll can identify with.

"Philadelphia needs people like me, too," he said. "I feel like a lot of people come down on Philadelphia and it fits me well. Everything I needed to make me a creative person again was in Philadelphia."