12 designers from around the UK are assembled to compete in the first season of Project Catwalk. Using the Instituto Marangoni as their workspace, contestants are asked to design a outfit for their model out of materials bought at the local B&Q. With Ben de Lisi for guidance, and only a day in which to complete their outfits, everyone has their work cut out for them.
Contestants are asked to design and outfit that reflects their personal style and embodies the term "frisky". The design duo FrostFrench are the guest judges and accompany the remaining contestants to a industry party where models and designers alike vie for the attention of a reporter.
The designers are in for a treat. After working on a farm to gain a better idea of what the Barbour's woman really is, they are asked to design an outfit for the over 150 year old company, which will then be produced and sold in the London shops.
This episode's challenge is to design a fabulous outfit for a photoshoot using secondhand clothing from TRAID (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development).
The designers are asked to create new Room Attendance uniforms for the Housekeepers of the Savoy Hotel. To help them develop their design they go on a field trip and spend some time at the Savoy performing as Room Attendants.
The designers were asked to work in a team to design a themed capsule collection for Spring/Summer 2006 for Topshop, a store focusing on Women's fashions in the UK. One designer is randomly selected to be Team Leader, and has a confrontation with Mentor Ben de Lisi.
The last four designers have their final challenge before the top three are chosen. Their task- make a red carpet dress for their host, Elizabeth Hurley!
The designers go on the road to buy their fabrics, and then catch Julien MacDonald's show at Fashion Week. But in the end they must show their own collections, and only one can be named the winner of Project Catwalk!