"Project Runway"'s Daniel Feld: Auf'd but in love

AE: So in the end, you were trying to please the client.
DF: Yeah. Exactly.

Daniel with Anita Greenkard

AE: You often seemed daunted or as if you weren't enjoying yourself. How much of that was real and how much was editing?
DF: I wish they had shown me ... I was really goofy and I had so much fun. A good percentage of the time, I was laughing and making light of the situation, but I guess a lot of it was that they wanted to edit me as a really serious character.

AE: Do you feel you got to showcase your design aesthetic on the show? Did you get to show who you are as a designer.
DF: I don't feel I did. Being so emotional and working under pressure just takes a toll on how you create things. I wish I could do it over, but it is what it is. I'm glad I had the opportunity. That's the great thing about fashion: One outfit doesn't determine everything. If it doesn't turn out, you just go back to the fabric store and make something else.

AE: Well, it's not like it's a career-ender or anything. You've already had some success. You worked for Donna Karan, right?
DF: Yes. I was designing for Donna Karan. I was also designing for an evening wear designer. We sold to Saks and Barney's and Neiman Marcus. I'm definitely in the market for higher end women's apparel.

AE: You definitely weren't afraid to argue with the judges. DF: [Laughs]

AE: How often did you disagree with them? What do you think was the issue? Were they just not getting where you were coming from?
DF: Well, if they questioned things, as respectfully as I could, I would argue my point of view and how I thought so they could see where I was coming from.

Daniel with Kenley

AE: At the Brooke Shields Challenge, you said on the runway that you had impeccable, high end taste and Kenley started laughing. Earlier in an interview, she'd made a comment that she hadn't seen your “taste” level in your designs. It seemed like you and Kenley were close before that, so what did you make of that and are you guys still friends?
DF: I'm still friends with Kenley. That laugh wasn't in response to what I was saying. Kenley just laughs sporadically at different things. When the judges asked her what was so funny after I'd asked her that, she responded with, "I just love him. He cracks me up." They didn't show that. On the show, they nicknamed us "Keniel" because we were always together. She did make a comment, but that was made on the first challenge and they edited it into that episode. We're still friends. I love Kenley. She has a really individual style and I wish the best for her.

AE: Who else were you close to on the show?
DF: Stella. She's the biggest sweetheart. She has a golden heart. I adore her. She's an amazing person. Always thinking of everyone else and putting herself in last priority. She's got a great heart and I love her for that.

AE: Keith seemed very emotional when you left. Were you guys close?
DF: Yeah, I was really close to Keith. He's another guy who I think is grounded and genuine. I thought extremely highly of Keith. He's another sweetheart. It was a bunch of really good people. Blayne was so funny. He always cracked me up. He was always a goofball. It's hard to hear when the blogs call him annoying in so many different ways, but he really just cracked me up most of the time. So yeah, Keith, Stella, Blayne, Kenley, and Wesley were the closest.

AF: Heidi seemed sad to see you go, as well. Were you close to her?
DF: No, I wasn't close to her other than the judging. She seemed sad to you?

AF: It seemed like it. As if she was sad to see you go.
DF: Yeah, I guess I'm a sensitive person so maybe it was harder for her to say it.

Keith, Stella

AE: What's next for you?
DF: I'm still on a roller coaster after the show. I'm still trying to get everything stabilized, but Wesley and I are talking about collaborating on a line together. That's up in the air right now, but it would be great if that could happen. I wish we had the financial security. We're looking for investors. It would be great if we could find one.