Since Net Nanny lifted her ban on YouTube, we have been catching up on the some of the vids that we missed during the year-long ban...okay, it wasn't that long. Looking for any excuse to waste time and avoid Christmas shopping, we watched every episode available of the first season of Project Runway Canada (the other PRC in our lives). It's the Canadian version of the very popular (especially among the LGBT crowd) American show, Project Runway. Each show takes a group of designers and gives them a fashion design challenge each week. The "worst" designer of that week gets the boot.

Among the contestants on the show is Megan Fischer, a fashion designer based in Shanghai. She, in fact, has her own boutique in Shanghai, called Matsu. During her seven episode run on the show, she frequently mentioned her Shanghai "roots" and how they influenced her fashion designs, piquing our interest immediately.

Her Shanghai-influenced designs shone the brightest during the third episode in the season. As part of that episode, the designers had to create a dress for the irritating collection of Bratz dolls. Fischer's red qipao inspired dress (pictured) earned high marks and praise from the judges. After that challenge, Megan went on to win two challenges in a row (perhaps as a result of her Chinese luck?). It was quite a turn around for the designer who was criticized early-on for her poorly constructed and occasionally unfinished gowns. A charge to which she admitted, "Since I live and work in Shanghai, I don't have to sew on a daily basis, because I have a staff who does that for me."

Sadly, during episode seven, Megan was eliminated for a shapeless, "gloomy", gray evening gown she created. We wish her the best of luck if and when she returns to Shanghai. And more importantly, we hope she can make us a nice fashionable face mask for the winter. Give us a call Megan and we'll send you our measurements!

All Project Runway Canada episodes can be viewed in parts on MsRoyalT's YouTube page.

MATSU by Megan
183 South Urumqi Road
乌鲁木齐南路183弄1号1楼
Tel: 6433 8029 (by appointment only)
info@matsudesign.com