Making the Cut episode 3 review: Collabs cut through the noise

Trying to be the next big global brand, Making the Cut takes on a huge fashion trend: collabs. Which pairings cut through the noise?

Making the Cut pushes the envelope with each new episode. For the next Amazon Prime episode, the fashion designers are tasked with collabs (aka collaborations). In these pre-determined collabs, some fashion designers stood out and many lost their voice.

The idea of a fashion collab is a hot commodity. While these partnerships can push the fashion envelope, they are also good for business. Bringing together two different voices captures a wide audience. From expanding their influence to reaching new fans, the concept of collabs has many uses, and so it’s here to stay.

Spoiler Warning: If you haven’t watched episode 3 of Making the Cut, there are spoilers ahead. 

In this week’s challenge, the fashion designers were paired together. The pre-determined pairs were meant to be opposites or designers with different points of view. While the pairings were not too extreme, they seemed to require the designers to push themselves.

The combinations were Sabato and Sander, Ester and Will, Jonny and Megan, Josh and Troy, and Ji Won and Rinata. To say that these pairings were slightly eclectic is like saying that a haute couture gown is just nice.

As the fashion designers determined their direction, Tim Gunn’s words rang in their ears. 1+1=10. These looks should not be safe and definitely should never be boring. More importantly, each designer should not lose her brand identity in the collab.

In the end, one or more designers could go home. It is better to have a voice in this collab. Never should anyone just feel like a second fiddle.

Tasked with making a three-look mini-collection, the designers had both ups and downs in this Making the Cut episode. All the designers seemed to get along, but still, there were a few moments of discord. From Sander wishing that Sabato could sew better to Jonny feeling that Megan steamrolled him, it wasn’t all butterflies and rainbows.

While the fashion designers thought that their collections would create some big buzz, the judges’ commentary was far from flattering. As Tim mentioned several times in the workroom, these looks are more like Frankenstein creations than collabs. And Frankenstein and fashion are two F-words that do not go together.

After a roller coaster of a fashion show, there were two top collections. Following a harsh critique in episode 2, Jonny received some praise with his Megan collab. They had a vision without losing their own voices. The combination of hard and soft worked well. It brought both designers up, yet they worked through their differences.

Sander and Sabato (Papi y Bebe) were probably the most unusual pairing. No one would have seen these two designers together. The collection had an ease to it, but each piece was special. The most impressive part is that the collection told a story. Everyone saw that woman and could identify with her. They definitely cut through the noise.

Sander and Sabato won the challenge. Their jacket dress is available in the Amazon store. Like the previous sales, Making the Cut fans need to act quickly to get one.

Will and Ester were addressed by the judges. After winning the first two challenges, Ester did not benefit from this collab. Her voice was diluted, and Will did not raise his voice to help.

It seemed unlikely that Ester would be eliminated. She is too strong of a designer. But Will has struggled. He hasn’t proven to the judges that he has a unique vision. This collab did not help his chances at winning this fashion competition.

Lastly, Josh and Troy were clearly in trouble. No one understood their three-piece collection. While mixing prints can be exciting, there was no common thread between these three looks. As Naomi Campbell said, it was a recipe for disaster.

It was clear that Troy tried to drive this collab. With Josh’s lack of technical skill, he did what he could to move the collection forward. But the extreme fabrics were unforgivable. No one would wear any of these looks.

In an even more disappointing end to this episode, Josh gave up. He bowed out of the competition. It could have been stress, it could have been lack of skill, or it could have been self doubt. No matter the reason, he chose to leave.

For a competition like Making the Cut, no one should just leave. There were probably many designers who would have jumped at this opportunity.

The judges were set to eliminate both Josh and Troy. But, as they have said all season, the judges can change their minds. The episode ends with an unknown. Everyone will have to wait till Making the Cut episode 4 to see Troy’s fate.

What did you think of this Making the Cut episode? Which collab do you think broke through the noise?