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Like most kids, Althea Harper dreamed big.

The Oakwood, Ohio native's vision was to become a fashion designer. Five years of design school and one season of "Project Runway" later, she has achieved just that.

Harper was the last contestant to be told "auf Wiedersehen" by Heidi Klum and finished as runner-up in season six of the reality television show which aired last year.

Harper will return to her hometown of Dayton to speak to a group from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Dayton Art Institute. She will discuss how she gets inspired and creates her garments, and she will also open the floor to discussion and show some of her own creations, according to Kaytie Seela, DAI's associate educator for museum programs, who encourages those from the college-aged bracket to attend.

"For aspiring artists, it's so wonderful to see someone living the dream," Seela said. "She's from this area, so it's wonderful to see a local artist who has made it, especially someone really close to [college students'] age."

Harper will also kick off DAI's Teen Project Runway, a six-week program where teens can learn how to design their own fashions. Harper will help teach the class during the opening session and will give the students ideas on how to tap into their own creative processes and how to get inspired by their surroundings, Seela said.

Harper grew up creating art, which eventually evolved into a passion for designing and constructing clothes for others to wear. After graduating from Oakwood High School in 2003, she attended the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning where she received a bachelor's of fashion design in 2008.



She also studied at Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London, where she participated in internships with designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, according to Harper's Web site.



Harper began work on "Project Runway" just weeks after graduating from UC in June 2008. She had not watched much of the show before participating in it, but considered "Project Runway" both a fantastic and tension-filled experience.



"It's a huge amount of stress," Harper said. "It's really mental. I like to talk to my friends and family, and you can't; you don't communicate with them [during the show], and on top of that, you're surrounded by people you're in competition with ... That's a lot on you."



During the show, Harper showed her first collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in February 2009. She has since launched her own line and showed it at Fashion Week in September 2009. Her clothes will hit the runway once again this upcoming February.



Although Harper has moved beyond Ohio in her work, her Dayton roots still influence her today. According to Harper, she designs with a definite Midwestern mentality.



"All of my clothes are very functional," she said. "It's not like I design crazy things just for a show. I still like to be innovative, but function is very important, and that's something I got from Dayton. It's not a fairytale land, and that's definitely a good thing."



While in Dayton this upcoming weekend, Harper will participate in a Humane Society fundraiser in addition to her appearance at DAI.

"It's a good opportunity for giving back," Harper said. "I'm very thankful for all the support I've had, and Dayton has been very good to me. Even thought I don't live in Dayton anymore, my family still does, and it's still a big part of me."



To see Harper at DAI, register by calling (937) 223-5277 ext. 334 or by e-mailing Seela at kseela@daytonartinstitute.org. The fee is $10 for students and members and $20 for non-members.