Christian Siriano has signed a fashion deal to produce a footwear and handbag collection with Payless ShoeSource.
The designer, who won season four of Project Runway aired his first stand-alone collection for Spring 2009 to huge critical acclaim during New York Fashion Week, and it seems this is the natural next step.
Siriano will now concentrate on launching his Christian Siriano for Payless collection, which will debut during New York Fashion Week in February.
The collection will then be exclusively available in Payless stores and online from around September '09.
LuAnn Via, president and chief executive officer of Payless ShoeSource commented: "Christian is among the next great American fashion designers, and we are thrilled to continue to expand the Payless Designer Collections and to add Christian as our newest designer partner."
"His talent, experience and personality provide a winning combination, and we are excited to see his designs come alive on the runway next February and to bring them to shoppers across America next fall season."
Since winning the Bravo show earlier this year, he has been one of the most in-demand new designers in the business, with a celebrity clientele including Victoria Beckham and Heidi Klum among others.
He also seems to have a sense of humour, as he appeared on last season of Ugly Betty, as himself and worked the camp and diva factor to the max.
The designer said in a statement of his new fashion deal:"I'm so excited to design and create with such an amazing brand that is all about fashion and trend but, most importantly, is also about affordability."
"I've already been working with the Payless Design Team in New York, and I can't wait to see how they will take the high- end shoes and bags I'm designing for the runway and turn them into pieces that everyone can buy. I'm all about the runway and the sidewalks!"
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