Yuchen Han: A Season of Awakening

When Yuchen Han walked onto the set of Project Runway Season 21, he wasn’t just there to stitch garments together. He arrived carrying a vision - one that fused creativity, resilience, and a deeper spiritual calling.

Editor: Leon Haasbroek

Over the course of the season, he didn’t only design runway looks; he crafted a story of friendship, duality, and transformation that audiences around the world connected with.

The Gift of Connection

I asked Yuchen what stands out most from the season, and he didn’t talk about the drama or his competition. He spoke about the people. Genuine bonds with fellow contestants, the laughter, the tears, the shared late-night pressure - those are the memories he’s kept closest. “The friendships I built are the gift I’ll carry with me forever,” he reflects.

 At the same time, the competition sharpened him professionally. The intensity of timed challenges forced him into discipline, pushing his creativity to crystalize under pressure. That urgency, he says, is something he’s brought back into his studio practice. And with the show’s visibility, ALIENANT - his brand - has reached new audiences around the globe.

Scored Armor & the Art of Energy

If there’s one look that encapsulates his creative voice, it’s his Unconventional Challenge design: Scored Armor. It was chaotic and electric - soccer balls turned into boots, molecular sparks transformed into headpieces, geometry colliding with sensual curves. “It wasn’t just clothing,” he says. “It was energy, passion, unity. A cultural eruption.”

And yet, not every runway moment was smooth. In one challenge, he abandoned an ambitious couture-level “Storm Dress” just hours before showtime, starting from scratch and pulling together a dramatic robe layered over a playful mini look. The last-minute pivot still delivered impact - proof of his adaptability and relentless drive.

Living in the In-Between

What Project Runway reminded Yuchen most was the beauty of contrast. Judges praised his ability to create designs that could shift in meaning depending on context - villain one moment, princess the next. For him, that duality is the heart of his design language. “My work exists in opposites. That balance is my signature,” he explains.

More Than Competition

While the cameras framed it as a contest, behind the scenes Yuchen experienced something deeper. He recalls an unforgettable moment with fellow designer Ethan, who walked into the workroom in full drag - radiant, powerful, and celebrated. “As I embraced him, I said, ‘I see you,’ and for the first time I understood what those words truly meant. There were no boundaries, no separation - only oneness.”

There were also gestures of kindness from contestants like Antonio, who sacrificed a hard-won zipper so Yuchen could finish a design, and the constant encouragement of his roommate Angelo. Even off-screen, production staff became guiding hands, supporting him with patience and care.

ALIENANT: Fashion as Frequency

The show became a mirror for Yuchen - revealing how he works, dreams, and responds under pressure. More importantly, it reaffirmed the mission behind ALIENANT. Born from personal struggle, the brand is his vehicle for healing, resilience, and awakening.

“Every stitch carries energy” he says.“When you wear ALIENANT, you’re not just wearing clothing. You’re wearing a frequency of awakening.”

Looking Forward

As he steps beyond Project Runway, Yuchen is carrying forward the lessons of timing, balance, and storytelling. Fashion, he believes, is about more than garments - it’s about the presence of the designer, the energy they bring, and the connection they create.

To his supporters, he leaves this: “Meeting me here is no coincidence. Earth Ascension is already happening. Together, we are remembering that we are not separate - we are light.”