Althea Harper

Althea Harper is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur. She is known for her fashion labels ALTHEA HARPER and LILIAS & LOVE, and for being a runner-up in season 6 of Project Runway.

Early life and education

Althea Campbell Harper was born in Dayton, Ohio on October 5, 1984.

She graduated from Oakwood High School with honors. Later, she attended Design, Art, Architecture and Planning program at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. While at the university, she interned with notable fashion designers Anna Sui, Zac Posen, Alexander McQueen, and Vivienne Westwood.

To intern with Alexander McQueen, she temporarily moved to London. While in London, she took classes at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

Project Runway

After graduating from the University of Cincinnati, she contested in Season 6 of Project Runway, in 2009. She was 23 years old at the time. Harper won two challenges, "What a Woman Wants", where she designed an outfit for her model Tanisha Harper, and "The Best of the Best", where she designed a companion piece to her previous win.

Tim Gunn, actor and fashion consultant and host of Project Runway, said:  

Everyone thinks she’s only on the show because she’s a tall blond beauty. But she’s extremely talented. She’s going to blow people away.

In 2012, she contested in Season 2 Project Runway Allstars, however she eliminated and finished in 8th place.

Career

After Project Runway, Harper continued to work in the fashion industry and moved to New York City, working as a knitwear designer for Tory Burch, while continuing to work on her self-named line.

In September 2009 she presented her 2010 Spring collection "Assimilation" during Fashion Week and in February 2010 she presented her 2010 Fall collection.

She has dressed Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian for the promotional image of Season 5 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Harper now runs her own fashion business, working on her collections titled ALTHEA HARPER, and children’s line LILIAS & LOVE.

Personal

Harper currently resides in her hometown, Dayton, Ohio. She has a daughter named Lillias, after whom her children’s line  LILIAS & LOVE is named.