Biography
Johnathan Kayne Gillaspie was born March 14, 1979 in Nashville, TN. He began his higher education at Volunteer State College with a full academic scholarship, majoring in veterinary medicine. During this time he took a job as a sketch artist at a local evening wear boutique in Nashville, and became enamored with fashion. He transferred to The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2002 and won the acclaimed Critic's Choice Award for Evening Wear. Following graduation he opened Kayne's Clothing Boutique, which afforded him the opportunity to create custom ballroom dance costumes, evening wear, and wardrobe for the country music industry. In 2003, Kayne moved his custom design business to Norman, Oklahoma and became a partner in an established pageant and formal wear boutique. In May 2006, Kayne was chosen as one of fifteen designers to compete on the hit Bravo TV Show Project Runway Season 3. He quickly became an audience favorite and won the "Fit for a Queen" challenge where Tara Connor Miss USA 2007 chose his design to wear as her evening gown at the 2007 Miss Universe Pageant. Tara Connor became fourth runner up to Miss Universe later that year. Kayne went on to place Top 5 on Project Runway Season 3. In 2009 Kayne starred in the TLC special "Gown Crazy" and has been seen on E!, ABC, NBC, Bravo, LifetimeTV, and The Style Network to name a few. Since Project Runway, Kayne has established the award winning Johnathan Kayne shoe line produced by Benjamin Walk Corporation in Somersworth, New Hampshire. Kayne also designs the Johnathan Kayne dress line and is continuing to build his brand from his new headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Kayne also writes a celebrity blog for Project Runway on Lifetimetv.com. A native from Nashville and a graduate from Fashion Institute of Technology, Kayne Gillaspie excels in evening wear, custom gowns and has designed for many country music artists.
An audience favorite on season three, Kayne's designs sparkled down the runway with daring showmanship and pageant sensibilities. His boutiques and custom-made design business, established him at the top of prom, pageant, and formal wear.
After his time on Project Runway ended, Kayne starred in the TLC special Gown Crazy and has been seen on E!, ABC, Bravo, Lifetime and The Style Network, among others. Kayne also starred on Project Runway AllStars Season 2 on Lifetime in 2012-2013. He has established an award winning shoe line produced by Benjamin Walk Corporation under his own label "Johnathan Kayne." He also owns the Johnathan Kayne dress company and most recently launched the Johnathan Kayne for Empire Intimates Line of fashion forward corsets and lingerie. The Johnathan Kayne shoes, dresses, and lingerie can be found in over 3000 stores in over 4o countries and he continues to build his brand.
