Santino Rice is a fashion designer who was the 2nd runner-up on Season 2 of Bravo's "Project Runway."
Santino Quinto Rice was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri. At 17, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a fashion designer. Santino graduated from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. School helped him organize his thoughts more than anything. However, the experience he gained from working in the fashion industry was Santino's greatest education. While still in school, Santino began assisting acclaimed Artist/ Designer Tony Duquette. This experience was one of the biggest turning points in Santino's life. The knowledge he learned from Tony Duquette was invaluable. With a love for the process of making things, Santino was adamant on learning everything he could regarding dressmaking. Santino became skilled at all the technical aspects of garment construction. When designer positions were not available, Santino could easily keep afloat financially by taking other positions such as Cutter or Assistant Designer, due to his knowledge and experience.
Working behind the scenes at many Los Angeles fashion companies, Santino became indisposable to other designers. He continues honing his craft even more, to prepare for the day when he establishes his own label. Santino is constantly looking for something he has never seen before. With an innate sense of the theatrical and infatuation with quality and complicated beauty, Santino's work is often unpredictable and provocative at times, but ultimately original and beautiful. Unlike the majority of fashion coming out of Los Angeles, behind the smoke and mirrors of his imagination, lays substance. With intelligence and points of reference beyond his 31 years, Santino's mix is anything but run of the mill. Known for bringing an exotic and handcrafted touch to his garments, Santino believes in the concept of infusing worth and importance to a garment; he does this through handwork and various finishing techniques.
Santino Quinto Rice was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri. At 17, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a fashion designer. Santino graduated from The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. School helped him organize his thoughts more than anything. However, the experience he gained from working in the fashion industry was Santino's greatest education. While still in school, Santino began assisting acclaimed Artist/ Designer Tony Duquette. This experience was one of the biggest turning points in Santino's life. The knowledge he learned from Tony Duquette was invaluable. With a love for the process of making things, Santino was adamant on learning everything he could regarding dressmaking. Santino became skilled at all the technical aspects of garment construction. When designer positions were not available, Santino could easily keep afloat financially by taking other positions such as Cutter or Assistant Designer, due to his knowledge and experience.
Working behind the scenes at many Los Angeles fashion companies, Santino became indisposable to other designers. He continues honing his craft even more, to prepare for the day when he establishes his own label. Santino is constantly looking for something he has never seen before. With an innate sense of the theatrical and infatuation with quality and complicated beauty, Santino's work is often unpredictable and provocative at times, but ultimately original and beautiful. Unlike the majority of fashion coming out of Los Angeles, behind the smoke and mirrors of his imagination, lays substance. With intelligence and points of reference beyond his 31 years, Santino's mix is anything but run of the mill. Known for bringing an exotic and handcrafted touch to his garments, Santino believes in the concept of infusing worth and importance to a garment; he does this through handwork and various finishing techniques.