Raymundo
Raymundo Baltazar Age: 24 Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Education: Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Biography: Raymundo Baltazar-Flores was born in Morelos, Mexico. He’s a designer-stylist and the founder of “Young Balls,” a line of leading edge youth-wear. Raymundo has been working in fashion, art and media since he was 16-years-old. He worked as a stylist at the “Los Angeles Fashion Week,” an assistant designer for “S-HoperDesigns,” in retail for “BCBGMaxAzria,” and as a buyer for a contemporary retail chain. This year Raymundo served in Hollywood as head-stylist for the new “Ed Hardy” launch fashion show “Runway.” In New York City, he served as head-stylist for the “Ipop” show. Currently, Raymundo is putting the finishing touches on his second “Young Balls” collection while also styling a children’s television project. Raymundo, a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, currently lives in Los Angeles with three dogs and one fat cat.

Tim's Take: Episode 1 Raymundo dyed his muslin hunter green, which gave it a richness that was laudable. He created a strapless dress with an accompanying vest. I responded well to the silhouette, but the embellishments threatened to overwhelm the design. Auction Bid : $ 100.00

Tim's Take: Episode 2 Raymundo took his velvet jacket, dark pants, and pink shirt and transformed them into a vest, a pair of clam-diggers, and a short sleeve shirt. I loved the vest, which was accented with large red buttons and "R.B.," his initials, emblazoned on the back. Raymundo's solution was witty, and that I applauded. He was also almost derailed by the dropping out of his model, Maria (same, shame). Thankfully, the previously eliminated Allison agreed to step in and saved the day. Auction Bid : $ 120.00

Tim's Take: Episode 3 Raymundo is OUT. I was, and still remain, totally baffled by Raymundo's solution to this challenge. First, I was perplexed by his fabric choices: an oatmeal tweed, an orange cotton, and a retro print that was unredeemable. Where could these choices possibly take him? Then there was his design: I told him that it looked like it was for an older woman, not a teen. He answered that he was designing for Barbie's mom. But Barbie's mom isn't the challenge! The matter of the client aside, his design was hideous and very poorly made. (Believe me; you can have one without the other.) The look of deconstruction was not intentional. Raymundo is talented and capable. In all honesty, it looked to me as though he wanted to take himself down with this challenge. What other excuse could there be? Auction Bid : $ 165.00