After winning Project Runway, Kelly went to Europe for four months in search of inspiration. He returned to New York with enough ideas for New Zealand Fashion Week and for his first winter collection, to be unveiled in the United States later in the year.
"The TV show was a really good launching pad and has taught me that anything is possible," he said.
"I am creating my collection for Fashion Week from scratch and don't mind getting behind a sewing machine to help make it happen."
Back in the Big Apple, Kelly has been designing bespoke clothes for clients from the worlds of music, modelling and television.
He has had orders from Russia, Iran and Dubai.
He stays in touch with Project Runway's Heidi Klum and was invited to her Halloween Party last year.
"I went as a geisha girl," Kelly said. "It was hard to compete with other people who had prosthetic outfits and some were dressed up as trees from Lord of the Rings."
His next step is to establish himself as a designer.
"It is time to take things a step further."
Kelly's family are visiting next week and John Kelly says he does not know if his son will have time for a visit home.
"He is busy putting his Fashion Week collection together so we are going to visit him and will find out more about his plans when we get there."
-NZME.
