By Charlie Laughtland
BDA blog editor

High fashion was on the menu at this year’s Pillsbury Bake-Off.

Former “Project Runway” contestants Althea Harper, Kara Janx and Carol Hannah Whitfield were commissioned to create aprons for the 45th event. The ladies were given the Bake-Off logo, then tasked to “make it work.”

“We’ve had a Bake-Off apron for every contest since the first one back in 1949,” Bake-Off contest manager Onju Sturlaugson said. “We knew these designers would bring some fun, fresh ideas to the garment.”

Once Harper’s apron was deemed the winner by way of a poll on the Pillsbury Facebook page, BDA was called on to translate the custom design into a mass-produced piece.

Using only an image of the apron and rough sketch, BDA worked with a domestic vendor that specializes in dye-sublimation printing to reproduce the look. This technique allows all-over printing of full-color images by transferring the artwork from paper substrate to the garment using heat and pressure.

Harper’s design is inspired by her fall 2011 collection of digitally printed clothing.

“It’s supposed to be for both sexes, so I thought it was a good way to incorporate the flowers with a masculine touch with the blacks, grays and creams in it,” she told PEOPLE magazine.

In addition to the aprons, BDA produced Bake-Off branded tote bags and pot holders for each contestant and polo shirts for event volunteers and Pillsbury staff.

Harper, the “Project Runway: Season Six” runner-up, was on hand at last week’s Celebration Dinner at the Peabody Orlando Hotel, to sign her special apron creation for the finalists and guests.

A limited quantity of the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off aprons are available for purchase at pillsburystore.com.