15 new, and one returning, contestants begin the battle to win Project Runway's twelfth season. This season incorporates some new changes including the "Tim Gunn Save," the anonymous runway show, and a $4000 spending account allowing the designers to set their own challenge budgets. For their first task, the designers must create an outfit that shows their point-of-view using parachute materials. They have two days to complete their looks.

The designers are asked to create evening wear looks to go with multi-million dollar pieces of jewelry. They have one day to complete their outfits.

The contestants head to Coney Island for their next challenge. In teams of two, they first must give away frozen yogurt treats to locals to elicit buzzwords to use as a theme for their garments. Then, they must pay $100 from their accounts for access to the carnival games which will provide the materials they are to use. They have one day to complete their looks.

The designers must create a garment utilizing bow ties in a non-traditional way using Justin Mikita and Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Tie The Knot organization as inspiration. They have one day to complete their looks.

The designers are split into teams of three to create a luxurious mini-collection using items from three varied retailers (a vintage wallpaper store, a specialty food store, and a home goods/party store). They have one day to complete the challenge.

For their next challenge, the designers go on an overnight "glamping" trip, with the surroundings from the campsite serving as inspiration for a high-end look. They have one day to complete their garments.

The designers are asked to create a look inspired by a pair of shoes. They have one day to complete the challenge.

The designers must create fashionable activewear for Heidi Klum's collection with New Balance. They get two yards of fabric from the collection and have one day to complete their looks.

The designers are asked to create a day or evening look for modern, Southern women. The winning look will be sold at Belk stores. They have one day to complete their garments.

The designers must create garments as part of a makeover for their clients… the show's biggest SuperFans. They have two days to complete the challenge.

The designers must create their own print fabric to use in a garment inspired by a Next Gen innovator. They have one day to complete their looks.

The designers are tasked to create an avant-garde look inspired by butterflies. Later, they are given the additional task of re-purposing a losing look into something new. They have three days to complete both challenges.

Each of the remaining designers is given six weeks and $9000 to design a 10-piece collection for Fashion Week, including one look made of unconventional materials. In the interim, each gets a special visit in their hometown from Tim Gunn. Back in New York, three designers must choose three of their looks to show as part of a mini-collection in order to secure their spot in the final runway show.

In the conclusion of the finale, the remaining contestants must create one new, easily-washable look for their collections. They are given an additional $250 to spend at Mood for this task. Then they present their lines to industry insiders at Fashion Week.

16 new designers arrive in New York City to compete to be the 16th winner of Project Runway. For their first challenge, the designers must create a red carpet look that showcases their fashion point-of- view. But the real surprise comes when the designers learn they will be working with models of all sizes this season. They have $300 and one day to complete their garments.

In three teams, the designers are asked to create a high fashion, five-look collection out of recycled materials. They have one day to complete the challenge.

After attending a screening of the film Leap! and a performance by Hiplet, the designers must create a fashionable look inspired by dance, movement and innovation. They have $200 and one day to complete the challenge.

A slumber party on the roof of the Empire State Building provides inspiration as the designers are tasked to make their own textiles to create sleepwear for Heidi Klum's Intimates collection. They have one day to complete the challenge.

Drawing inspiration from the film Descendants 2, the designers are tasked with creating a look that represents either "Good" or "Evil." They have $300 and two days to complete the challenge.

With the models as their clients, the designers are asked to create a street style look for them. They have $200 and one day to complete the challenge.

Working in pairs, the designers must use men's fabrics and styles to create a fashion-forward Fall outfit for their female models. They have $100 per team for supplemental fabric and one day to complete the challenge.

The designers are tasked with creating their own fabric to make an on-the-go look for friends and family of the Project Runway crew. They have $150 for supplemental fabric and two days to complete the challenge.

The designers are asked to create an avant-garde look inspired by Shopkins Shoppies characters. They have $300 and one day to complete the challenge.

The designers must use safety materials to create runway-ready looks that "do not conform to the rules." They have one day to complete the challenge.

The designers must create looks inspired by "Warrior Women" — women who have battled breast cancer. They have $250 and two days to complete the challenge.

The runway is converted into a Winter Wonderland as the designers are tasked with creating a winter-themed look. They have $400 and two days to complete the challenge.

Each of the remaining designers is given $10,000 to design a 10-piece collection in less than three months for Fashion Week. In the interim, each gets a special visit in their hometown from Tim Gunn. Back in New York, they must choose two of their looks to show the judges in order to secure their spot in the final runway show.

In the conclusion of the finale, the remaining contestants ready their collections for the runway. Then they present their lines to industry insiders at Fashion Week.