project runway season 1 was the first season of "project runway" series. the season aired first on december 1, 2004. the winner was jay mccaroll. he won several prizes including an "elle" spread, a $100,000 cash prize to start his own line and more. austin scarlett later appeared in "project runway: all stars" in 2012, where he finished runner-up. wendy pepper, in the same year, competed in the second season of the all stars edition placing 12th out of 13.