It's make-it-work time for Lifetime's "Project Runway," which begins season 8 -- from New York City -- on July 29.

Although it seems like StyleList just chatted up last season's winner, Seth Aaron Henderson, 16 designers have already been sewing (and in a few cases, collapsing) in the Manhattan summer heat in hopes of showing their collections at New York Fashion Week this September.

Judge/host Heidi Klum told "Good Morning America" that three designers had to be revived after succumbing to fatigue, hunger, and high temperatures on set at Parsons School of Design (expect fatherly mentor Tim Gunn to be fretting about that!).

Other highlights to look forward to this season:

The show is longer: Episodes will be 90 minutes instead of one hour (Lifetime has dropped its related half-hour "Models of the Runway" competition).

Judge Michael Kors told "GMA" longer episodes mean viewers will see more of the frantic workroom and the judges' scathing deliberations.


Nina Garcia is pregnant: The veteran judge and Marie Claire editor is expecting her second child in December. Will the contestants do a maternity look for the difficult-to-please panelist?

"No," Lifetime tells StyleList. Too bad. We would have loved to see the withering look Garcia fixes on the designer who presents her with a shapeless maternity tent.

Selma Blair is the first guest judge: The actress joins the panel for a challenge in which the 17 potential cast members are asked to design an original garment from their suitcase items (check out their reaction in our exclusive sneak peek photo!). Based on that impromptu challenge, Blair helps choose the 16 designers who remain in the competition.

They'll tear it up: While season 7 was memorable for über-confident Emilio Sosa, Henderson, and Anthony Williams, expect season 8's contenders to be as fragile as fine silk.

Gunn told "GMA" this cast is "delicate" and extremely sensitive to pressure and criticism. Um, welcome to fashion.

Meet a real Casanova: The cast includes a 33-year-old competitor from Astoria, NY, who goes by the single moniker Casanova. Christian Siriano is so jealous.

Bye-bye, Bluefly: It appears Piperlime is replacing Bluefly as the show's accessories provider -- notice the lime-green Piperlime logo in our exclusive workroom photo from Lifetime.

In related news, read about Klum's new maternity collections -- perfect for expectant Garcia!