The new season of the show is to premiere Wednesday.

Supermodel Heidi Klum is to preside over the competition, while Michael Kors and Nina Garcia will judge the aspiring fashion designers' offerings.

Also expected to act as guest judges are Diane Von Furstenberg, Sandra Bernhard, RuPaul, Rachel Zoe, Cynthia Rowley and Francisco Costa.

"I feel as though we set the bar higher every season," Klum said in a statement. "We've got some truly talented, innovative and deeply creative designers this year, and I think it's fair to say, the most diverse -- everyone from a rocker chick who mostly works with leather to a more bohemian, surfer boy -- and everything in between."

"Season after season the designers have amazed us," added Tim Gunn, mentor to the designers. "They have different DNA, different chemistry within each other and different views -- their creative aptitude is right on par -- but how to characterize them? That's up to the audience!"