I wouldn't say he designs clothes so much as he upholsters them.
I think people were so wowed by his technique because in the context of a Project Runway challenge what he was able to do was impressive. But the quality of design during a project runway challenge and during NYFW is entirely different, and when you hold this stuff up to lines like Calvin, Donna and Marc the flaws become apparent. Granted he's at a different level then they are, but designers like Rodarte and Jonathan Saunders who are also working on a smaller scale still manage to execute their designs very well. Besides, no one told him to show at fashion week at such a young age, so really there isn't any excuse for sending sloppy pieces down a runway.
That taupey gown is a mess, as is the short brown draped one. The pieces that don't look bulky or messy are just nothing impressive. And I still think he has an awful eye for color/creating a palette.