NEW YORK — Less than a week after winning “Project Runway All Stars,” Bishme Cromartie unveiled a sea of models draped in green, denim, metallic, black leather and satin ensembles, skirt sets, and avant-garde gowns in front of a capacity audience at Spring Studios in Manhattan.
“I’m Greenmount and 33rd Street, Waverly-area Baltimore,” the self-taught designer from Baltimore said after stepping away from the barrage of photographers and fans eager to steal a few precious moments with him. “I can’t make this up.”
Cromartie was among three Marylanders — designer Christian Siriano and model Liris Crosse — with “Project Runway” ties who participated in the country’s most iconic fashion event, New York Fashion Week.
For Siriano, the first Marylander to ever win the competition, this year’s fashion show marked the 15th anniversary of him having shows at Fashion Week. And he brought out all the star power.
With a diverse front row that included the likes of Janet Jackson, Quinta Brunson, Padma Lakshmi, Laverne Cox and Alicia Silverstone and with Sia singing during the show, the Annapolis native and Baltimore School for the Arts alum showed why he is arguably the biggest name to come out of the “Project Runway” franchise.
Siriano, who dressed all of his celebrity guests, wore an “End Gun Violence” T-shirt to support Everytown for Gun Safety, a national gun violence prevention organization.
Siriano is not new to aligning himself with organizations and causes, having previously supported Planned Parenthood, LGBTQ rights and actress Cynthia Nixon’s unsuccessful bid to be New York’s governor.
Siriano said he looked to his past for inspiration for the anniversary-year collection, which was peppered with avant-garde frocks, metallic moments, androgynous shapes and breathtaking gowns.
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