Project Runway Alum Bishme Cromartie Brings Beautiful Chaos to NY Fashion Week
We caught up with the Project Runway designer backstage at his runway presentation and got the exclusive deets on his colorful and bold collection.
Months after Bravo's Project Runway Season 17 final runway show, alum Bishme Cromartie has found himself back on the streets of New York City for a special occasion. On Thursday evening, the Baltimore designer debuted his latest collection during New York Fashion Week at the Harlem's Fashion Row 12th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards Dinner. Amongst notable fashion figures like Ciara and Dapper Dan, along with a scenic view from the top of the World Trade Center, Bishme showed us a version of himself we’ve never seen before through his designs.
As Bishme’s new collection appeared on the catwalk, we were captivated by sheer purple frocks paired with leather bustiers, bold and colorful printed pantsuits, and skirts with sexy thigh-high slits.
“The inspiration behind my collection was the idea of being inspired by finding yourself through the chaos,” he told The Lookbook. “I just wanted to showcase a different side of me. I’m always using one color and one print and making a story be cohesive. With this [collection], I just took prints and colors and put them together and matched them.”
Chaos may have been a guiding factor in Bishme’s line, but backstage (where the real mayhem occurs at fashion week) he appeared calm and unruffled. The budding designer accredited his time on Project Runway for his composed demeanor, stating that the fashion competition helped "mentally and physically" prepare him for this moment.
“[Project Runway] allowed me to understand timing, it allowed me to understand who I am as a designer and not to get so much in my head,” he said. “Today is my test. Project Runway was me studying and learning everything I had to learn to get to this point.” (We'd say he certainly passed this test with flying colors.)
Bishme also shared some sage advice for the next batch of Project Runway contestants: “Do not get in your head — and come up with a mantra that allows you to think positive, stay positive, and be your truest form of yourself because at the end of the day you’re not competing against anyone but yourself. And try to make sure that you allow yourself to learn from the experience.”
