The 20th season of “Project Runway” concluded on an emotional note as Bishme Cromartie was crowned the winner, attributing his victory to his heartfelt final collection inspired by grief.
This all-star season brought together 14 designers from the previous 19 seasons, culminating in a showdown between Brittany Allen (season 18), Laurence Basse (season 15), and Cromartie, a contestant from season 17.
In the finale, each contestant was tasked with creating a collection that authentically represented themselves and showcased their personal style. Allen presented an activewear line called “Pop-Gression,” while Basse showcased evening wear titled “One Night in Paris.”
The 31-year-old Cromartie’s collection, “Powering Through,” also featured evening wear and was deeply influenced by his grieving process for his sister, Chimére Wall, who tragically passed away from cancer in 2022.
Cromartie explained to the judging panel, “I wanted to showcase the good side of things, the not-so-good side when it gets a little rocky, and then when you overpower the darkness and the things that kinda, like, build you to be the stronger version of yourself.”
His collection incorporated a range of colors, with white symbolizing innocence, red representing rage, and black symbolizing darkness. He also designed a dress to symbolize the anxiety one must conquer to transform adversity into positivity.
Nina Garcia, Elle magazine’s editor-in-chief and one of the show’s judges, praised Cromartie’s work, saying, “As an editor, I can see these on the pages of our magazine, on celebrities. Your clothes just have that fashion with a capital F. You have a gift, and I want you to feel confident about it.”
When Cromartie was declared the winner, he became emotional while addressing the judges. Through tears, he expressed gratitude, saying, “I thank y’all so much for this. I miss my sister so much, and um… before she passed away she told me I was gonna win. All I had to do was just believe it. And this just right here, just showcased to me everything I’ve been fighting for is worth it.”
As the winner, the self-taught designer from Baltimore received a mentorship from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), PR representation, and a cash prize of $250,000. He attributed his success to his sister, describing her as his biggest fan who encouraged his creativity.
“My biggest fan. The first person who didn’t judge me for doing something outside of the norm and she was there to allow me to blossom and fall deeply in love with my creativity,” Cromartie said. “I know my sister is looking down and just happy and smiling from ear to ear.”
The episode concluded with an image of Cromartie and his late sister, accompanied by the words, “In Loving Memory: Chimére Wall.”
