On Feb. 13, a snowy afternoon in Manhattan, Baltimore-born designer Bishme Cromartie debuted his fall/winter 2024 collection at New York Fashion Week. In lieu of a traditional runway show, the Project Runway alum presented the new pieces simultaneously—against the backdrop of draped white linens and the soundtrack of high-energy club music in one of the ballrooms at The Ritz-Carlton, Nomad.
The format allowed press, photographers, and other industry pros to deeply study the 20 looks that further Cromartie’s love of fusing streetwear with the avant-garde. Inspired by The Matrix, the black, white, and red collection incorporates everything from edgy jackets and cargos to show-stopping ruffled and draped gowns. As Cromartie puts it: “The collection is intended to be strong, effortlessly sexy, and both masculine and feminine at the same time.”
In the show’s program, the East Baltimore native who attended Hamilton’s Reginald F. Lewis High School thanked his mom and his late sister, Chimere, who passed away from cancer shortly before Cromartie reported to compete on—and eventually win—Project Runway: All Stars last year.
“I’m just thankful,” Cromartie told us in an interview after his win. “I’m thankful I am who I am because of the people that I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with. I’m thankful for this journey. And I’m thankful that I’ll be able to inspire other people.”
