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Afa Ah Loo

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Afa Ah Loo
Born
Samoa
Died (aged 39)
OccupationFashion designer
Years active2013–2025
Children2
Websiteafaahloo.com

Arthur Folasa Ah Loo (1985 or 1986 - June 14, 2025), better known as Afa Ah Loo, was a Samoan fashion designer. He competed on season 17 of Project Runway.

Early life and education

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Ah Loo was born in Samoa,[1] and grew up in Satupaitea and the villages of Falelima (Vaisigano), Lotopa (Tuamasaga), and Neiafu[2][3] with three brothers and two sisters.[4][5] As a child, he helped support his grandparents by selling fruits and vegetables.[5] He began sewing in a home economics class at his high school, World College of Western Samoa.[4][6] Although he enjoyed sewing and designing, they were primarily considered women's tasks.[4][7] His mother, who had sewn throughout his childhood, encouraged him to pursue designing anyway.[4][7] Some of his first major projects were creating Sunday dresses for his younger sisters.[5][7] His first adult-sized dress was a gift for his mother.[7]

Ah Loo was a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served a mission in Salt Lake City. He attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii, where he studied political science.[4]

Career

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Ah Loo was a self-taught designer.[8] He prided himself on designing clothing for all body types.[5][7]

Ah Loo launched his titular brand in 2013.[3] In 2015, Ah Loo exhibited his work at Fiji Fashion Week and LA Fashion Week.[9][10] He also designed two outfits for Miss World Samoa Latafale Auva’a to use at the Miss World 2015 pageant in Sanya, China.[6][10] By 2016, Ah Loo was working as a bridal designer.[10] In 2018, he represented Samoa at the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange at Buckingham Palace in London.[11] That same year, he was nominated for the Samoa Business Network's People's Choice Award.[3]

In 2019, Ah Loo competed on season 17 of Project Runway, finishing in 13th place.[12] During his run, he "focused on colorful and boldly patterned designs".[7] He also became known for being the fastest sewer, and sometimes helped other contestants with their projects after finishing early.[13] He returned to the show two years later on Project Runway Redemption.[6]

In 2022, he designed an outfit for Danna Bui-Negrete of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.[14] In 2023, he designed the traditional gown for Miss Global Samoa Haylanni Pearl Kurrupu.[15] In 2024, he designed an outfit for actress Auli'i Cravalho to wear to the premiere of Moana 2.[8][16]

In 2023, Ah Loo co-founded Utah Pacific Fashion, the state's first fashion show focusing on designers from Oceania.[13] Ah Loo founded nonprofit organization Creative Pacific in 2024.[9][12] He was also a mentor at the Nafanua Foundation in Salt Lake City.[8]

Personal life

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While visiting his sister in Utah, Ah Loo met his future wife, Laura. He moved to Utah permanently in 2016[4] and the two married.[7] The couple had two young children at the time of Ah Loo's death.[8] He and his family lived in Utah.[8]

Death

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On June 14, 2025, Ah Loo was shot while attending the No Kings protest in Salt Lake City.[8][17] Ah Loo was caught in the crossfire when volunteer peacekeepers shot at a man running towards the protesters while holding an AR-15 rifle.[17][12] Police later confirmed Ah Loo was an innocent bystander, and had not been an intended target.[12] Ah Loo was transported to a hospital, where he died.[17][12] He was 39 years old.[8] Utah police announced an investigation into his death was ongoing.[8]

Ah Loo was the only reported fatality during the series of nationwide protests.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Utah man making it big in the fashion world". FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU). March 28, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  2. ^ "Afa Ah Loo". Bravo. January 29, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "High End Samoa Fashion with Afa Ah Loo". The Pacific Business Hub. September 28, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Pierce, Scott D. (March 14, 2019). "Burned brownies lit a fire under Latter-day Saint fashion designer. Now the Utahn (from Samoa) is on 'Project Runway.'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d "A Giving Culture: Fashion Designer Afa Ah Loo Encourages Sharing Your Art". SLUG Magazine. November 5, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Stewart, Indira. "Afa Ah Loo: Samoan fashion designer". thecoconet.tv. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "'Project Runway's' Utah contestant watched his mom sew for years; now he has his own clothing line". Deseret News. March 22, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Fonua, Finau; Tupou, Agnes; Dingwall, Doug (June 16, 2025). "'Trendsetter': Tributes for Samoan fashion designer killed at anti-Trump march". ABC News. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Samoan-born International Designer – Afa Ah Loo". July 11, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "Life is Super Exciting for this Young Designer". Samoa Observer. May 10, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  11. ^ Mower, Sarah (February 20, 2018). "Designers Celebrate Sustainable Fashion With Kate Middleton for the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, Buckingham Palace". Vogue. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Roush, Ty. "'Project Runway' Contestant Is Lone 'No Kings' Protest Fatality". Forbes. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  13. ^ a b Motuga, Ann-Tauilo (February 11, 2023). "Afa Ah Loo Talks Fashion, Family & Utah Pacific Fashion Show". TP+. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "Can You Guess Which Salt Lake City Reunion Dress Is by a Project Runway Designer?". Bravo. December 29, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "SAMOA'S FASHION LUMINARY AFA AH LOO TO UNVEIL CULTURAL MASTERPIECE FOR MISS GLOBAL SAMOA 2023". Eyespy radio 87.5 fm. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  16. ^ Allaire, Christian (November 22, 2024). "Moana Star Auliʻi Cravalho Brought Hawaiian Pride to the Red Carpet Premiere". Vogue. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Samoan fashion designer fatally shot at Salt Lake City protest". RNZ. June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
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