Afa Ah Loo

Afa Ah Loo
Born
Arthur Folasa Ah Loo

October 1985
Satupaʻitea, Samoa
Died (aged 39)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
OccupationFashion designer
Years active2013–2025
SpouseLaura
Children2
Websiteafaahloo.com

Arthur Folasa Ah Loo (October 1985 – 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

Ah Loo was born in October 1985 in Samoa,[1][2] and grew up in Satupaitea and the villages of Falelima (Vaisigano), Lotopa (Tuamasaga), and Neiafu[3][4] with three brothers and two sisters.[5][6] As a child, he helped support his grandparents by selling fruits and vegetables.[6] He began sewing in a home economics class at his high school, World College of Western Samoa.[5][7] Although he enjoyed sewing and designing, they were primarily considered women's tasks.[5][8] His mother, who had sewn throughout his childhood, encouraged him to pursue designing anyway.[5][8] Some of his first major projects were creating Sunday dresses for his younger sisters.[6][8] His first adult-sized dress was a gift for his mother.[8]

Ah Loo was a member of 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.[5]

Career

Ah Loo was a self-taught designer.[1] He prided himself on designing clothing for all body types.[6][8]

Ah Loo launched his titular brand in 2013.[4] 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.[7][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.[4]

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".[8] 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.[7]

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.[1][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.[1]

Personal life

While visiting his sister in Utah, Ah Loo met his future wife, Laura. He moved to Utah permanently in 2016[5] and the two married.[8] The couple had two young children at the time of Ah Loo's death.[1] He and his family lived in Utah.[1]

Death

On June 14, 2025, Ah Loo was shot while attending the No Kings protest in Salt Lake City.[1][17] Ah Loo was shot accidentally when volunteer "peacekeepers" shot at a man who was carrying an AR-15.[17][18][19][20] 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. He was 39.[17][12][1] Utah police announced an investigation into his death was ongoing.[1]

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

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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.
  2. ^ "Utah man making it big in the fashion world". FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU). March 28, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  3. ^ "Afa Ah Loo". Bravo. January 29, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c "High End Samoa Fashion with Afa Ah Loo". The Pacific Business Hub. September 28, 2018. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c Stewart, Indira. "Afa Ah Loo: Samoan fashion designer". thecoconet.tv. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g LaFond, Hannah (March 22, 2019). "'Project Runway's' Utah contestant watched his mom sew for years; now he has his own clothing line". Deseret 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 Roush, Ty (June 16, 2025). "'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.
  18. ^ Cohen, Rebecca (June 15, 2025). "'Innocent bystander' shot dead by 'peacekeepers' during 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City". NBC News.
  19. ^ Harkins, Paighten; Baird, Addy; Parrott, Jeff (June 18, 2025). "Organizers say volunteers 'took action' against 'imminent threat' to protesters before deadly 'No Kings' shooting". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  20. ^ "New video of Salt Lake City protest shooting appears to contradict police". FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU). June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
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