SALT LAKE CITY — You never know what you’re going to find when you’re cleaning up an office.
That was certainly the situation for Janae Pettit and Natalie Workman, two fashion designers who shared a studio with the late local designer Afa Ah Loo.
One week after his death — Ah Loo was shot and killed during the No Kings protest in Salt Lake City on June 14 — the designers found what they were more than happy to see: Ah Loo’s sketches of a collection he was recently working on.
They then went with an idea to Benjamin Powell, a co-founder of Creative Pacific, a nonprofit centered around expressive outlets as a cultural exchange.
“They came to me and said they wanted to give one sketch each to designers in the community, designers who would complete the design,” Powell said. “They wanted the pieces to be a part of the next Creative Pacific fashion show. I thought it was a great idea. It was a great way to honor Afa Ah Loo.”
On Friday night, at the Utah Museum of Natural History, friends, family members and fans of Ah Loo clapped, hooted, and cheered for each of his creations during the second Creative Pacific fashion show.
Ah Loo’s collection started the show off with works including a ballgown with an intricate pattern on a dark background with a long train, a large white bow serving as a top paired with maroon-colored pants with another intricate pattern and a “flowered” top with twine serving as sparse fringe.
His little girl was the first model on the runway Friday night, wearing her father’s design of a green dress with a shorter train. She received thunderous applause when her name was announced, as well as a standing ovation that continued for the entire collection.
Natalie Clark, a fashion designer from Cedar Hills, completed Ah Loo’s piece, constructing it for his daughter, a process Clark felt honored to be asked to participate in.
She knew Ah Loo and his family very well, she said, often seeing him as a brother, a common sentiment mentioned throughout the evening. She, along with others, spoke of how much she missed Ah Loo. She felt it was important to have an event that not only honored him but left the same positive vibe he did wherever he went.
“I don’t think finding the sketches is a coincidence,” she said. “When I was working on the dress, I felt Afa’s spirit with me. It was the last creation from her dad. I felt like I was kind of a conduit for the both of them.”
Ah Loo, 39, was attending the No Kings rally in downtown Salt Lake City on June 14, along with an estimated 10,000 people. The group was marching on State Street when two men who police say were part of a volunteer “peacekeeping” group for the rally, allegedly spotted a man pull out a rifle and “manipulate” it near 151 South.
One of the two armed men fired three rounds, hitting the gunman in the stomach. Another bullet hit and killed Ah Loo, an innocent bystander. Prosecutors have reviewed the case for potential criminal charges but have filed none so far and have asked for more information.
Highlighting Pacific Islanders in the arts
Eight designers participated in the fashion show from different cultures and countries. Fiji, New Zealand, California, Texas, the Northern Marianas along with Utah were represented on the runway Friday evening, displaying well-tailored dresses, slacks, formal gowns and various hats and headdresses to serve as a perfect accessory.
Codijo Yazzie, from Chebon Designs, is an Indigenous designer from Logan who sees fashion shows — and fashion, in general — as a way to recognize cultural similarities along with differences.
“I never met Afa, but I spoke with him on the phone, and he really got me interested in participating in this show,” he said. “I came here as the first Indigenous designer in a Pacific Islander show, and I can see how we have similar cultures, histories and fashion. It really is inspiring me to be here and say I’m an Indigenous designer. I have Afa to thank for that.”
Creating a celebration that focuses on the creative side of Pacific Islanders was what some wanted to honor, not only because Ah Loo did the same thing, but because so many do not view Pacific Islanders as fashion designers or painters or successful in arts, several attendees said. Football players and wrestlers, yes, contestants on “Project Runway,” no.
Ah Loo was missed Friday night for his character and his talent. Any conversation started with a joyful memory of Ah Loo, then a move to tears for a few seconds. A return to smiles and laughter closed out any conversation Friday night.
Adele Tovio, from Saratoga Springs, intended to attend the fashion show well before Ah Loo’s death six weeks ago. Being at the show and not seeing him there was different, to say the least, she said. Ah Loo invited her to last year’s event, and the positive vibe as well as the celebration of Pacific Islander artistry made the drive to Salt Lake City worthwhile.
“I’m hoping children will also see this and say, ‘I can do that!'” she said. “Afa wanted to do that. He wanted to change things so we could see Pacific Islanders designing fashion and at least say, ‘Hey, what’s going on?'”
“And I don’t think finding these sketches was a coincidence. It’s a reminder that Ah Loo is still with us,” Tovio said.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
