Advertisement 'Project Runway' contestant from Baltimore brings cycle of hope to youth

If you're a fan of the fashion reality show "Project Runway," you already know about Baltimore's own Bishme Cromartie. The self-taught designer wowed the judges and made it all the way to the final four. While still enjoying his newfound fashion fame, Cromartie has a new mission: giving back to the city that gave him his inspiration. Cromartie is the type of person whose warm energy you can feel like the sunshine through the windows at his recent popup shop at Baltimore's Hotel Indigo. From time to time, people would stop to talk to the "Project Runway" season 17 breakout star on the street, and he would wave to others.Cromartie is bursting with positivity, but life hasn't always been this upbeat."Growing up in Greenmount (Avenue) and 25th (Street), I've seen a lot of friends that joined gangs and a lot of friends who, unfortunately, were taken away from the streets," he said.He said fashion was his escape. At the age of 9, he began making clothes for his GI Joe dolls and then for himself. The response he got from the other kids growing up in his tough neighborhood put him on a path to his future. "I made a T-shirt for myself. The day I walked in and all my peers were, like, 'Oh, my goodness.' And, mind you, the shirt was hand-stitched the worst way possible, but everyone was just amazed that I made it, and it made he happy," he said. "So (I asked myself), how can I give this to other people so they can feel the same way?"He said his clothes reflect the city he loves, with all its complications."Baltimore gave me my confidence. It allows me to forever tell a story that is near and dear to my heart, and it formed me into who I am. I love the fact that I can take the beauty and the dark side of Baltimore and create something that's amazing," Cromartie said.The children of Baltimore are also dear to his heart. He said he speaks to kids frequently and recalled a conversation with one boy in particular from Greenmount Avenue."It made his day, and by doing that, it made me feel amazing, because here's a child that's from where I'm from and he's interested in photography. So, it's just, like, 'Ahhhh,' just making sure it never stops -- the cycle. I do that for them so that when they get to a certain age somehow it clicks, so they can do that for the next generation. It keeps going and allows the Baltimore narrative to be switched up and changed," Cromartie said.​