Sha’Vi Lewis was a contestant in season 18 of Project Runway, a programme which can be seen in the UK on Amazon Prime, is a huge hit on Bravo in the US and saw Geoffrey Mac shoot to fame
A much-loved fashion designer on TV series Project Runway - adapted as Project Catwalk in the UK - has died aged 39.
Sha’Vi Lewis’s family is in a "state of disbelief" following the tragic passing of the designer, who was in season 18 of the programme and became a reality TV star afterwards.
His sister, Akira said: "We are in a state of disbelief as we come to the reality that our star has been caste into eternity. As the days move forward we will continue to wrap our minds around a future without your presence. Continue to pray as we mourn the loss of our loved one, Franklin Sha’Vi Lewis Frierson Jr."
No further details about the young man’s death have been disclosed by his family, who are largely from Newark, New Jersey. Sha’Vi grew up there, attended Clark Atlanta University and then ran his own clothing line.
But his big break came in 2019 and 2020 in Project Runway’s 18th series, during which inventive Sha’Vi impressed with animal print creations, a space-themed jumpsuit and a Christmas costume among other designs. The Apprentice-style programme sees professional fashion designers create outfits each week to impress judges but Sha’Vi fell at the sixth hurdle - when his piece around family history failed to dazzle.
The designer impressed jusges with creations during his time on the Bravo series, which was adapted in the UK ( Image: NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Since then, Sha’Vi has been a reality TV star and held a role as creative director for menswear company Stephen F. The designer’s aunt Deidra DivaDoll Elkerson paid tribute to him on Facebook, writing: "My fabulous talented nephew Sha’vi Lewis is gone from this place. I won’t hear his greetings to me anymore...
"I can just imagine the welcome he recieved when he got to those pearly gates, with so many loved ones who had gone on before....oh what a time what a time he is having with his grandmothers, grandfather, uncles, aunts, cousins. And good friends. My my my rest in joy nephew knowing that you left a hell of mark on this earth!!! You will be always loved and never ever forgotten."
Project Runway is a hugely popular programme, which was adapted in the UK as Project Catwalk and also successful in other countries. It started in 2004 and now the 21st series will air later this year in the US. It has helped rocket other stars to fame, including designer Geoffrey Mac, 47, known for the use of latex in his creations. He won the series Sha’Vi was in.
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