Afa Ah Loo

Lotopa, Samoa

Afa Ah Loo was born and raised in the independent country of Samoa in the villages of Lotopa and Falelima. He was first introduced to fashion through his mother, who sewed most of the clothes for him, his three brothers, and his two sisters. In school, Afa was placed in home economics because he was late for class registration. Once he realized he might not be a good fit in the kitchen after nearly burning it down, he took up an interest in sewing. His first project was creating a Sunday dress for his sister, and since then he has never looked back.Read More

Lotopa, Samoa

Afa Ah Loo was born and raised in the independent country of Samoa in the villages of Lotopa and Falelima. He was first introduced to fashion through his mother, who sewed most of the clothes for him, his three brothers, and his two sisters. In school, Afa was placed in home economics because he was late for class registration. Once he realized he might not be a good fit in the kitchen after nearly burning it down, he took up an interest in sewing. His first project was creating a Sunday dress for his sister, and since then he has never looked back. Afa attended Brigham Young University - Hawaii and currently resides in Utah. As a self-taught designer, he had to overcome his personal fears of failing to just get out there and do what he loves. He continues to be inspired by his mother and his surroundings and has been “officially” designing for five years. Within the past year, Afa was chosen to create a bespoke look for The Commonwealth Fashion Exchange, which showcases the power and potential of up-and-coming artisan designers. His piece was created as an ode to his Samoan roots, utilizing Samoan materials. The final look was displayed at Buckingham Palace, in an exhibit curated by Vogue’s Editor-at-Large, Hamish Bowles. His aesthetic of clean and classic, or as he refers to it, “sweetly bold,” continues to grow and evolve along with his courage to embark on his fashion journey.