The Transformative Power of Art: Cult Leader Amy’s Renegade Runway

Glowing neon mushrooms, moving backdrops and slime green toxic waste bins illuminate the stage as people arrive at the fashion event. On October 4 at Metro Music Hall in downtown Salt Lake City, the curator, producer and one of many designers, “Cult Leader Amy” and House of Fashion present the Renegade Runway, a femme & LGBTQ-led theatrical runway event. Since organizing and hosting the first House of Fashion event, Amy continues her mission to showcase the power of storytelling through art and fashion. 

With a full team of best friends and passionate artists, the group is able to put on intricate productions that include original designs, music, movement and illumination art. The show had a total of 11 local designers that expressed their take on the theme of post-apocalyptic and how it can connect to “challenges we face and the transformative power of art,” Amy says. She emphasizes the mission of House of Fashion is to have “wearable art as empowerment.”

A jack of many trades, Amy wears multiple hats in the production and curation of Renegade Runway. In comedic spirits, Amy jokes about her self-given nickname with the crew, “CultLeaderAmy” as well as the crew’s name for her, “our fearless leader,” two names that resonate with her. Alongside her costume designer name, Pink Flamingo Mercantile, she highlights the various talents of the crew, who took everything to the next level. 

The live music filled the room, with original performances by Isa and music producer Laloh  to kick off the runway. After the opening set, the host of the show, Madazon Can Can, a clown and performance artist, took center stage in a camo outfit with a neon green set underneath, inspired by Tank Girl. The host highlights the importance of supporting local, LGTBQ+, trans and queer artists in Salt Lake City, challenging social stigmas and stereotypes that work against diverse communities. The empowering speech highlighted the self-expression in the designs and the details in the pieces. 

With three full runway-designed looks, a mixed-designer runway and a burlesque performance by Madazon Can Can, Renegade Runway was more than just a fashion show. The mixed designer runway featured Sweet Olive Shop, Lo Mekk, Roam Stone, Caden Smedley, Pistol Paisley, Shayne Metos and Phalyn, all wearing their own looks down the runway. As designers strutted and danced down the runway, electronic tracks and beats vibrated in the background. Silver chains, painted graphics, fringe, platform boots and strappy two-piece sets are spotted on the runway, creating unique looks reminiscent of rave wear. 

The three full runway looks included designers Cake, Gappy Goddess, and Pink Flamingo Mercantile. In Cake’s “Gender Anarchist Runway,” the looks and music took on a more emo-rocker vibe with some dark outfits covered in eye and skull graphics. Gappy Goddess’ “Fashion Theatre,” featuring PFUZZ on violin, had polar opposite looks, with florals, polka dots, corsets and Adidas wear meshed in. Accompanied by the sweet sounds of the violin, the performance told a story using props, choreography and the clothing itself.

The dance piece “Deepthroating Cunt” and the runway “Slime Time Live” had costume design by pink flamingo mercantile, each piece featured illumination pieces with artist Steven Galle, an illumination artist that brought the story to life. With the addition of the LED lighting design into the clothing, Amy praises Galle’s work and how he “took it beyond my wildest dreams,” she says. The movement direction was choreographed by Liquid Gold and featured dancers Saffron Bell, Dianna Sharr and Rick & Jax for the dance, as well as, all of the runway performances in the show. The performers danced about “consciousness and shadow work,” Amy says. The runway, in contrast, is about “taking those insights and that wisdom out into the world,” Amy says, “they’re opposites, but they relate too.”

“A lot of spaces have closed that support these types of arts and not many new things have opened to take their place, so this theme connects all individuals and humans way beyond identities.”

The show’s post apocalyptic theme holds significance to Amy because of the loss of her art studio last year. “A lot of spaces have closed that support these types of arts and not many new things have opened to take their place, so this theme connects all individuals and humans way beyond identities,” Amy shares. In Odd Star Studios, the space that House of Fashion was held in last year, along with where Amy’s art studio resided, she created many designs and memories that she wants to channel into her current work. “… Why I picked that theme was because it was integral to my life, my art community and the current state of the world really,” Amy expresses. 

“This production confronts the grime and chaos of life, navigating through the toxic waste barrel that is life and demonstrating how to wear it just right,” Amy remarks about her runway designs. During “Slime Time Live” there were people in toxic waste barrels, recycled pieces, patchwork materials and a handheld light post prop. 

The show ends with closing remarks and an encore, followed up by an after party with more musical performances by Maenad, Isa and Maro, culminating the event with even more original work.  

After all the work and time put into Renegade Runway, Amy plans to focus on continuing as a full time artist and making costume design less of a side gig.

When asked about what kind of impact she wants to make with the show, Amy says, “By witnessing themselves reflected in art, I hope they experience a transformative shift in perspective, recognizing their ability to create, express, and embody authenticity.”

With so many creatives in Salt Lake City, Amy hopes to show people the power of art and how meaningful the representation in runway performances can be to people from all backgrounds. 

If you wanna follow more of what House of Fashion and its producer Amy are working on, follow their Instagram accounts @pink.flamingo.mercantile and @_house_of_fashion_slc!

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