For the last three years, Alleyways Amplified has organized a fashion show to highlight fashion designers and artists in the Salt Lake City area.
On Friday evening, though, it brought attention to more than music and fashion. The group held a fundraiser in conjunction with their show for employees impacted by the downtown fire on Main Street on Monday.
“Our show was always meant to be on Friday, but when we heard about what happened, we had to do something,” said Vishwa Srinivasan, Alleyways executive director. ‘We’ve been a part of Main Street ... we know that the loss of any bar or restaurant affects all of downtown, so we wanted to help."
This year, Alleyways, a nonprofit that provides artists with an opportunity to showcase their work through community events, welcomed six fashion designers to its Main Street Fashion Show held at the Eccles Theater. A QR code was placed on the show’s program, allowing guests to donate as little or as much as they would like to the Main Street Fire employee assistance fund.
Salt Lake City’s Downtown Alliance has coordinated the fund, which will provide assistance for rent, transportation, groceries and more to the 200 employees who have lost their jobs due to the downtown fire.
To donate to the Main Street fire emergency assistance fund for employees impacted by the fire in downtown Salt Lake City on August 11, visit downtownslc.org/main-street-fire-assistance-fund.
The Alliance hopes to raise $500,000 to distribute to the employees. To date, it has raised more than $110,000. Fashion show organizers were not expecting to make $400,000 for the fund during their event, but the concept of “every little bit helps” was a message shared with all.
The co-owners of London Belle Supper Club, which was destroyed in the fire, opened the show by thanking everyone who has supported them, other owners and employees of the businesses destroyed in the blaze.
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to be part of the heart of downtown Salt Lake City,” said Frank Paulraj, a co-owner of London Belle. “We have been so touched by the outpouring and kindness and generosity. ... We’ve got great things coming with all your support.”
Despite the tears shed when the co-owners spoke, some in the crowd of close to 250 people were inspired to donate, as seen as by the number of phones scanning the QR code for the Main Street fire employee assistance fund.
Organizers have reminded people of the trials these Main Street business owners will go through, but they also had fashion to showcase, and they did so when owners completed their words to the crowd.
The DJs played head-bopping beats as models walked along a runway that included the front of the Eccles Theater. Denim-on-denim, prints on pants and sweatshirts, skirts, halter tops, denim fringe tops and much more made their way through the lobby as some sang along with the music.
And in between designers, some guests scanned the QR code again or asked their neighbor about the fire and whether they knew anyone who worked at any of the places.
Kait Paulraj, another co-owner of London Belle, shared with the crowd all of the emotional and financial complexities everyone has gone through since losing their businesses Monday evening.
But she also reminded the crowd that they are not victims, but people who will get through all of this.
“It is important to remember that individuals are not defined by their losses, but by the resilience, unwavering spirits and commitment to each other,” she told the crowd. “Recovery involves more than rebuilding what was lost. It’s creating a stronger, more resilient community for the future.”