Our Love ✦ Rich Love ✦ Lights The Path
Rich Love is the studio of designer Mars Xena, based out of the Bay Area.
Mars Xena (FKA Vi FKA Hana Mt) is a trans non-binary artist who has been sewing and designing for over 25 years. Born and raised in Montana, Mars moved to the Bay Area in 2013 seeking greater queer//BDSM community and opportunities for experience in the leather industry.
They spent 3 years learning high-end professional leather work from world renowned fetish designer, Skeeter Barker, specializing in the manufacturing and aiding in the design of the highest quality custom leather straitjackets and sleep sacks.
Mars’s dedication to perfect craftsmanship, attention to detail and cultivating top quality skills under Skeeter’s guidance, in addition to a lifetime of sewing, is clear in the impeccable design and construction of their creations today.
A lifelong artist, Mars’s expansive practice reaches beyond textile to also include artistic carpentry, experimental sensory sculpture, gilding, resin portraiture, mixed media painting & illustration, in addition to being a multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter.
Mars’ tattooing journey officially began in 2022, following a lifetime of interest and practice in body modification. Under the long-distance guidance of Olivia Britz (MORTAL EMBLEM, PDX), Mars works hard to grow as an artist every day and deeply values the sacred relationship between artist and client.
THEIR other interests include playing the mythical Omnichord, cultivating & mastering new skills, astrology, reality tv, dialectical behavioral therapy, discipline and punishment, Enya, lifting weights, and talking about ADHD/AUTISM.
Rich Love proudly supports Sex Workers. Rich Love supports Black and Brown people. Rich Love supports Trans People. Rich Love supports Femmes. Rich Love supports Sick People. No Human Being Is Illegal. Rich Love supports YOU.
Contact Mars at VI@rich-love.com
the artist as “Gay Satan”
Rich Love was inspired and named by close friend Denalda Nicole Renae, who wrote an unreleased song called Rich Love in honor of the pure love shared between Butter Milhouse and Vi.
It began as just an ever-growing pile of designs amassed during designer Violet Z’s tenure as head of the sleep sack and straitjacket department at Mr. S Leather in San Francisco. With a burning desire to create quality, high-end fetish wear for femmes, Rich Love finally materializing during the fall of 2017, officially launching our website October 31st, 2017.
In aftermath of losing Denalda in the 2016 Ghostship Warehouse Fire, Rich Love became an powerful channel for grief, directing back to the light for hope, duty, and radical acceptance. Rich Love means to honor Denalda and her creativity and passion, her work ethic and dedication to her crafts, and meant to embody her courageousness and vulnerability. In her words, Rich Love forever vows to “Keep it femme, betch.”
“SHARP TACKS ROCKS
SPOILED SEEDS//
LONLEY SCARED
AND DOWN ON MY KNEES//
EYES LOCKED ON A PATH IN THE TREES//
AN ALTERED LANDSCAPE FULL OF THIEVES
OUR LOVE
RICH LOVE
LIGHTS THE PATH
PASSING THROUGH ALL THE DOUBT OF SURVIVAL//
BECAUSE OF YOU THERE IS LIGHT OF REVIVAL//
SPARKLING OUR CUFFS TO KEEP US CALM//
A SHINING CROWN JEWEL RESTS IN OUR PALM//
OUR LOVE
RICH LOVE
LIGHTS THE PATH”
PAST WORK EXPERIENCES
CLIENTS//EMPLOYMENT
MR S LEATHER
Head of Straitjacket + Sleepsack Production under Skeeter Barker
2015 - 2018, 2022
San Francisco, CA
VAIN HEIN
Costume Assistance and Design
May 2017 - Forever
Oakland, CA
TYLER HOLMES
Costume Desing, Photography, Video Production
2017 - Forever
Bay Area
JADER VISION
Custom Performance Straitjacket
September 2017
San Francisco, CA
SHANNON SHAW
Fashion + Costume Design & Clothing Alteration
2016 - 2022
Bay Area
HUNX + HIS PUNX
Costume Design + Production
2022 Summer Tour
Oakland, CA
EVENTS//
F I L F: a Live Fashion and Music Extravaganza
RICH LOVE Spring Collection Release Runway with Russell E Butler
June 2019
Oakland, CA
F I L F: a Live Fashion and Music Extravaganza
RICH LOVE Spring Collection Release Runway for Lady Fair Cigarettes
March 2018
Oakland, CA
SYNTHETIC SPRING: an Art Encounter by Jack Metcalf
Costume Design and Production/ hair and makeup/ styling
(credited as Hana Mt)
April 2013
Missoula, MT
https://vimeo.com/57814906
https://youtu.be/zrVxeft7edo
BINGO: A Love Story in Two Parts by Jack Metcalf
Styling/ Musical Composition and Live Accompaniment
August 2013
Missoula, MT
https://youtu.be/bpikSJKd7B0
Project Selvedge Design Competition- 1st Place
March-May 2012
Selvedge Studios
Missoula, MT
Project Selvedge Design Competition- 1st Runner Up
March-May 2011
Selvedge Studios
Missoula, MT
OTHER PROJECTS//
NEEDLECRAFT
Drummer, Background Vocalist, and Songwriter
January of 2011-July of 2014
Needlecraft “S/T” vinyl record released June 2011 on Wantage USA
Needlecraft “HUNK OUT” vinyl record released July 2014 on Minor Bird Records
Missoula MT
http://needlecraft.bandcamp.com
BORN YESTERDAY
Multi-Disciplinary Musician and Songwriter
FOREVER
demos at http://bornyesterdayy.bandcamp.com
EVERYWHERE
MOODY
Drums, Vocals, Songwriting
Fall 2015
http://m00dy.bandcamp.com