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peachgirl -> Leather Community (3/14/2011 3:45:45 PM)
I did a quick search and didn't find a thread that seemed to have the info I was curious about. What is meant by "earning leathers" and what is the significance of each item of apparel? Seems like I've been hearing more about it lately. Please do not turn this into a flame war about the "old guard"...I just would like to the background and what significance does it have nowadays. Thanks muchly.

Arpig -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 3:50:24 PM)
No idea peachgirl...but I'm glad you asked this, I'm interested as well. I look forward to the responses.

lizi -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 3:58:08 PM)
Count me in for being interested in learning about this topic as well. I was actually going to start a thread to gather general information because I realized recently that it was an area I didn't know much about....how nice to see a thread was started!

Prinsexx -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 3:58:56 PM)
Read Jack Rinella http://www.leatherviews.com/cols/search.asp

IronBear -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 3:59:04 PM)
Talk to Lady Pact, she has been through the whole Leather routine and earned her Leathers just the same as the blokes do.. She is prettier than any Leather Man and cute too, but as tough as nail if you piss her off..

TheShrew -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 4:09:56 PM)
Last Summer I was at a gathering, {over in H'ville AL}, where the host was presented his leathers {by Sir Dale and Insatiable Amazon}. For those who know Sir Dale and Insatiable Amazon you know they, also, have earned their leathers. I've never asked Sir Dale how his were earned, but Insatiable was gifted hers for having worked so hard for the BDSM community in the SE. A "house" recognized her for being active in the lifestyle, for the betterment of her local community, her professionalism, willingness to travel for demos and lectures, held positions on committees .. essentially, she earned her leathers by having proven, over a period of years, that she talked the talk and walked the walk. She's just a very cool and knowledgeable chick and a damn good Domme. I love her and I'm glad she's my friend. I know when she was showing me her belt and vest she was telling me the stories behind them. If memory serves, believe she had patches on the vest which were specific to the bestowing house.

BonesFromAsh -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 6:34:24 PM)
I'm glad you started this thread, peachgirl. Hopefully, someone like LadyPact will come along and respond (She being the first person I think of on CM when the word "Leather" is mentioned). I've done a bit of googling on this in the past and one link that I found was actually from a FetLife group-The Leather Lifestyle-where there's a very old thread that discusses earning boots and a belt. The're some interesting posts that you might enjoy (one in particular by Elegant, who used to post here). That being said...hopefully CM can have it's own thread on Leather to reference. I generally don't like sending folks elsewhere for information.

LadyPact -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 7:25:38 PM)
For those who are wondering, that's how Dale got his, too. That's how it happens for most of us, really, when it comes down to it. (Damn fine looking man in them as well, but I digress.) We leather folks have become more and more rare these days. On this forum, at least. I'm not nearly as prominent as Jack or Insatiable or Dale. I'm not as articulate as any of them either. I'm just going to grit My teeth and do My best. What do the various pieces of leather mean? Well, there are three that we consider "old leather". That's the vest, the cap, and the boots. They usually go in that order, too. For any of those items to be considered "old leather" they have to be passed down to you by a senior leatherman. Someone who has watched your journey, seen where you started, and who you have become. Each piece is a right of passage. As you grow, you earn the next. The vest usually comes when you have made this choice and have been committed to living this life. The cap is when you become recognized as a Master in your own right. The boots are when you have become the head of your leather family. (The big one, not the little one that you have at home.) Now, here's the tricky part. So what do you do to earn your leather? There really isn't a formula. I can't sit here and say "do x, y, and z" and you get this. Or "you've been doing this for x number of years, so you win by default". The best description that I have for it is that you earn your leather by not having earning leather as your goal. That's not why you're doing what you're doing. When you're out to further education, or presenting, or working at the tasks that need to be done for a leather community to exist, that's your focus. It's not "what can I get" it's "what can I give?" I'll tell you something else, too. Most of us who have been presented with leather don't really feel like we've earned it. Even right then, right at that moment when the room is full of people that we respect and admire are saying, "yes you did" in your own head, you're telling yourself that you haven't done enough. That whatever I've accomplished or done as a member of this community isn't nearly what other people have done and I am so freaking small in comparison. The person getting the cap is usually the one who thinks they deserve it the least. I hope I answered your question. Thank you for asking. In Leather, Lady Pact

peachgirl -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 7:40:30 PM)
thank you, LadyPact, for your answer. I appreciate it, as well as the others who answered here.

hausboy -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 8:58:27 PM)
Thanks LadyPact--I know you and I have briefly chatted about this. I earned my leathers as well, not in the traditional "ceremonial" way that some have, but I started wearing leather (including a chain dog collar) when I was 16. I didn't know or understand what the significance was, only that when I put on my leathers....I felt invincible, like it was my armor. And I refused to take off my collar--it made me feel safe. When I came out into the leather/BDSM community, one of the first questions I was asked was "Who's collar is that? Who gave it to you? Who collared you? Where did your leathers come from?" I defiantly claimed "ME." My leather family (and mentors) told me--you wear them proudly....but wouldn't you rather wear them with pride?" They took them away--I (temporarily) stopped wearing them, and bit by bit, piece by piece.... I earned them back. As LadyPact said--it wasn't a formula. [oh! you got your first flogging...here's your toaster!] It was more meaningful to me than just that. It wasn't like earning boy scout badges. Instead, each time I impressed my Mistress or Master with my service, ability or courage--I was rewarded. At the end of my term as my first gig as a houseboy, I earned two things--I got to wear my jacket again....and my very first leather implement. (I still have it, all these years later) When I look at it, I don't see two strip of leather--I see 3 months of loving, caring mentorship. I earned a cover (hat) which was a gift that once belonged to a leatherboy lost to the plague--when I transitioned, my cover no longer fit--I passed them onto fellow leatherfolk who were actively mentoring others, and I knew they would pass it on properly. Many of my leathers over the years were given to me as gifts from those who had taught me something. I have a leather shirt that I received from a gift certificate--it was off the rack, and it's just a shirt to me. Compare that to the feelings I get when I put on my vest....hold my old collar in my hands....or sit and polish the boots that I earned with my own spit and sweat. Today I wear my leather with pride, but humbly. P.S. I met Insatiable Amazon for the first time at Colonial Kink--she is wonderful and a wonderful role model in the community.

Jennislut -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:03:44 PM)
wow! thanks for starting the thread and for the answers. i had no idea such a thing existed. you really do learn something new here every damned day!

nancygirl34652 -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:08:24 PM)
ditto

TheShrew -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:10:17 PM)
Thank you, for your explanation. Very nicely done.

hausboy -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:29:30 PM)
Hey Jennislut & Shrew... And LadyPact was (as usual) completely right on the mark about not feeling like you've earned it-- I met so many incredible leatherfolk, that when Master C. gave me that first piece of leather (it was one that had been given to her so many years before) I held it together....but later completely broke down and cried. It was just...I dunno. Too much. She never exactly told me what it was that prompted it or why--but it was the last week I had in S.F. before I returned back east to finish school. I swear, I remember it like it was yesterday. It was mid-afternoon, and she said "boy, go put on your jacket" and told the Mistress of the House we were headed out to the store to pick up groceries for dinner. I started to head out to the store next to the flat, and she ordered me onto the back of her bike.(motorcycle) We went for a long, long ride to the top of twin peaks, barely said a word the whole time to me. When we got back, she grabbed me by the jacket lapels and said: "It's not about looks. It's not about scoring babes. It's about freedom. Understand me boy? This is on you, now." We went back upstairs to the flat, and that's when she went into the closet and pulled out the leather strap from her own collection. It was old, worn and not impressive as implements go these days--but I still get a lump in my throat when I see it. Later that week, the Household told me that after much discussion, they felt that I was "okay for my skins." My other housemate (also sub) then took me for a long ride, fully dressed--I cried most of the ride--we ended up at the reflection pool at the Palace of Fine Arts. It was after midnight, and a full moon, and the image of the two of us, fully decked in jackets and chaps, reflected in the pool between those two huge columns--moon over our heads. It was one of the happiest moments in my entire life.

Jennislut -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:31:52 PM)
thats actually a very beautiful and sweet story - thanks.

NocturnalStalker -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:37:14 PM)
I earn my leather by destroying my wallet.

peachgirl -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:41:25 PM)
thank you for sharing your story, hausboy. I found it to be very touching, something I don't generally associate with being "leather".

LillyBoPeep -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:43:51 PM)
thank you for the great posts, LadyPact and hausboy. ^_^ sometimes it's hard to understand leather; nice to have a smidge of insight. ^_^

LPslittleclip -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:44:16 PM)
as my Mistress said when She was presented Her cap she was the last one to say She earned it, but as Her collared slave i can say with certainty that She had earned it through very hard work perseverance and dedication to the lifestyle. i sat at Her feet many hours while She answered e-mails and made flyers for events and did research online to further the lifestyle. i have been privileged to be present at 2 leather presentations the 2nd one was at the sanctuary for the lifestyle arts in dallas where the local leather community presented the cap it really is a great honor to be presented with leathers by you peers

hausboy -> RE: Leather Community (3/14/2011 9:45:27 PM)
thank you for starting the positive thread-- It's nice to have a place to share stories like that with people who understand.

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