Lessons in Leather from Thorne Harbour Health
08 Aug 2025
Keen on kink? Here’s how to build your leather collection
Leather is everywhere – at the club, at Pride, and in your treasured collection of Tom of Finland work. Most recently, you could find racks full of leather at The Laird in celebration of A Week of Leather (AWOL) 2025, where dozens of people donated leather gear to fundraise for Thorne Harbour Health. In honour of leather and the people who love it, we’ve created a guide for those interested in exploring their kinky side, complete with a brief history of leather subculture, expert styling tips for beginners, and info on how you can score cheaper leather gear while supporting a good cause. Read on to learn more!
A very brief history of leather culture
By shopping for leather gear, you’ll be dipping your toe into a rich subculture that blossomed after World War II.
Leather culture emerged in the 1940s as a way for gay men to express their masculine identities and escape stereotypes. Eventually, the leather community became a space to experiment with kink, sexuality, and S&M openly.
Artists like Tom of Finland and Robert Mapplethorpe continued to popularise the subculture with their erotic depictions of well-endowed hunks in leather, published in popular magazines in the 1950s and beyond. Leather bars soon opened, hosting beauty pageant-inspired leather competitions and laying the groundwork for the ‘‘leatherman’’ archetype to evolve. Over the decades that followed, leather became one of the sexiest thing to wear to gay bars, sex clubs, Pride marches, and even sexual encounters.
While those in the gay leather scene are known as ‘leathermen’, butch BDSM practitioners and other queer women also played a significant role in making leather culture what it is today. Groups like Dykes on Bikes are among those representing women, trans, and gender-diverse folks in the leather scene.
Leather styling for the leather layperson
The world of leather is vast. There are pieces you can seamlessly incorporate into your daily casual wear, and others that may be best reserved for the spicier settings. Not sure where to start? Cal Hawk, Thorne Harbour’s resident leather liaison and one of the folks behind Northside Bizarre, filled us in on how to build your leather collection when you’re keen on kink.
For complete newbies, Cal recommends going for versatile basics like the trusty leather harness. The harness is an iconic piece for a reason. You can choose a simple design like a ‘bulldog’/chest harness or a halter/holster harness. Alternatively, there are more elaborate designs likes a hunter’s harness or full body/combat harness. A leather harness can easily pair with black shorts or a jockstrap. For more laid-back bar nights, you can also wear a harness with a pair of denim jeans for a more casual look. If harnesses aren’t your thing, a bar vest is a great alternative. Both pieces are flexible and forgiving, making them great investments for aspiring leathermen who plan to put on mass or slim down in the future.
Leather accessories are another stellar option for experimenting with your kinky side. You can’t go wrong with a pair of leather boots – they’re sexy, versatile, and timeless. The same goes for wristbands and holsters. Cal also suggests playing with different styles of hats and gloves to figure out what suits you without making a huge investment.
If you’ve been involved in the leather scene before, you may be ready to move on to the big leagues. Leather pants are (in our opinion) super hot, but keep in mind they’re also some of the priciest and least forgiving pieces. If you’re looking for something a bit more adjustable, Cal recommends opting for a leather kilt instead. But if kilts aren’t quite scratching your itch, a pair of cheeky leather chaps might be right up your alley.
Marlon Brando’s iconic leather jacket in the film The Wild One (1953) is one of the earliest examples of leatherman imagery. As such, a leather jacket will inevitably enter your wardrobe. However, in the hot Australian climate, it isn’t always practical to wear a jacket in all settings. Leather shirts are a great alternative to keep you looking hot, even when you’re trying to stay cool.
Find leather for less and support our mission
One thing’s for sure: leather isn’t cheap. Opting for secondhand pieces over new ones can reduce the cost and give you more financial wiggle room for exploration. And when you’ve outgrown a piece (physically or emotionally), you can donate it and shop for more at a pre-loved leather pop-up market that supports Thorne Harbour’s work.
This year, leather lovers helped raise five thousand dollars for Thorne Harbour at AWOL 2025, but the fun isn’t over yet!
If you have gear to give, consider donating to the Leather & Treasure fundraiser at this year’s Northside Bizarre. Proceeds will raise vital funds for all of Thorne Harbour’s services, including the David Williams Fund for people living with HIV.
You can drop off pre-loved leather, kink, and fetish gear at Thorne Harbour Health’s Melbourne locations or The Laird Hotel ahead of the return of Northside Bizarre in October 2025.
For more information on Northside Bizarre, head here.