Leather fetishism

One reason why leather may be fetishised is perhaps that the garment forms a "second skin" that acts as a fetishistic surrogate for the wearer's own skin. This is heightened by the fact that the leather was originally animal skin. The smell of the leather and the creaking noises it makes is often an erotic stimulus for people who fetishise leather.

Leather can also be polished to be shiny and can also be produced in bright colours, adding further visual stimulus to add to the physical sensations produced by the material.

Leather enthusiasts often fantasize about trades where leather clothing is commonly worn. In particular, some leather fetishists fantasize about cowboys or bikers and their leather clothing.

The feel of tight leather garments may also be viewed as a kind of sexual bondage, and much bondage equipment is made out of leather. This led to the term "leather culture" being applied in the 1960s to describe a particular American sadomasochistic subculture.

To do:

• Mention AtomAge, Skin Two magazines

See also:

• Fur fetishism
• Rubber fetishism
• Motorcycle leathers
• Tom of Finland

Referenced By