8 minute read
Leather Out and Proud
Axe Leito. Mr Leather Netherlands 2019
Photo by Rene Zuiderveld
As a proud Army veteran Axe Leito is a man that has worn his fair share of uniforms. From khaki to leather was a seamless transition for Axe, and there’s no doubt in this writer’s mind why he was chosen to be Mr. Leather Netherlands 2019. I spoke to him about his love for things leather.
How did leather come into your life? At 18, my first job was as a bartender in a fetish bar in the Hague called ‘The Boss’, which actually still exists. This was probably the first time that I came into contact with leather. I didn’t do much with it at the time, but somehow though it kept simmering in the back of my mind. As I got older and started going out more, I went to different kinds of parties, some of which had strict dress codes. I discovered that the parties with a fetish theme, such as Wasteland in Amsterdam, always turned out to be my favourites.
When I met my partner Robin a few years ago, my passion for leather really took off. He is a leatherman as well, and our collection is growing by the day.
Have uniforms always been a thing for you? I am a Dutch army veteran and served in Iraq once and in Afghanistan twice. This has made uniforms an important and often defining part of my life. From a young age, I have always liked uniforms, they radiate a look of power and authority. Going from the military uniform to the leather uniform was a seamless transition for me. So whereas leather may not have played a huge part in my youth, it certainly has as an adult. Especially this last year, of course.
What kind of responsibilities do you have as Mr. Leather? There are no official responsibilities, but a lot is expected from you, especially being proud and visible in leather.
Axe and his partner Robin
Photo by Rene Zuiderveld
I appeared on TV shows, and I was the first representative of the Dutch leather and fetish community allowed to lay a wreath during the national Remembrance Day of the Dead ceremony. Together with my partner and some friends, I also created Ms. Leather Netherlands, which I’m very proud of.
It must be great that Robin shares your passion. Absolutely, and my boyfriend is a total gearnut. Fun fact, we have exactly the same size, so we get to share pretty much everything. Very handy! Although Robin’s not a competitor, he does all my PR (I’m Dyslexic) and was one of the presenters in the Inaugural Ms. Leather Netherlands 2019 competition.
I’ve found that people in the kink and BDSM community seem more at ease with themselves. Do you think that fetish can improve peoples lives? Yes, I do. In the leather and kink community, most of us know what we like and aren’t afraid to show it or bring it into practice. We live our passion, and many of us are highly visible from the clothes we wear. I guess it takes courage to do this. Fetish, kink and BDSM can help to open you up and be more comfortable with yourself and others.
What advice do you have for an aspiring leatherman? Don’t be afraid of what other people think of you. Wear what you want to wear and be who you want to be!
So what’s next then? In January we plan to organise the Ms. Latex competition, in May I want to compete at International Mr. Leather in Chicago. Then the highlight of 2020 — Robin and I will get married. Probably in leather : - )
Suzanne (Suus) Van de Laar. Ms Leather Netherlands 2019
Photo by Ellen Flanders @ EGW Photography
Suzanne (Suus) Van de Laar is a passionate leather and fetish photographer with a style that’s best described as soft and playful. Driven by a creative hunger to experiment and explore, Suus has dived deep into the world of leather, becoming the first-ever Ms. Leather Netherlands.
I was surprised to find out that 2019 was the first time there has ever been a Ms. Leather in the Netherlands. Why do you think it took so long to happen? I think women in leather have always been around. Unlike the men we’ve not been as visible, so I don’t think we have really gotten much attention on that front. I suppose the time was just right. As the first Ms. Leather Netherlands, it’s exciting to be encouraging other women in leather to be strong, visible and proud of who they are.
Are there any differences between the Ms. and the Mr. Leather competitions? There are a few differences between the two competitions when it comes to presentation, but otherwise, it mainly focuses on the individual, their passion for leather and the community. As this was our first year, I’m pretty sure that as we learn more, the competition will also grow and change.
What kind of things have you done as Ms. Leather? I’ve attended and judged other leather competitions around Europe. I’ve also organised a pride walk and set up two safe places called RainbowPad and TransPad — TransPad being the first of its kind in Europe. I recently also started doing some LGBTIQ wellbeing training in schools.
Suzanne (Suus) Van de Laar
Photo by Ellen Flanders @ EGW Photography
What is it you love about the leather and fetish the most? I really love all the gear, the way it smells, and how it feels when I’m wearing it. When I step out in leather, I always feel like a strong female, who is feminine, sexy and protected.
Do you remember when you first discovered kink? I discovered kink when I was just 17. I had started playing with handcuffs cuffs. It was inevitable that I found my way to bondage, kink, and of course, leather.
How do you think it has affected your life? Kink has definitely made me a stronger and more confident woman. It has also given me many opportunities to really find myself and live authentically with pride.
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Oh, that’s easy. My corset. When you wear a corset, it’s constantly exerting pressure on your body. I love that, it’s very sexy.
Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers? Be proud of who you are. Don’t judge others and don’t let others’ opinions stop you being your authentic self. Be respectful, be kind.
Evert Leerson. Mr Leather Europe 2019
Photo by Rene Zuiderveld
Evert Leerson cuts an impressive figure — tall, muscular and well let’s face it, pretty damn handsome. The kind of man that can make this ‘boy’ feel pretty intimidated... but to be fair, I was just about to talk to Mr. Leather Europe. All these feelings of apprehension were, of course, in my own head as I discovered a guy that was warm, friendly and ultimately sensitive to the world and others around him.
After a non-stop year of official Mr. Leather engagements and Pride events all over Europe, I was lucky enough to grab some time to ask Evert about his journey.
Beginnings are always important in how a person is shaped — what was the spark that led you to leather? Coming from a conservative family, when I grew up, I didn’t really know any gay guys and the gay men I did see were on TV — the Mr. Humphries of Are You Being Served? type. I struggled to identify with them. While at University my first boyfriend came home with a Tom of Finland book, full of images of (although exaggerated) masculine men. Some in uniforms, some in jeans and tight T-shirts and some in leather. That inspired us to buy our first leather. Later on, when we moved to Amsterdam, we started to explore more, and here I am today.
How did you feel the day you won your first Mr. Leather title? I felt great. I won the first Mr. Leather Netherlands title after an exciting race between five candidates. The thing I remember most is how warm the community was. I did not know that many people in the leather community in the Netherlands as I had just moved back after a long period abroad. I felt accepted and completely welcome. We have a Dutch saying that something feels like a warm bath. That’s the feeling I had.
Do leather and kink go hand in hand? No, leather and kink don’t necessarily have to go together. In the US they often do, and I suspect it has that image in Australia as well, but in Europe it’s less so. There are many European men who just like to wear it and hang out with other like-minded guys — it’s not something I would describe as kinky. I suppose I am more European — I like the look and feel, the smell, and to feel sexy in it.
If you could give just one piece of advice to someone interested in the leather scene, what would it be? Don’t be afraid to contact leather men — these guys don’t bite, well... unless you want them too. There are many leather groups all over the world and getting involved is a great way of meeting people. Which brings me to another important point — it’s not only about sex.
So what’s your favourite piece of leather gear? It would have to be a leather Muir cap. It has become a bit of my trademark. I think they look really hot on the right guy.
What do you think was your biggest accomplishment while being Mr. Leather Europe 2019? Visibility. With the emergence of conservatism and right-wing politics, the world has become a less safe place or LGBTIQ people. The Netherlands is one of the most tolerant countries in the world, but even here, this is under threat. I wanted to help change that again. I knew that tolerance often starts with visibility and figured that in leather one is very noticeable. I tried to encourage people to become visible by being it myself. I wore leather in places where you normally would not expect it, like a plane, the theatre, I even wore leather to a church.
I have been more visible that most titleholders, and I know that has helped others to find the same courage. That’s the thing I am most proud of.
Anything else you would like to tell the masses? If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that the biggest obstructions preventing you from living your life authentically, and being who you want to be, are all our in own heads. We do not know what others are thinking and often project our own negative thoughts and feelings of unease onto others. I kept the leather side of me secret, afraid of negative reactions. How wrong was I? Now I know that, I’m much more relaxed.
