Let me tell you folks a little about my favorite place in the world (aside from my bed, ofc). I guess it would be less of a place, and more of a community of self-expressive individuals who take pride in being who they are. Soft Leather Club has not only become home to me and my partner over the past few months, but it has introduced me to myself, as well as some of the most impressive and inspiring people I have come across in my 22 years. Soft Leather Club is a members only, after hours event in Downtown LA that takes place Saturday night/ Sunday morning. Queer, punk, goth, kinky weirdos from all over (and I really mean all over, Soft Leather does multiple events a week all over the place) band together to create a safe space for us to radiate freely. From our usual Saturday night after hours spot, to putting together an all inclusive strip night at Cheetahs, to getting a team to play kickball in a tournament raising money for cancer, the Soft Leather team never fails to put on a creative, groundbreaking, TREND setting event. Never have I ever been in an environment so full of like minded individuals, who aren’t like you. From the first time I went to the party, I felt comfortable. I felt safe and welcome. Not only free, but INSPIRED to be openly and unapologetically myself.
Already the, “Soft Leather aesthetic” is being used for mood boards and inspiration by artists of all kinds. Leather and latex, whips and chains, punk and goth fashion are popping everywhere in the creative world. I, myself, got the opportunity to be in a video for A$AP Ferg and A$AP Rocky, along with my boyfriend, a few other residents/ freaks who frequent and run the club, after someone on the team had reached out to Soft Leather’s owner in search of people to nail the “look”. In my opinion, Soft Leather seems to have influence beyond itself. Frequented by subculture influencers in a world WIDELY run by social media, it would make sense. And it’s understandably so! The people who frequent Soft Leather are confident and unapologetic. Unafraid to experiment with different looks; different identities. Be someone they’re not. Be someone they really feel they are, but don't feel safe or have the capacity to do so otherwise.
Monday through Friday (Saturdays when Daddy got overtime), my boyfriend and I live a pretty fuckin’ normal life. He’s a full time welder/fabricator for a company that works on huge projects for some pretty uh, “magical” companies. Naturally, he’s tired when hes off. While he's at work, I spend the day working my various hustles so we can relax and smoke lots of pot when he gets home. Every so often we’ll go out during the week, and we do spend a lot of time creating clothes, planning our looks and exploring other various creative mediums, but from about 5pm-9pm, Monday through Friday, you can catch us POSTED on the couch. By the time Saturday rolls around, I’m more than ready to let myself go at ye old after hours.
That’s whats great about Soft Leather. I really can let myself go. And when I say that, I don’t mean get really fucked up and make an asshole out of myself, because that would definitely go against their ZERO tolerance policy for bullshit and DEFinitely get me banned (like that guy who showed up naked and proceeded to spiral way too hard and shit himself. Yeah, he aint coming back). What I mean is, I feel safe. I don’t have to overtly worry about creepy dudes grabbing me or pulling some fuck shit because I know I’m going to be taken care of if anything like that does happen, and it has. Which is WIDEly a problem at other events/clubs I used to frequent. I feel like that is widely a problem EVERYwhere. Often times you tell security and they shurg or just talk to the perp and move on. The staff at Soft Leather have NO problem telling fuck boys to leave. Now, they even have a number you can text if something IS happening and flashing wristbands on the people to find if you need immediate help. I will recognize, a lot of my feelings of security are attributed to having the privilege of a big, scary boyfriend as an escort, and I really cannot speak for people who might go to the club alone or without said big scary boyfriend. With that said, the club goes above and beyond for the safety of its members, and single folk would agree. Consent being it’s number one rule, failure to abide results in immediate removal and banishment. Pamphlets were handed out at the last weekend, and will continue to be distributed, beautifully breaking down what exactly ,”consent” means, especially in an environment heavily fueled by alcohol. Not only are they doing absolutely everything they can to make their environment safe, they are using their platform to educate.
I feel the most myself at Soft Leather. Free to dress however the fuck I want, no matter how ridicuous that might be. People won’t judge my relationship or my past. People won’t treat me differently because I’m queer. I’m safe. My friends are unique and creative and loving. Kind and open minded. I’m surrounded by people who I love to be around and who (I hope) enjoy being around me. I feel welcome, appreciated, and liberated every time I walk down the alley in whatever ridiculous makeup I decided to wear that night that probably scared the shit out of my uber driver (coming home from the Blood Rave was fucking hilarious).
In summary, if you identify as extra different, creative, outcasted, queer, goth, punk, kinky or what have you and have been looking for a safe haven, a place to frolic and be yourself, you should apply for a membership. Come meet some of the most inspiring MUSES I have ever had the pleasure of being surrounded by.
(cops and normies need not apply)
Softleatherclub.com
-Evil Em
Professional photography by @chrisofxcx (insta)
@whiskeyshotz
@fun_mag (insta)
Did you spy a cute lil @ivory ?!
