The underground fetish belts and cuffs that became the must have accessories for leather and style aficionados.

The outrage caused when wearing a studded cuff or studded belt in the 1970s and earlier we’ve covered here before. That the studded accessories were reserved for rebels, outcasts, bikers, heavy rock ‘n rollers, a specific style of gay man, young punks and to wear one would provoke utter outrage amongst squares and the more conservative members of society. Police arresting you for simply wearing The London Leatherman cuffs or belts on the pretext they were a weapon or that wearing one implied you were up to no good was a real thing in the 60s & 70s (see the ‘Weapon Or Decoration’ press clipping in ‘The Galaxy Belt’ post) and if not the police the public would often feel it was their duty to discriminate or even attack. Therefore, anyone who was brave enough to wear The London Leatherman accessories in public, pre- 1979, really did have a lot of bottle and were true style trailblazers, paving the way for studded leather accessories to be worn by everyone from pop stars on TV to models on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week. It’s hard to believe today that such high stylised accessories could at one time cause so much outrage.

The mix of fear and excitement that came from ordering accessories from The London Leatherman and it’s stockists during more conservative times came with a real thrill and many customers who did in the 60s and 70s speak of true rebellion and the feeling of absolutely having to have the ultimate accessory to let people know they were the real deal when it came to their chosen scene, whether it be the British biker scene, glam rock scene, punk rock scene or gay scene. To shop at The London Leatherman signified not only that you had the cash, it was expensive, but that you had enough ‘balls’ to walk into a gay leather fetish shop and be served by Ken with his cropped hair, earing in his left ear and clone style, which at the time was outrageous.

Jordan Mooney, model, actress and pin-up of punk is one of the key icons to pioneer the fusion of hard-core fetish with fashion in the 1970s. She’s pictured here wearing 2x The London Leatherman wrist cuffs Photo Credit: Richard Walker

Today with the outrage and disapproval having dissipated into distant history, what is the significance of these leather accessories in 2021?

Come the 1980s these underground fetish accessories were now high fashion, featured in Vogue and available in clothing markets across the globe. Many companies started manufacturing similar accessories and cheaper, leaving The London Leatherman for the true aficionados of style, quality leather work and The London Leatherman’s notoriety.

Today we take the best design elements from The London Leatherman catalogue of work and make it relevant for 2021, using only the best leather (that doesn’t require stitched reinforcing) and the best studs and fittings from Italy. Our accessories are made using only the highest quality materials and techniques available that stand the test of time in both quality and style.

Plain leather accessories like the LW1 & LW2 wrist cuffs pictured here, provoked equal amounts of disgust and outrage in the 1960s & 70s, when today they are a high stylised accessory for leather enthusiasts.

A The London Leatherman LW1 Wristband from the early 90s. Photo James Muldowney Styled by Dave Carroll.

A page from The London Leatherman ‘Exotica’ Catalogue of accessories,1975.

Members of The Slits wore The London Leatherman accessories. Here’s Viv Albertine wearing a Superior Belt with straight pyramid studs. Photo Ray Stevenson.

Pyramid Stud Superior Belt, set on an angle just like The London Leatherman Superior Belt made for Johnny Rotten in 1976.

1976 Soo Catwoman wearing The London Leatherman wristband. Spot the LW10 Cuff and customised LW21 Belt too. Photo: Ray Stevenson.

1976 Philip Sallon wearing a LW10 Cuff with cone studs and The London Leatherman cire t-shirt. Photo: Ray Stevenson.