Connection

“I define connection as the energy that exist between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” Brené Brown

Connection – something that everyone needs and constantly, consciously or not, trying to find. We need it in order to be happy and free, in order to shine like a bright star and give to the world the best version of ourselves.

Social networks came as a great help for creating connections even though not all the time they serve the right purpose. We can connect with people around the world and share our stories, passions and experiences. I find it amazing!

For me Instagram is a great source of inspiration. I like people who are authentic, honest with sincere intentions of helping others. By sharing their lifes, ideas or creations anyone can encourage others to persuade their dreams and desires. What a power we all have!

During my journey of discovering, getting into leather fashion and also becoming more involved into helping people with their own struggles regarding this particular topic, I met many people who have been a great help to me. Among them, the people who run dedicated leather fashion accounts. By featuring my profile, they help me share my story and promote my ideas.

But who are those people? Why do they do this?

In today's blog post, I am happy to share a conversation between me and the man who runs @DailyLeather, a successful leather fashion account with more than 51,000 Followers. It’s a reference for all the people interested in Leather fashion.

• So who are you? Can you tell us about yourself? (age, nationality, type of profession etc.)

I’m 51 years old, and I live outside of New York City. By day, I’m a Service Designer and by night I’m a youth hockey coach and amateur baker.

• Why did you start @DailyLeather?

I started @DailyLeather 6 years ago as a way to express my love of womens leather fashion. It has been my goal from the beginning to celebrate it as a fashion choice, to de-stigmatize it, and to encourage women to include it as part of their everyday wardrobe.

• What is your personal connection with leather? Do you wear leather? When did your interest in leather start?

It surprises most people to find out I don’t wear leather at all, except maybe the occasional leather jacket. To me, leather is far better suited to women...the interplay of the masculine and feminine, how it represents a disrupting of the traditional power dynamic...for me that doesn’t come across in the same way in men’s fashion. My interest started when I was very young, first with boots. After my parents divorce, my father dated a woman who had a magnificent boot collection. It was truly my gateway drug. During the 1990s and early 2000s I explored the fetish side of leather but nowadays the fashion is the fetish, so to speak.

• What do you get out of it? Is there a business behind?

I get nothing from it but my own enjoyment. Over the years some people have tried to convince me to monetize it, but I’ve always resisted the idea. I do this for my own joy, and for the celebration of the women whose pictures I repost.

• Do you know the people you repost?

I have formed some friendships with some of the women I repost. I’ve even met a couple in person.

• Can you share a story about people you repost?

Most of them assume I’m a woman.

• Can you share a bad one? Something that turned out badly while reposting somebody?

I’ve had a few women get very annoyed with me and block because they felt like I wasn’t reposting enough of their pictures. I’ve also had a few occasions where women I repost start receiving highly inappropriate messages from some of my male followers.

• What is your ambition for your account? Is it # of followers? Or something else?

I have no particular ambition for it. I just want to keep running it for as long as it’s fun.

Thank you for the cooperation, the good spirit and the great job!