LIVING LEATHER PROJECT

Together - We are Leather Treasure

Photo: Greg Jones - @gear.gregj

When I think of the title, I see more of a mirrorball than a sash - its job is to take the light that is shined upon it, and shine it brightly on the things and people all around it - as widely as possible.

I first stepped out on the London leather scene in 2013, and my wide-ranging experience within the community has helped shape my core values, which inspired the project and informs its purpose.

The Living Leather Project will communicate these REAL values and add depth to our community, which I hope to serve next year.

Joe Shaw - Mr Leather London Candidate 2026

Just like a Mirrorball

Like a mirrorball, the project will shine a light on everyone around it.

Each tile on the ball represents a different face of the London Leather community.

Recreating a grid of faces digitally, the overall portrait will paint a vast picture, representing the whole community.

There is a box reserved just for you - and a space saved specifically for your story.

Your Face is irresistable

Our Story is irreplaceable

Together, we are Leather Treasure.

The project and its purpose

The Living Leather Project will paint a picture of the leather people of London through high-quality, visually-engaging, portrait photography, resulting in a huge live photo wall.

Along the way, it will tell the story of the leather people of London through short video interviews.

This treasure trove (think: time-capsule) - will be viewed online and at our events and spaces throughout the year.

The final picture will be showcased at the UK Fetish Archive in February 2027 where the project will find its forever home. We will celebrate this moment with a live event bringing this digital world to life.

It will help us to understand and see eachother better, growing the leather community not in terms of numbers, but in terms of depth.

See it in person:

Leather events throughout the year - giving your face a chance to shine, even when you're not there!

Live event - the big picture art installation!

See it online:

Instagram page showcasing the photo wall project, with interviews on the reels tab

Website replicating the photo wall and interview content from insta

We will send a powerful message of unity and fellowship.

We will raise a shout of celebration in the face of online censorship.

We will show the world that we are a radiant, awesome, and honourable expression of love and humanity.

📸photos - you are the treasure

Your leather passport photo, plus a silent 5-second moving image showing the person behind the pose - taken at photobooths at leather events throughout the year.

🎥Interviews - your story is treasured

5 minute interviews with a wide range of leather people, asking 5 important questions - the heart of which is your most treasured leather piece, person, or memory.

⚡LIVE EVENT - leather treasure together

Celebration event in partnership with the UK Fetish Archive in February 2027, debuting the full photo wall with opportunities to meet the pieces and people behind the interviews in real life.

Your Disco (ball) Needs You:

turn up to an event

in your Leather

in London

in 2026

(it's free to take part!)

Many are seeking to divide and diminish us - even delete us online!

When we stand strong together, we can weather any storm, for our roots are strong.

With One Picture

One many-chaptered Story

Our lives will shine bright!

The photo wall portrait wall will look a little like this - only with YOU and YOUR leather front and centre - and better lighting!

Leather lives (verb) through Leather Lives (noun)

About Me

I am a London-living, gear-loving, diabetically-challenged, pretty tall (6’5) big foot (UK16), gay, twin, a bit spiritual, kind-of-demisexual, 38-year-old guy.

A saxophone-playing, theatre-going, biography-reading, occasional-poem-writing, probable radical faerie;

a brutalist-architecture-geeking, MCM-furniture-using, coke-zero-drinking, eurovision-loving, often-singing, world-traveller;

a choir-leading, cast-record-collecting, Master-serving, neurodivergent Leatherman.

There is only one Joe Shaw* - but I am made of many diverse parts.

MY WHY - Attending MR Leather UK 2016

My first interaction with London Leathermen (London MSC back then) was my attendance at the 2016 Mr Leather UK Election, held at Expectations store, which Joe King won.

I spent what felt like 3 hours choosing my outfit (from a very limited selection) trying to get happy with what I was wearing and what might get the least looks as I travelled in from Barnes! It was a formative experience for me as it was the first time that I had worn leather alone on public transport - there is a picture of my lap/crotch looking down, catching the bus floor beneath to prove it - a record of how brave I was being!

This brave young leatherman had seen the facebook event ad and thought it might be fun to go along. Not having made plans to meet anyone, I descended the stairs confident that I would probably bump into someone I knew from Manchester, or otherwise, perhaps find a nice leather gent or two who wouldn’t mind having a conversation with a newbie.

I distinctly remember the pep talk I gave to myself: if those 6 contestants can stand up on a stage, be proud of the leather person they are, and live that life in the public eye for a year, than I sure as well can pop a bit of leather on and ride a bus into town and support them.

These leathermen inspired me in my journey, and it was foundational in so many ways. A concluding thought of that evening: ‘maybe one day I will stand for a title’.

Fast forward a whole decade and you will see a grown-up leatherman ready to inspire the next generation of little leather-Joe’s. The cyclical nature of this is not lost on me. I have experienced the best of the london leather community through London Leathermen, and having received a great deal, I believe it is now my time to give - to serve.

VALUES

I have 4 key values which have guided me to this point of application, these are

R real leather is about - Respecting our Roots

E real leather means - to Encourage and Embrace

A real leather means - being an Active Ally

L real leather is about - Learning and Leading

Why I'd like to be the next Mr Leather London

I have come to a place of clarity on what leather is to me, what it could be, and perhaps even what it should be - best explained through my REAL leather values outlined above. When I think of the title, I see more of a mirrorball than a sash - it’s job is to take the light that is shined upon it, and shine it brightly on the things and people all around it - as widely as possible. I am excited to do this throughout the London fetish community, and further afield - made all the more possible by my chosen career in aviation.

The Living Leather Project is an outworking of my values, and the picture of a mirrorball perfectly embodies it. In this way, I believe the title helps to deliver the aims of the project, and the project helps deliver the aims of the title: getting to know a diverse range of leather people and celebrating them through telling their stories and painting their picture.

I am a natural encourager with the ability to quickly build rapport - something I’m known for in the community, and which I have demonstrated over the past 10 or so years that I have been living my leather life in London.

Ultimately, I would love the community to shine a light on me, so I can shine a light on the vast, diverse, and truly beautiful leather life (lives) all around us.

INSTAGRAM

FURTHER INFORMATION - Professional background

My professional background is in Education, Arts Marketing and Community Project Management, having worked in a variety of roles - both paid and voluntary, commercial and non-profit.

My recent work-life includes 2 years as a Senior Leader for a music education charity where I was primarily responsible for communications and partnerships. Management responsibilities included ownership of marketing and comms strategy, partnership and stakeholder engagement, event management, budget-management, and strategy development. Notable achievements include delivering a rename and rebrand from conception to delivery; an medium-term individual giving campaign to raise money for SEN Music equipment; and managing internal communications for a new set of strategy, vision, and values.

Since 2023 I have worked part-time as a flight attendant for a major UK airline where I spend my days meeting new people, making them feel welcome and valued, and delivering on my key aim: them getting off with a smile on their face [winky face]. I also do occasional musical projects on the side.

I live life by the motto ‘Get busy living or get busy dying’, which is a quote from Red in Shawshank Redemption. I take this to mean that we must grab the opportunities life gives us, take them seriously and pursue them with all we have, whilst having as much fun as possible along the way. I hope to do this with the Mr Leather London 2026 title, and I thank you for considering this application.