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Vision
The Vest Project stems from our love of Leather History and a belief that we, as a community, are writing the history of Leather every day. Our vests often tell our stories- where we have been, people who have shaped us, clubs and families that we called home. We wear them with pride as they are a visible symbol of Leather Culture. So often these stories are passed down by word-of-mouth then lost to perpetuity. We seek to listen and record your stories for future generations of Leather.
Submit a Vest & Story
Simply go to the "Send Vest" page and fill out the form to submit your vest. It is best to type and send your story on a lap/desktop computer where you can easily edit your story vs on mobile. Photos of the vest should include the entire vest- front & back (back is optional). We recommend hanging the vest and taking a picture straight on. All vests must be accompanied by a story. Its up to you what your story is. Please submit a separate form for each vest if submitting multiple vests.
Our Duty to Your Story
We strive to tell your story in your words. We may edit the story to add paragraph breaks or correct spelling errors for ease of readability, but otherwise your story will be posted in full to maintain your voice. Please note our one exception; we do not accept entries with content that is blatantly racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, etc. If an entry needs content changes for any reason, we will reach out to you for edits.
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We do not own and will not use your photos/story for profit. If in the future, were we to put the photos/stories into a printed volume, it would be with express permission from participants and with the goal of archiving it with the Carter Johnson Library or the Leather Archives and Museum (no affiliation). This project is intended to be a living archive, and no attempt to profit will be made by the hosts. If at any time you wish to have your entry removed, simply email us at info@myleatherlife.com.
Preserving Your Stories
All stories will be stored and backed up offline. We have a duty to maintain this site, but should something happen, we will submit all information to a trusted source (Leather Archives or Carter Johnson) to preserve your stories. We also regularly will update the Wayback Machine so our stories will always be findable on the web.