Founding
Founded 2 September 2024 in Edinburgh as The Leather Collective UK rebranding in early 2025 as Leather Alba and now Leather Belt (Scotland) we are a Vanguard Leather group hoping to restore a more traditional and subculture focused community to those under the LGBTQA+ and Alternative lifestyle umbrellas within the wider UK, though we do welcome those from the wider UK.
Returning to our foots
Many of our members resigned from the Scottish scene. After becoming disillusioned with constant schisms, power plays and the goal-oriented majority within the local ‘kink’ scene. Many increasingly felt pushed out or adrift in a 'community' which enforces groupthink and "othering" which is contrary to what Leather and BDSM has historically focused on. Even other 'Leather' groups in our native Scotland are fetish focused or run by people of unproven records within the community. We wanted a place where we could be authentically different, without fear of persecution or hypocritical criticism. Our larger aim is to preserve what we consider to be the original version of the alternative community and create a space where authenticity, safety and self-development are celebrated. We view the modern scene as ‘Swinkng/Qwinkimg.’ and a place which prioritises status and image matter more than integrity and compassion. To us BDSM subculture is not the modern approach of poly and swinging with kink as window dressing.
Group Structure
Vetted, led by an elected council and with group policy shaped by collective vote we try to make sure the community has a say in how their community is run. Those wishing to enter must undergo an extensive evaluation period to ensure you will be a good fit (and we will be a good fit for you). The first step of which is attending one of our entry level events or by being vouched for by an existing member.
Once you have attended an entry level event known as a munch (A public gathering of our members and other new people in a vanilla setting) you will be granted associate status. Which will allow you to attend our educational and social events but will not confer the right to attend play events or vote on Leather Belt matters. We do this as a safety precaution and "associate" is a probationary status while we determine if you share our values and have the right mentality to take part responsibly, are open to learning and to do what we do safely while acting as part of a community. If all goes well, then we eventually ask if you would like to become a member and be welcomed as a full member of our group with voting rights and automatic entry to dedicated play events.
If any of this sounds like it’s a good fit for you, you are new to BDSM within the UK and don't know where to start or are an existing member of a community but feel the current ‘kink’ scene is not for you, we invite you to reach out. We are a small but tight-knit group who value integrity, nuance and authenticity against a respect for traditional BDSM practice, protocol, strong values and social advocacy. If that sounds like you, please drop us a message.
This is an invite only community, with our members collectively deciding who joins. However, we do have routes in for people who don't know where to start, Message us to find out what these are if you're interested on leathercollectiveuk@gmail.com