Leather Delights- BDSM gear manufacturer based in Leicester
20/11
I reached out to them again, and we had a very interesting conversation, which provided a rebuttal perspective as well as a supportive perspective just as I suspected would be the case with manufacturers.
the rebuttal perspective was that consumers don’t always know what they want, so showing some options of previous work can help them form an opinion and decision understand what one is capable of, and help reach a successful agreement, another thing pointed out was that it is a niche within a niche and while i would be the only one doing it, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I would have an immediate clientele and success since people wouldn’t know the brand, they don’t know the quality and haven’t heard of it so it would be quite hard to get people to buy or engage.
A supportive perspective was that if I am interested in doing a co-design methodology, put it up and out in bold and loud and do it, and offer a bespoke method of product design and so on, and to be persistent and keep going and take all feedback constructively and decide on whether I am the face of the brand or if the products speak for themselves and which one would run longer and make some key decisions on various aspects of what I do, and the key learning was to be continuously learning and keep going.
2/9
Exploring accessibility and inclusivity in spaces and products and getting a manufacturer perspective seems important and i was able to get in touch with Leather Delights where we talked about how they include various disabilites in their process, which is through collaboration and offering customisations at the various pop-ups they do, and offer size ranges of various products like cuffs, harnesses are made to measure and are order for people transitioning as binders, and at their pop-ups upon request they do gimp masks and so on, which are much more time consuming but product iteration has been key and really listening and communication with consumer.
We also talked about how they promote knowledge about their products and so on, as well key challenges they face as a business, and how they’re much more different than other businesses and face higher insurance costs too, and they’d like to see buildings be more accessible so that more people do come to such events.
Emma Sheppard- 7/11
Emma Sheppard was referred to me by my tutor and I reached out to them, and they provided a perspective on how pain is experienced by people with chronic pain and that it becomes a part of their identity and they use kink/BDSM as a framework or methodology to release their pain in a safer space, and we also talked about how neurodivergent people are into kink, mostly due to the framework of co-design, negotiation and limits, which helps them and makes them comfortable even if they don’t engage in particularly in “kink” activities, and we also touched upon the legal frameworks around disability and sex, and how it’s a gray area which isn’t addressed.
I think this conversation helped me contextualise how pain is a part of a person’s identity and how someone blends with their pain and uses different frameworks to release it in a safer space.
Betti Marenko-15/10
Today, I discussed my project with Betti Marenko, who’s a lecturer on the design department, and she provided some context into how I can liase multiple aspects of community building, product design, development, and awareness around disability and BDSM, and when I had mentioned my project and potential collaborations and they thought it was important for people to know that they do have resources and support to enable and work through their fears, anxieties and worries as well. I had also discussed about my problems and concerns around communicating with stakeholders since it is important to use the right terms and behave properly in a way to make everyone feel welcome and considerate, as a facilitator and moderator at this workshop, and they mentioned there’s always going to be something wrong, and it could also help if there was someone who was trained in this space could help in the workshop and so on, and they also mentioned that by doing the workshop it also provides a certain aspect on body empowerment too.
Sasha Damjanovski- Conscious Kink and Wellness coach
Discussion on 20/8
Post interviewing, Sasha, a wellness and conscious kink coach I feel renewed in my project and about the way it’s been shaping and that all contribution towards a positive change counts as change.
Andrei Nikolai- Safe Space Maker
Discussion on 31/7
I was able to talk to an alumnus and expert stakeholder, who has worked in safe-space making and this has given me useful insight into what my challenges are, and how I can navigate them in the existing scenario, and I would have to really iterate my question in safe-spaces to something a bit more specific and to different groups of people and communities, like for instance, I had noticed that not a lot of POC visit kink clubs, and this could be something to work on and implement, and probably using the existing skill set of leather subculture design to promote a sense of safety and exploration, and so on and definitely mind mapping these various possibilities could open up new ideas and avenues for reiteration and exploration!
In our conversation, we talked about their methods of safe space making and how his background in art, theatre, and community engagement contributed to their research and methodologies, and how my personal background in leather goods and accessories design can contribute to safe-space making and this perfectly aligned with some of the thoughts I had been having (refer to 30/7 in learning log) by pointing out that products and gear are not just tools, but also hold power and meaning and can contribute to confidence, empowerment as well as tools for exploration.
Eunice Hung