11) How to Leather: From Person in Leather to Leatherperson

It’s not about owning the gear. It’s about owning the gear. This is the first instance of one of my favorite truisms: “Leather is an outer manifestation of an inner truth.” This is also the first appearance of the blue uniform shirt, which has also become something of a signature. At the start of the pandemic, IML 2017 Ralph Bruneau was auctioning gear for charity and I made it a point to score this shirt. I had it altered just a bit and now it’s amazing. I was always afraid the blue was too bright but from people’s response, Nah.