Press Release – March 20, 2022
The Selection Committee is pleased to announce the nominees selected for induction in the Leather Hall of Fame in 2023:
Robert MEIJER, John SUTCLIFFE & The 69 CLUB
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In 1974 Robert Meijer founded RoB Amsterdam, a popular brand of leather and kinky gear with brilliant, original designs and outstanding quality. Their flagship store and gallery on Warmoesstraat in Amsterdam remains popular today, almost 50 years later. At various times, RoB stores have also been open in Berlin, London, Paris, New York City and San Francisco. In 1990, Robert Meijer met an untimely death due to AIDS, but RoB’s legacy and RoB brand gear endure.
John SUTCLIFFE
John Sutcliffe was among the most influential fashion designers, entrepreneurs, and kink technological innovators of the 20th century. He published AtomAge (no. 1, 1972), "Magazine of Modern Leather Couture," dedicated to kinky fashion with innovative use of leather, rubber, and vinyl materials. Rare during this period, Sutcliffe operated a public store offering fetish clothing and publications in London. His distinctive designs, such as the fetish "catsuit" for women, inspired others and contributed to the popularization of kink styles in fashion, media, and popular culture.
THE 69 CLUB
Founded in London in 1965 by Tony Hepworth and by Felix Jones (LHOF 2015), the 69 Club was the first gay male motorcycle club (“MC”) in Europe. This type of social and sexual institution quickly spread throughout the continent. The 69 Club ended its activities after 56 years in December 2021, but dozens of MCs stand as their heirs, from Portugal to Estonia and Russia.
The 15th Leather Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at the Leather Getaway 23 in Los Angeles, California. All are invited to join us to learn about, celebrate, and honor the lives and accomplishments of this year’s inductees. For tickets and more information, visit clawinfo.org.