David Samuel Menkes, a longtime pillar of the leather community who created custom leather wear for countless members of our tribe, and who also designed breathtaking creations for mainstream celebrities, and a great number of theater and television productions as well, passed away recently.
According to his website, Menkes founded his business, Custom Leatherwear, in 1980. He had moved to New York City after graduating from Carnegie-Mellon University with a degree in costume and scenic design. His original goal was to pursue a career in theater, but he quickly discovered a passion for the leather scene. By blending his theatrical background with leather crafting, he was able to push creative boundaries while adhering to the industry’s established standards. This unique approach led to a diverse range of projects, from fashion and theater collaborations to custom work for artists, interior designers, performers, and private clients. His creations have included everything from functional dog muzzles to the elaborate task of draping a giant head of Stalin in a leather hood. He created items worn by performers including Lady Gaga, Madonna, and many others. The images on his website showcase a variety of these one-of-a-kind pieces, each tailored to the specific needs and visions of his clients.
Like many in the leather community, I am very sad to hear of David’s passing. I knew David personally for three decades. As editor of the Gay Male S/M Activists newsletter, NewsLink, I visited David at his home and studio on Fifth Avenue to pick up his ad, because in every issue of our newsletter he always placed an ad. He was kind, friendly, and a gentle soul. He was also always very busy at work making something in leather! I often saw his raw materials, which were large pieces of leather, from which he was creating something — a pair of pants, a hood, a bar vest, or a sash to be given to a leather titleholder. Many times, I also talked with David at the beach out at Fire Island, where he had a house.
Another member of the leather tribe who knew David quite well is Peter B., who was Mr. Fire Island Leather in 2002. Peter wrote the following remembrance, which is shared here with Peter’s permission:
Remembering David Samuel Menkes
By Peter B.
I am a dinosaur in the NYC Leather/Fetish Community, and as long as I was aware and part of the New York City Leather Community, David Samuel Menkes was a part of it. From the early 1908s, being a forerunner in crafting quality Leather clothing and fetish gear, David was by far the best.
At a time when guys were desperate to find someone who could fashion the Leather Creation Of Their Dreams — the stuff that only existed in our Wet Dreams — whether bar wear or bondage equipment — David could make it, and totally understood our language.
He was also incredibly generous with his time and resources when it came to donating to the Leather Community, including building the countless, delightful Title Holder Sashes that he created over so many years. Every Mr. Fire Island Leather, including myself, is proud to own a sash that David created the year that they Held The Title. My year was 2002, and David made the 0s in the middle to look like martini olives on toothpicks. I didn’t really drink martinis at the time, but I was inspired to do so afterwards…
David always was giving to the Leather Community. He was also one hell of a guy. Honest, consistently soft-spoken, and devilishly funny. I was lucky enough to sit next to him a few times when we were fellow judges at the Leather Contest on Fire Island. We would sit and giggle at each other’s jokes, just enjoying the brotherhood of Leathermen gathered to celebrate Leathermen.
In recent years, as the Leather Community in NYC continued to dwindle and work crafting fetish gear became further and farther between, David was thankfully called upon by Show Biz to build Specialty Leather Gear for The Metropolitan Opera, Broadway, Vegas, and Television. Here in NYC, a few years back, there was a production of BRIGADOON at Encores! where every Scottish laddie was wearing wide Leather Bracers crafted by David Samuel Menkes Custom Leatherwear. The TV Limited Series FOSEE/VERDON features Sam Rockwell wearing David’s version of Fosse’s leather (Fosse’s Fashion/Fosse’s Fetish?) watchband.
The Fetish Community, The Entertainment and Fashion Community, and just the community of good people in general, will sorely miss him.
R.I.P. David Samuel Menkes.
A close friend of David’s is starting to put together a list of folks who might be interested in helping to put together a Memorial at The Center in NYC most likely May 4 or 5th. More to follow.
Metal would like to thank Peter B. for sharing this tribute!
You can see many of David’s creations and learn more about him at his website, davidmenkesleather.com:
In addition, the dievca blog posted an article:
David Samuel Menkes = leather god
containing more information and many pictures, back in 2019.
And the Queer Happened Here account on Instagram shared a posting with even more pictures and information. Here is a screen shot, and if you click through you can see and read more:
