Sydney Leather Festival
Education Workshops
Saturday 26th July 2025
Welcome to Sydney Leather Festival.
Sydney Leather Festival will emerge in 2025 after having been previously run in 2023 as Sydney Leather Weekend and 2024 as Sydney Leather Week running for 10 days.
After carefully considering ideas, feedback and addressing some opportunities, it was decided for 2025 (and onwards) to rename Sydney Leather Week (SLW) to Sydney Leather Festival (SLF). SLF will continue to be an opportunity to showcase and celebrate Sydney’s Leather, Fetish, and Kink community.
SLW was initially organised and funded in collaboration with Sydney Leather Men however the founders have now separated Sydney Leather Festival off into its own entity and in the interests of transparency the operating name is privately owned along with that of Sydney Leather Week. While they are privately owned by the founders to protect the branding, there is no intention for this festival to profit from its true intention of showcasing and celebrating Sydney’s Leather, Fetish and Kink community. Most events are run by the community and its groups and that’s how we want it to continue, so the success of SLF is based on the community.
Sydney Leather Week was co-founded by Sydney Mr Leather 2023 Coach Jura and Mick Watson Sydney Leather Person 2023. SLW and now SLF was created from a vision to create a global destination event that reaffirms and showcases Sydney as a powerhouse in Leather, Fetish and Kink.
SLF continues to be run and organised by the founders under the name IM Entertainment alongside the support of several amazing community businesses, events and groups.
Sydney Leather Festival 2025 runs from Thursday July 17th 2025 to Sunday July 27th 2025.
The Art of Impact: From Sensual to Sadistic
10am to 11am on Saturday 26th July
Hosted Mark DeViate
Impact play can be deeply connective, thrillingly primal, and endlessly expressive. In this one-hour festival session, Mark DeViate – known for his sensual sadism and scene artistry – invites you to explore the full emotional range of impact play, from soft and sensual to sharp and sadistic.
This session delves into both the why and the how of impact: the intention, motivation, and psychological depth behind each strike. You’ll learn how to select and wield a variety of tools (hands, floggers, paddles, and more), how to manage rhythm and pacing, and how to read your partner’s body and emotional state in real time. Aftercare, connection, and communication are core to the experience.
Designed as a lecture and demonstration-based class with optional hands-on elements, this session offers practical insight for tops, bottoms, and switches at all levels. Whether you're looking to build intimacy, push limits, or simply refine your technique, this class will help you wield impact with purpose, presence, and precision.
Tying the Masc Form
11:30am to 12:30pm on Saturday 26th July
Hosted by Precipice
Rope is more than restraint – it’s a language of presence, creativity, and connection. In this one-hour session, Precipice will explore the art of tying masculine bodies with both technical precision and emotional depth. Whether you're working with cis men, trans men, non-binary folks, or anyone who embodies masc form or presentation, this class is designed to help you adapt your rope with care and clarity.
You’ll learn about body-aware harness placement, ties that affirm or highlight masculine aesthetics, and communication tools to support grounding and mutual empowerment. Expect thoughtful discussion, demonstration, and practical insights into how to tie with confidence and respect for each individual’s experience.
This session welcomes riggers, bottoms, and switches of all identities and skill levels – with a focus on those who identify with or want to tie masc-presenting bodies. Come explore how to make your rope play more intentional, inclusive, and impactful.
A partner is recommended for hands-on components, so bring your rope along too!
Ride the Lightning: Violet Wands for Pain and Pleasure
1pm to 2pm on Saturday 26th July
Hosted by Mark DeViate
From teasing sparks to sizzling intensity, violet wands are one of the most versatile tools in kink – capable of delivering sensation that is erotic, surprising, and exquisitely charged. In this one-hour festival session, Mark DeViate, with over 20 years of electroplay experience, will guide you through the art and application of violet wand play.
You’ll explore three core types of play:
⚡ Direct – wand-to-skin or object contact.
⚡ Indirect – channeling electricity through the top.
⚡ Reverse – sending the current through the bottom for unexpected effect.
Mark will also cover safety, scene-building, consent negotiation, and how to use various attachments to tune sensation from sensual to sadistic. This is a demonstration-led session with optional hands-on opportunities – ideal for curious newcomers and seasoned players alike.
Whether you're looking to add a violet wand to your toybag or refine your technique, this session will spark your imagination and light up your scenes.