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bluf.social
BLUF HQ
@bluf.social
1.9K followers 500 following 1.8K posts
Official account representing BLUF, the Breeches & Leather Uniform Fanclub. Posts here may be made by various members of the admin team. See @subdirectory.uk for the former director, Nigel.

Find out more at https://bluf.com
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bluf.social
BLUF HQ @bluf.social · Jun 16
Signing off

bluf.com/b/737
And so, it ends. Today marks seventeen years since I took over running BLUF from Leon. It also marks the official end of the transition of BLUF to the new team. The full text of my final post is on the BLUF blog. On events It’s not an exaggeration to state that, each year, thousands of people around the world attend BLUF events, both members and non-members. And it’s these meetings, hosted by volunteers in over fifty cities, that really are the beating heart of the club, helping people to make connections in real life. Some of those people will become members, and it won’t be long before we have over 6,000 of them. A heartfelt thanks - I really can’t say it often enough - is due to the many members who have put in their time, and in some cases, their own money, to bring BLUF events to an increasing number of cities. What's next Though my involvement with BLUF will be much reduced, I’m certainly not stepping away from the leather scene; in fact, I’m hoping to spend much more time involved, now as just “Nigel” rather than “Nigel from BLUF.” Later this year, look out for another new project, which will be a zine focussing on providing a space for people to share thoughts and theories about leather, kink, and SM. There are plenty of other ideas and projects on the drawing board too - keep an eye on my social media for announcements as those come to fruition over the coming months and years. And finally A task like this, similarly to being a “Mr,” can mean that you are almost always “on duty,” leaving less time for making truly personal connections - though I have met some amazing, wonderful people over the years, and made some firm friends. Our new team, Rich #4, Shamil #6 and Simon #8 have between them the skills and the enthusiasm to take BLUF forward into the future. I hope you will all give them support as they plan and shape the future of the club. I leave you somewhat tired and emotional. But looking forward to the future, and working on new projects. For both myself, and the club, this is the start of a new era; I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
If you're in Berlin, we've got two places you can pick up Manumission today- Segunda Casa or the Proteus stand at the street fair. Grab one and post a pic with it!

#Manumission
September 12, 2026 at 9:05 AM
bluf.social
Check out this new zine from our former Director, Nigel
subdirectory.uk subdirectory.uk @subdirectory.uk · Aug 17
Would you like to know more?

Sign up to our mailing list, or reserve your copy at subdirectory.uk/manumission
Promo image for Manumission - a new zine about leather, kink and SM.
August 17, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
Featuring cute owls and more: photos from the Irish National Heritage Park

flic.kr/s/aHBqjD1YEY
Irish National Heritage Park
A series of shots at the Irish National Heritage Park, just north of Wexford. Items include bronze age mine, viking boat shed, pre-christian and early christian buildings. Shot on long-expired F...
flic.kr
August 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
blufbear.bsky.social
Nigel Whitfield has now handed over BLUF after 17 years. We spoke about desire becoming infrastructure, the hidden labour behind queer community, and what happens when caring for it consumes the person doing the caring.
When Nigel from BLUF Became Nigel Again
For seventeen years, Nigel Whitfield helped turn BLUF, the Breeches and Leather Uniform Fanclub, from a specialist website into an international leather community. As he steps down, he reflects on desire, belonging, gatekeeping, invisible labour and the personal cost of becoming inseparable from the community he sustained.
blufbear.blog
July 19, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
londonleathermen.bsky.social
The countdown is over - London Pride is tomorrow 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Before you head out, make sure you’ve got everything you need for a safe, comfortable and unforgettable day. Check out our final march checklist!

Let’s make some noise and make ourselves seen! ❤️🖤💙

@bluf.social @blufclub.bsky.social
July 3, 2026 at 7:28 AM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
If any BLUF members are marching in the London Pride Parade next weekend, and would like the BLUF pink triangle flag I have here, get in touch
A black flag with the BLUF logo above a pink triangle
June 28, 2026 at 7:28 PM
bluf.social
Dublin, Helsinki, Oslo: have a great Pride today
June 27, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
It's time for more top secret info, before the Council of Elders silences me forever!

Help me, IML Kenobi, you're my only hope!
June 26, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
Going through the very kind personal messages some of you have sent me this week. I'll try to get to everyone as soon as I can.
June 20, 2026 at 4:39 PM
bluf.social
EU Store update:

New EU customs rules from 1st July will add a charge of €3 per item on tie clips, badges, keyrings & epaulette sliders for members in the EU.
Order in the next week if you are in the EU and want to receive items before the new charges come into effect.
Nigel, aka SubDirectory (3)
EU Store update: New EU customs rules from 1st July will add a charge of €3 per item on tie clips, badges, keyrings & epaulette sliders for members in the EU. Order in the next week if you are in the EU and want to receive items before the new charges come into effect.
June 19, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
leathercruise.bsky.social
❤️🖤 LEATHER CRUISE SATURDAY 20 JUNE - 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ EDITION Join us at Leather Cruise from 7pm-Midnight at the Underground Club tor an evening of leather, socialising, cruise and community.
@bluf.social @londonleathermen.bsky.social
June 18, 2026 at 11:06 AM
bluf.social
Signing off

bluf.com/b/737
And so, it ends. Today marks seventeen years since I took over running BLUF from Leon. It also marks the official end of the transition of BLUF to the new team. The full text of my final post is on the BLUF blog. On events It’s not an exaggeration to state that, each year, thousands of people around the world attend BLUF events, both members and non-members. And it’s these meetings, hosted by volunteers in over fifty cities, that really are the beating heart of the club, helping people to make connections in real life. Some of those people will become members, and it won’t be long before we have over 6,000 of them. A heartfelt thanks - I really can’t say it often enough - is due to the many members who have put in their time, and in some cases, their own money, to bring BLUF events to an increasing number of cities. What's next Though my involvement with BLUF will be much reduced, I’m certainly not stepping away from the leather scene; in fact, I’m hoping to spend much more time involved, now as just “Nigel” rather than “Nigel from BLUF.” Later this year, look out for another new project, which will be a zine focussing on providing a space for people to share thoughts and theories about leather, kink, and SM. There are plenty of other ideas and projects on the drawing board too - keep an eye on my social media for announcements as those come to fruition over the coming months and years. And finally A task like this, similarly to being a “Mr,” can mean that you are almost always “on duty,” leaving less time for making truly personal connections - though I have met some amazing, wonderful people over the years, and made some firm friends. Our new team, Rich #4, Shamil #6 and Simon #8 have between them the skills and the enthusiasm to take BLUF forward into the future. I hope you will all give them support as they plan and shape the future of the club. I leave you somewhat tired and emotional. But looking forward to the future, and working on new projects. For both myself, and the club, this is the start of a new era; I can’t wait to see what happens next.
June 16, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
If you want to add a touch of militancy to your uniform this Pride, these are now available at store.bluf.com
subdirectory.uk subdirectory.uk @subdirectory.uk · Jun 11
Are you a militant homosexual? A strident mincing preacher of filth?

Have I got epaulettes for you!
An image with the text "Militant homosexual" and "Strident, mincing preacher of filth" in varying shades of pink Man in a leather shirt with an epaulette slider featuring the word "Resist" above a pink triangle with a power fist inside it A man in a leather shirt with an epaulette slider that has a pink triangle, and below it a pink fist
June 12, 2026 at 10:49 AM
bluf.social
This account will be handed over to the new BLUF Admin team shortly.

For continued access to my wit, snark, filth and occassional cat pics, follow me @subdirectory.uk

Nigel
June 9, 2026 at 7:57 PM
bluf.social
Here's to the boys in the backroom
What lies beneath When you look at a website like BLUF, as an ordinary user, what you don’t see is just as important. Behind the scenes, there’s a whole other side, for administration, which is almost as important. Nor do you see the dozens of daily emails, reports and other things that make it all happen. And the same is true of clubs, of titleholders, of businesses, and anyone else who serves the community. The events you go to, the people taking the stage, the stores you visit - they are just a part of it all. What lies beneath is often where the hardest work is done.
June 9, 2026 at 9:07 AM
bluf.social
Latest from the UK government:

A scowling nun, embedded in your phone.
heatherburnstech.bsky.social Heather Burns @heatherburnstech.bsky.social · Jun 8
So...the originators of the nudity detection software which UK gov mandated today say this is all God's doing, so it's a good thing there isn't a Christofascist regime anywhere looking for technology partners or anything like that. www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkPm...
h/t @owenboswarva.bsky.social
YouTube video transcript: "we've created or God has created the safest phone in the world" "God brought us to Vodafone"
June 8, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
Some photos from my archives of past London Leather Socials:

Picnic, July 2014: flic.kr/s/aHsjZJwCLt

November 2014: flic.kr/s/aHsk5PzRWo

March 2015: flic.kr/s/aHsk97KAMA
Leather Social, March 1 2015
A set of photos from the London Leather Social on March 1st at Comptons. The social is held from around 5pm in the upstairs bar on the first Sunday of every month. No dress code, and everyone is we...
flic.kr
June 8, 2026 at 10:34 AM
bluf.social
Today's factoid: since 2016, I have written over 300,000 lines of code for the BLUF websites. This doesn't include the app.
300, 000. Number of lines of code written for the BLUF websites since 2016.
June 6, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
Some thoughts on the rainbow flag, and why you probably won't see me with one this month.
June 4, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
events.bluf.social
Deep Inside

Friday 19 June
Eagle London, 349 Kennington Ln, London SE11 5QY, UK, London, United Kingdom

https://bluf.com/e/6688
Poster for Deep Inside
June 3, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
racebannon.bsky.social
Our Kink Is My Superpower crew has launched a YouTube channel using documentary footage already shot and other new content.

Here I explain why I think kink communities need a balance between affinity spaces and highly inclusive spaces.

Like, subscribe, click bell, share.

youtu.be/IxBBiITHq04?...
Gatekeeping vs. Inclusivity — The Kink Community's Hardest Conversation
YouTube video by Kink Is My Superpower
youtu.be
June 3, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
londonleathermen.bsky.social
This Pride Month we reflect on what Pride means to us at LLM.
What Pride Means to Us
This Pride Month we reflect on what Pride means to us at LLM. For many of our members and non-members leather is more than a style, a flag, or a community. It’s a home, a place where people have found friendship, love, belonging and chosen family. Pride exists because generations of LGBTQ+ people, including current and previous club members, refused to be hidden and refused to accept exclusion.
londonleathermen.co.uk
June 3, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
subdirectory.uk
Any questions?

DM me any questions about my time running BLUF and I'll try to answer as many as I can.
Any questions? Got any questions about BLUF? My 17 years is almost up - send me questions and I'll try to answer as many as I can
June 2, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by BLUF HQ
events.bluf.social
Welcome to June! This month there are 44 events in the #BLUFclub calendar. #gayleather Find them all here: http://bluf.com/events/thismonth
June 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM
bluf.social
This is a drum I am always happy to bang.

Whether for BLUF specifically, or leather more generally, you absolutely do not have to break the bank to look good or stand out.

Sure, if you want to spend money on a 'signature' piece, go ahead. But even a look like BLUF can be done on a budget.
hobbler.ie hobbler 🔜 Manchester MLW @hobbler.ie · May 28
I placed high in IML on a shirt, 2 pants, 2 sets of boots, 2 sets of gloves, a leather jock and a belt I borrowed. I hope if nothing else, I proved that you can succeed on less gear. I swapped laces on boots to make them look different, I used gloves a cigar and a sore arse as a way to contrast.
May 28, 2026 at 10:37 AM