💙 ❤️ 💛Fetish Color Code Explained 💛 ❤️ 💙

Fetish code colors have a long and rich history in the gay leather fetish community–and continue to show up as a visual code to advertise, inform and express a variety of sexual preferences through color and clothing. MR. Riegillio, as an active member of the greater kink community, has included code colors in many of their collections. The wide variety of colors can be used as a form of creative self expression showing a fondness to a particular color or can also be used to communicate kinks or fetishes to members of the community. Let’s delve a little deeper into this topic and explore the history, flagging systems and every day utilization of the color code.

History:
The color code as we know it today is storied to have originated in the 1800 in the united states from cowboys, railroad workers and miners that routinely wore bandanas or ‘hankys’. The color code is also commonly known as the hanky code or leather color code. These colored hankies eventually developed their own language to express fetishes and kinks that could be displayed in public without raising the suspicion of others due to their everyday presence in society. This color code became more codified in the 1970’s and is more of what we know today.

Gay leather biker clubs/gangs that formed after the end of WWII are credited with bringing gay leather fetish culture into modern existence. The leather code colors, as part of the color code, began as these groups adopted the use of colors in their leather gear to signal their sexual interests and preferences. Leather gear, and the code colors commonly associated with them, are ubiquitous among leather fetish enthusiasts and have become an enduring element throughout most fetish clothing genres to the current day.

Flagging your code colors:
How do you use the color code? Well, there are a couple different ways to go about flagging your colors. Colors themselves can be displayed practically anywhere, from entire garments, hankies, color accents on garments or accessories. When to flag is completely up to you, if you’re in the grocery store, a park, a bar or a play space…the choice is yours. Casual daily wear on a keychain or arm band is a great option or if you’re cruising, flagging can become extra handy to save time and eliminate confusion about your desire and compatibility.

The color usually denotes a sexual kink, fetish or activity, while the location/side that you display your color on can denote your position preference(e.g. Top-active-giving, bottom-passive-receiving or verse-open). Flagging on your left side is widely accepted as communicating a ‘top’ preference while the right side is generally understood as ‘bottom’.   Bandanas, keychains, wristbands and armbands are popular items to flag since they can easily be worn on your appropriate side. Some of the most common code colors are listed below. There are many variations and extensive lists of colors and meanings are available.

Tying it all together:
The code colors give us a glimpse into the lives of others and can also be a great way to express yourself! Beyond the particular preferences of any single person, the code colors are a way to be more fully ourselves, acknowledge the history of our community and continue to represent kinksters. While this code might not be used as much in the age of online profiles and greater acceptance of the kink community, it can be a way to connect PRIDEfully with our queer leaders and carry our history into the next generation.