In the USA, bootblacks have become an indispensable part of the leather and fetish community. They are an integral part of the diverse scene and there are even Mister elections for bootblacks. Here in Europe, boot cleaners are not much present and, if at all, then not at public events to offer their services.
While shoe shiners characterized the street scenes in Central Europe until the 1920s and 1930s, they have gradually disappeared from the public eye. Bootblacks can only be found sporadically at airports or are even completely replaced by shoeshine machines in hotels. In other countries, e.g. Bolivia, Mexico and the USA, in addition to cleaning and polishing shoes, shoe shiners also fulfill the social function of communicating with their customers. In addition, the job seems to be a lucrative one. There are various reasons why this traditional occupation did not return to everyday life in our European post-war years. On the one hand, the advance of sports and cloth shoes that do not require intensive leather care; on the other hand, there are moral concerns about those who kneel on the street to look after the dirty shoes of strangers. This gesture of humility, reinforced by the stooped posture, is obviously a taboo in our culture.
This is precisely where the attraction of the shoe or boot cleaner lies in the sexual context: a ritual between dominant and submissive partners, which is known in English as boots worshiping. Riding boots or biker boots, for example, can arouse sexually for fetishists by looking at or touching them and serve to satisfy them. Knee-high leather boots exude masculinity and authority. The sub kneels and polishes the boots of the dominant sitting over him. Either a professional service, a gesture of devotion, a part of military and uniform fetish or the beginning of a session, boot cleaning or boot licking is also quite present here in Europe. But just behind closed doors and not in public.
All the bootblacks I’ve talked to so far see their activity as a service for the individual and the entire community. They not only polish boots and ensure high-gloss leather, but also look after the care and repair of the footwear. In addition, it is about the erotic aspect of a boot cleaner, kneeling before a leather man, serving him and knowing how to be useful to him with his nimble craft. The distinction between bootblack and sub lies in professional knowledge and equipment, including special waxes and high-quality brushes. The basics of boot blacking is passed on from bootblack to bootblack, and everyone learns special techniques that in turn differentiate them from the others. This fact alone justifies separate elections in the USA with the appointment of International Miss and Mister Bootblack, who are each chosen during the annual International Miss and Mister Leather competitions.
There are dos and don’ts when cleaning boots: queues usually form for bootblack, as professional boot cleaning is valued and at quite time-consuming. The rule here is not to push, but to queue up and wait until it is your turn to use the service. While someone is sitting in the armchair and having their boots cleaned, you should not talk to them, but let them enjoy their delight and pleasurable sensation. You only sit down in the armchair when you are asked to do so. In many cases there are special chairs that are reminiscent of stately thrones that give the customer a feeling of grandeur. Communication with the bootblack is important, especially when it comes to special requests regarding shoe care. Respect for the bootblack, its energy and its time is essential. There is no price list for tips for cleaning boots. Bootblacks do not want to enrich themselves with the income from their work but use it to finance their travel expenses and effort. A rule of thumb is 10 euros for normal boots, combat boots or cowboy boots, 15 to 20 euros for knee-high boots, 20 to 25 euros for pants, shirts and jackets. Because bootblacks also take care of that if necessary.
There are already a handful of boot cleaners in Europe who are welcome to offer their services to the community at public fetish events. It is desirable that the craft of bootblacking is revived more. Because there are enough dusty, dirty and dull boots in our community – and certainly just as many boot fetishists who find it sexually arousing to polish other men’s boots.
It should be noted that not all boot blacks are gay or into the sexual attraction of blacking boots—some (though very few) are straight.
I once had a regular young boot boy in Chicago who was well-trained in taking care of dressage riding boots. he would bring his own equipment, place a drop cloth on the floor beforehand to avoid any mess, strip naked and proceed upon the orders of his Riding Master to lick and then thoroughly polish my Riding Boots and Spurs. he was also a good cook and would serve me his cakes on all fours and hold the fork to my mouth and serve wine—a very obedient boy.
he was also used by me as a pony boy with saddle and bridle on all fours and was ridden by some of my European Pony Trainers visiting me in Chicago.
Sadly he has left the area. If there are any inexperienced ponyboys wanting to be broken in under saddle, get in touch. Pony play is a narrow gay fetish.