Leather Fashion and Personal Style in San Francisco

Leather has always carried attitude, but this West Coast Leather(opens in a new tab) fashion editorial in San Francisco was about showing how many different forms that attitude can take. Photographed around the brand’s Union Street boutique during the Union Street Festival, the shoot brought a diverse cast of models and designs into the alleyways, staircases, and quieter side streets of Cow Hollow. The idea was simple, let the city shape the mood and let each person show us a different way to wear leather.

West Coast Leather was founded by San Francisco designer Skip Pas in 2003, after nearly two decades with North Beach Leather(opens in a new tab). With more than 40 years of experience in leather fashion, Skip brings a personal approach to design, fit, styling, and custom work. That connection between the clothing and the person wearing it became the thread running through the entire shoot.

Key Takeaway

This photoshoot showcased West Coast Leather across three distinct settings near its Union Street store in San Francisco(opens in a new tab). As the architecture, color, and light changed, so did the personality of the clothing, revealing leather as craftsmanship, self expression, and a lasting part of personal style.

Behind the Store, Inside the Story

The first setting took us into the narrow passageway behind the West Coast Leather storefront. Exterior staircases crossed overhead while exposed pipes, weathered siding, garage doors, utility fixtures, and metal railings turned an ordinary service alley into an unexpectedly strong fashion set.

That contrast gave us a place to begin.

Skip Pas(opens in a new tab) filled the space with an entire spectrum of ideas. A vivid yellow tailored coat stood beside black leather dresses and jackets. Snakeskin patterns, metallic finishes, embossed textures, graphic panels, fitted separates, and color blocked bombers each brought a different energy into the frame.

The details kept pulling me in. Zippers became part of the silhouette. Contrasting sleeves added structure. Patterned leather caught the light differently from smooth black surfaces. A red jacket with darker sleeves felt athletic and sharp, while a pale metallic skirt suit brought in something lighter and more refined. One look could feel classic. The next could feel rebellious.

What I enjoyed most was watching each model make the clothing personal. The same alley became elegant, playful, defiant, or quietly confident depending on who stepped into it. The designs had a clear point of view, but they never swallowed the person wearing them. They gave that person more presence.

That is something I have always appreciated about Skip’s work. His designs have identity, but they leave room for yours.

When the Alley Turned Red

A few steps away, the mood changed completely. Painted timber walls, red structural beams, black gates, and exposed staircases turned the second alley into something warmer, bolder, and more cinematic.

The color was no longer just a backdrop. It became part of the styling.

Black leather looked sharper against the red. A fitted leather dress with sculpted seams and floral detailing felt sleek and controlled, while a longer black jacket with gold trim and a skull motif brought in a darker, more rebellious edge. The lettering and artwork across the back made the jacket feel almost like wearable album art.

Other pieces played directly with the setting. A bright red moto jacket blended into the architecture while still standing apart through its smooth finish, black zippers, and fitted shape. The yellow coat created the opposite effect, cutting through the red beams and black railings with immediate force.

The silver patterned ensemble changed the rhythm again. Its cropped top, shorts, and long coat combined tailoring with movement, while the cool snakeskin texture pushed against the warmth of the alley.

This location gave us more than color. The stairs invited movement. The gates gave the models something to lean into. The narrow passage created natural frames and made us work with the architecture rather than around it.

Beyond the alley, the Union Street Festival(opens in a new tab) continued with customers, visitors, and other photographers moving through the neighborhood. Inside it, the models, clothing, and color created a world of their own.

Leather in the San Francisco Light

The third setting opened into the brighter residential side streets of Cow Hollow, where classic San Francisco architecture replaced the tight alleyways. Painted facades, wrought iron staircases, bay windows, and open skies softened the mood. With fewer visual distractions, the craftsmanship of the garments came forward.

Natural light revealed details that had been quieter before. Embroidered leather dresses showed delicate stitching and texture. Sculpted panels caught highlights across their surfaces. Rich burgundy jackets warmed in the sun. Black pieces reflected a softer sheen, while turquoise accents and bold color blocking added a contemporary edge.

One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing how differently the designs responded to this setting. A leather dress that felt dramatic in the alley looked elegant while moving through a quiet residential street. An American inspired bomber became less about the graphic impact and more about the workmanship against a simple black wall. Even the more architectural jackets felt lighter beneath the open sky.

The models changed with the space too. Their movement slowed. There was room to walk, pause, and simply hold the frame. The photographs became less about the location and more about the relationship between the clothing and the person wearing it.

This shoot also continued a collaboration with Skip that has taken his designs into very different environments. I have photographed West Coast Leather on an airport tarmac(opens in a new tab), among exotic and classic cars during a fashion event at Taormina Motorsports(opens in a new tab), and with Darlene on the streets of San Francisco(opens in a new tab). Each collaboration has revealed another side of the collection, but the connection between craftsmanship and individuality has always remained.

A San Francisco Story in Leather

This shoot came together through the relationship between the clothing, the models, and the streets surrounding the West Coast Leather store. Each setting revealed a different side of the collection, while Skip’s craftsmanship and the individuality of each model remained at the center. As a photographer, I am always drawn to that balance, where the location adds atmosphere, the clothing brings character, and the person wearing it remains fully present. Photographed in the neighborhood where the brand lives, the final images became a portrait of personal style, creative confidence, and San Francisco.

Project Credits

Brand: West Coast Leather | Instagram: @westcoastleather(opens in a new tab)
Designer: Skip Pas | Instagram: @skip.pas(opens in a new tab)
Photography: Paul Tocatlian | Instagram: @tocatlian(opens in a new tab)

Models

Danielle | Instagram: @555danie555(opens in a new tab)
D’von | Instagram: @dmangaka(opens in a new tab)
Jamie Lee Kendall | Instagram: @jamieleekendall(opens in a new tab)
Pat Uland | Instagram: @patuland94(opens in a new tab)
Sarah Gullixson | Instagram: @sarahgullixson(opens in a new tab)

FAQ

Who designed the leather clothing featured in this editorial?

The designs are by Skip Pas(opens in a new tab), founder and owner of West Coast Leather(opens in a new tab) in San Francisco.

Where did the photoshoot take place?

The shoot took place around the West Coast Leather boutique(opens in a new tab) during the Union Street Festival(opens in a new tab) in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood.

What kind of photography project was this?

It was a location based fashion editorial(opens in a new tab) showcasing West Coast Leather through portraiture, lifestyle imagery, and three distinct urban settings.

What shaped the visual direction?

The story moved from a weathered passageway to a vivid red alley and then into brighter residential side streets. Each setting changed how the color, texture, and craftsmanship of the leather appeared.

How can someone inquire about a similar shoot?

Readers can contact Kisau Photography(opens in a new tab) to discuss a fashion editorial, designer collaboration, brand story, or model portfolio photoshoot.

Ready to shape your next story? Schedule a consultation.