BY KINKSTERS, FOR KINKSTERS

(Note: This story appears in the June 2023 issue of SE Magazine) 

Specializing both in the curious and the adventurous, the glamorous and the underground, Minneapolis-based home of Rubber Ball USA, Bondesque, is a noteworthy and positive space for kink exploration.

ondesque is a woman-owned BDSM store in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which specializes in all things kinky: designer fetish fashion (including latex, PVC and leather clothing), restraints & collars, sex toys, exclusive impact play implements, cock and ball gear, medical play instruments, books and more. The brick-and-mortar was launched in 2013 to supply Minnesotans with high-quality BDSM gear and education. 

“As someone who is into kink and fetish fashion, I noticed that, despite Minnesota having a thriving kink community, there were no stores around for people like me,” recounts founder and owner, Mia. “I decided to fill that need by opening Bondesque, a store that carries premium BDSM products in a welcoming and inclusive environment.”

“Being in the lifestyle ourselves helps us to better inform our customers and to cultivate an environment where they feel understood, accepted and heard. The Bondesque Team is dedicated to raising sexual awareness and to helping people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, identities and orientations embrace their kinky side.”

 

– Mia, owner and founder of Bondesque

Inside the darkly-colored and sophisticated kink-supply store, Bondesque customers range from beginners to those who are heavy into bondage. Whether they’re after wax candles, a new outfit or bondage body bags, Bondesque is happy to provide the products and information they need to explore kinks of all kinds.

“It has varied over time, but usually our sales are pretty equally divided between lighter and heavier BDSM gear,” shares Mia. “Our most popular items right now are from our store-brand Spanked impact play line, which includes products that range from canes to heavy-duty horseshoe paddles. Our designed-in-house T-shirts and Kinky Greetings cards are two of our other most popular lines. Some of our best-selling outside brands are Vex Clothing, Mr. S Leather, Bad Dragon and Tatjana Warnecke.”

But Bondesque’s supply is in more than just material goods. In fact, Mia says that the community education and events the store offers have been instrumental to its success. 

“Most important to me has been cultivating a welcoming store environment where customers feel comfortable to ask questions and try new things,” proclaims Mia. “A misconception that some people have about BDSM is that it is not safe,” she continues. “Negotiation and consent are key components of well-informed BDSM play, which supports open communication and increases safety for participants. We counteract people’s misconception about the safety of BDSM by providing education in the form of our blog, in-store classes and sharing information with customers who shop at Bondesque.”

Minneapolis is a considerably open and accepting city, according to Mia, and Bondesque is not the only store in the urban area with intimate and unabashed adult products for sale. But the need for kink positivity was so significant that Bondesque has become a sort of revolution.

“We produce and host educational workshops in our store each week, in which expert instructors teach structured workshops about a variety of aspects of BDSM and kink,” details Mia. “Popular topics include Sensual Domination, BDSM for Beginners, Rope Bondage, Polyamorous Relationships, Sensory Deprivation & Breath Play and more. We also post our own well-researched educational articles on our blog twice a month which empower people to explore kink more confidently and safely. With emphasis on safety and consent, our mission is to give readers foundational knowledge and experienced insight. All articles on the blog are written by Bondesque kinksters with many years’ worth of experience practicing BDSM & kink.”

As if being a classroom and supply store for the masses of Minneapolis isn’t enough, Bondesque also hosts regular events that bring the greater BDSM community together — ranging from monthly meet-and-greets in their Domina USA studio to the internationally-renowned annual fetish event Rubber Ball USA.

“Our parties have earned a reputation for presenting kink nightlife entertainment with provocative allure and glamorous aesthetics,” imparts Mia.

The successful undertakings of the ambitious independent retailer are no doubt the result of a passion which runs through the entire team at Bondesque, all of whom are personally involved in the BDSM lifestyle, according to Mia.

“A misconception that some people have about BDSM is that it is not safe. We counteract people’s misconception about the safety of BDSM by providing education in the form of our blog, in-store classes and sharing information with customers who shop at Bondesque.”

 

– Mia, owner and founder of Bondesque

“We have experts in each department, like electro, impact play, latex, bondage, etc.,” she shares. “Our expertise comes from practice, reading books and articles about BDSM and attending our own educational workshops. Being in the lifestyle ourselves helps us to better inform our customers and to cultivate an environment where they feel understood, accepted and heard. The Bondesque Team is dedicated to raising sexual awareness and to helping people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, identities and orientations embrace their kinky side.”

Bondesque recently started making some of their most popular house brand items, like their Kinky Greetings cards, T-shirts and Spanked impact toys, available to other retailers as wholesale products. 

“We opened our online store in 2016 and now proudly share our products with kinksters throughout the US,” Mia announces. “We are excited about growing our community and collaborating with stores across the United States!”

For more information, email info@bondesque.com, call (612) 200-8350 or visit www.Bondesque.com.