Emma Peel - MMP
A while ago I posted about Emma Peel - Tv`s First Fetish Heroine - the majority of her clothing, especially the leathers, were designed by John Sutcliffe. Her boots were made by Annello & Davide, the Queen`s Bootmakers. Atomage, founded by John Sutcliffe, began as a small outlet just off Drury Lane in Covent Garden sometime around 1957. Specialising in customised leather and vinyl clothes. Sutcliffe designed for the big screen, television and private customers from all over the world - including Hammer Films and famously the television show The Avengers with Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg watched weekly by millions both in the UK and in the United States. The success of the television series lead to a stage version featuring truly outlandish costumes for its heroines, designed at the Atomage workshop and drawing more attention than the script. The Daily Express review stated 'The cast were clad in enough rubber, leather and vinyl to satiate the most avid student of Krafft-Ebing'.
Atomage caused a stir with a costume designed for the Granville Chemical Company - a gun slinging leather clad girl was used on bill boards with the slogan ‘She has leather protection. Have you the protection of our chemical products?
In the winter of 1972 , Atomage published its own magazine,originally subtitled ‘The Magazine of Modern Leather Couture’ (Later the Magazine of Leather, Vinyl & Rubber) . It specialized in photographs of leather, rubber and vinyl fetish clothes created in the Atomage workshop. Along with the clothes the Magazine featured articles on the pleasures of dressing and the appeal of the individual materials. Importantly it contained reader’s letters and private photographs which became a key feature of the magazine and its success. It also acted as an informal catalogue for Atomage clothes available for sale, along with news from the Atomage workshop. (Later additional publications included Atomage International, Atomage Bondage and Atomage Rubberist Magazine.) John Sutcliffe later became a driving force behind the foundation of Skin Two.
Atomage
- By Mistress Antoinette
- From Kinky & Beyond Magazine - 1994
"Atomage" was a very special place in England. Many will recognize the address of 10a Dryden Street. Drury Lane, London, England.
John Sutcliiffe was the proprietor, the founder. He created the first protective covering from Latex - called the second skin. He was the reason that all other leather/latex publications were created.
He was my best friend, and had it not been for him, his eye for Fashion and Fetishism - I would not have created "Reflections" magazine here in the USA , he taught me the demeanour of the Dominant, and why I have listened to his marvellous tales and seen his fantasy come true through the photos in "Atomage" magazine.
A television program called "The Avengers" was the beginning of women in power. His protective clothing became known as "Catsuits", and so Cat Woman was born.
It has been granted to me by the relatives of John Sutcliffe, the privilege of resurrecting his posterity. I am going to call it "The Posterity Box of Atomage". will be re-publishing the famous "Masters and Mistresses Handbook" by Jim. There have been many, many requests, and now I can finally bring it back to life.
In the 25 years since I first met John Sutcllffe I have never heard a derogatory word spoken about this extraordinary man.
Criticism, yes. He was criticized for working too hard; for always trusting strangers; for his compassionate generosity which often he could not afford. Would that we too could earn such a reputation! John was a quiet man. He never lost his temper, although he could argue vociferously. His sense of humor and wry acceptance of his fellow man's weaknesses overcame any personal animosity, and always - but always - he could only see good in the human race, devious and tortuous as it sometimes appeared. He was a perfectionist in his work, taking sublime pleasure In the creation of a leather garment, overseeing every cut and stitch of the superb material he imported from haute couture firms in Spain.
During World War II he was one of the youngest Inspectors responsible for the maintenance of the American aircraft engines, stationed in the Midlands. This knowledge of precision engineering, in post-war years, found an enthusiastic outlet in his love of Formula One car racing.
When John decided to publish his own magazine (To become world-famous as the forward-looking ATOMAGE) he applied this same desire for perfection and quality to its publication. Despite the extra cost (and loss of profit), he Insisted on the finest quality of paper and the highest standard of a photo reproduction. His imaginative prose and his own fine photography made the magazine an Instant success.
In his cluttered workshop overlooking Covent Garden (the clutter being an endearing paradox to his organized mind), he would personally receive would-be customers, spending valuable minutes chatting to them, often knowing they were 'time wasters' who only wanted to browse through catalogs and photographs. When once I remonstrated with John at the waste of his time, he replied simply: "It made him happy, didn't It?"
I believe one of John's greatest assets was his ability to listen to people and be genuinely concerned about their problems. His sympathy and compassion are warmly remembered by his multitude of friends.
John suffered physical pain during his final months, but never complained; his quiet smile and keen sense of humor never faltered. He was a noble gentleman. We miss you, John Sutcliffe!
Jim E Dickson
--Complied By Mistress Michelle and slave english
See also [ John Sutcliffe ]
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