An Introduction to Latex

11th August 2019

Latex has entered into popular awareness. Celebrities and performers have been wearing it for years now; we routinely see it on the catwalk, the red carpet and in music videos; and high-street fashion has long picked up on the trend, with the likes of Asos and House of CB selling latex clothing.

However, there is confusion between clothing that is genuinely made from latex, and clothing that is simply marketed or reported as ‘latex’, as a byword for any material which is tight and shiny. In this introduction to latex, we aim to familiarise you with clothing made from genuine, 100% latex rubber – and just why the distinction is important.

Sexy, sensual, empowering, transforming, demanding, and yes, a little expensive: it is clothing unlike any other. Real latex acts and feels a world apart from any other material, even those other glossy ones which might look superficially similar. Wearing latex is nothing short of an experience, and this is why it has such dedicated fans, from the fetishists to the fashionistas and in between. But let’s start from the top.

What is latex?

Latex is a milky fluid which flows from a cut tree, in a similar way to sap. The latex that we’re concerned with is collected, drip by drip, from the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). This liquid latex coagulates into a solid yet stretchy form – rubber – and is pressed into sheets. The sheeting is then shipped to clothing designers where they cut it according to patterns, glue the separate pieces together and – voilà – a finished garment. Latex clothing is rubber clothing.

At some point, the two words “latex” and “rubber” became interchangeable when talking about clothing made in this manner. Since there are other ways of creating rubber – usually synthetic – we personally like “latex” as a term for rubber clothing, because it pays homage to the fact the clothes are made from the 100% natural, plant-sourced variety of rubber.

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Latex vs Vinyl vs PU Leather

To complicate matters further, the media and now fashion outlets themselves have begun using the term “latex” as a catch-all to describe any shiny, wet-look and often figure-hugging material. Vinyl/PVC, Spandex, PU Leather: all of these materials are now fair game to be described as “latex” by tabloids and fashion bloggers.

But this is unhelpful for the curious newbie who is interested in experimenting with either latex or other materials. Believe me, it may sound like splitting hairs now, but when it comes to actually putting on, wearing, and caring for latex, it’s a whole new ball game. You should know what you’re getting into, and whether actual latex is what you’re really looking for.

Why real latex is unique

On a material level, what separates latex from its shiny siblings is that latex is the only 100% natural composition (natural rubber), the others being synthetic compounds based on plastics.

Plastic is popular due to its versatility and cheap production cost, and those types of clothing can be stitched and backed with fabrics to make them durable, breathable, and easy to wear.

The feeling of latex is totally different. It’s not backed by any fabric, which means the rubber is in direct contact with your skin. Since rubber is highly frictive, dressing in latex requires talc or lubrication for it to slide over the skin. This can be seen as a hassle or a fun part of dressing up; if you try latex knowing what to expect, we think it will be more a case of the latter.

Latex is second to none for elasticity, and the seams are usually glued flat as opposed to using bulky stitching. The overall effect is more skin-tight and sleek than any alternative. Since it hugs and follows the contours of the body so perfectly, latex is often described as looking and feeling like a “second skin”.

Latex can also achieve a mirror-like sheen superior to any other. But not out of the box: it must first be polished with a dedicated latex shining product, either before wearing or during. We think during is more fun, especially with a helping pair of hands!

When was the last time you massaged lubricant all over your body, stretched a film of skin-tight rubber over yourself before being smoothed down with polish until you are the most scintillating, glistening, perfect thing the eye can see? This is what we mean by the experience of wearing latex! Latex and only latex offers this, so forget those plastic pretenders!

Pros and cons of wearing latex

In terms of the quirks of latex, we’re only just getting started. Of course, you need to be aware of any latex allergies you may have before trying it on, and as a natural product it’s susceptible to discoloring from metal; jewelry and so forth. Also, beware that most oils break down latex, so you should only use purpose-made latex clothing lubricants and polishes.

When it comes to wearing, latex is not breathable, so you will perspire when wearing for long periods and especially in a hot environment or if doing anything active. Also, the correct sizing is never more important than with rubber, thus many people choose to go for custom-made-to-measure garments, upping the cost even further.

Whew! Just why do people even bother with latex!? Well, if you’re not sold by its appearance or our description of the uniquely sexy and fun ritual that is dressing in latex, then it might interest you to know the sensation is like no other. Think of the whole surface of your skin as one huge sense organ, always reacting to tactile sensations and especially to unusual ones like slippery, sensual rubber. Latex hugs and presses the skin all over, making you continually aware of its embrace as it shapes your body, sucking in and pushing out all the right areas.

It has traditionally found a home with dominatrices and, more recently, cosplayers. Many will attest this is not just because of the striking image it creates but also the effect it has on the psychology of the wearer: the feeling of wearing latex is empowering and transformative. We think it’s popular with all kinds of celebrities and performers for that same reason: because it allows them to step into the skin of ‘The Star’; to adopt a public stage persona; to be larger than life.

This strange, natural product, when worn, can have a transformative effect on the psyche, which helps assume another, grander role. It’s powerful stuff!

Where to buy latex clothing

As with any clothing, there are a variety of latex labels to suit different styles and budgets. If you want maximum elegance and sophistication, Atsuko Kudo is perhaps the most famous latex couturier around, with a boutique in London, or you can buy online.

There are a large number of latex brands offering fashion collections, including Syren (US), Vex Clothing (US), or William Wilde (UK), each of which boast a number of famous clientele.

For affordable latex basics and lingerie, there are many fetish-oriented outlets, such as Bright & Shiny (Ukraine), Honour (UK) or Libidex (UK). Even if you’re not searching for something strictly for the bedroom, most latex fetish shops recognise the popularity of latex fashion and can offer something accordingly, and always cheaper than the couture labels.

Etsy is a great platform to find many smaller, independent latex designers offering quality items at fair prices. The Etsy search tool will reveal just how many passionate latex artisans are out there.

We have only named a handful of the most well-known latex designers in the game, but in fact we’re spoiled for choice: there are almost 300 latex designers out there! This very site was set up to help navigate this breadth of choice. Our site tools such as clothing search engine, deals page, or Vendor A-Z are all designed to help inspire you in your search for the shiny.

Consider this just the starting point on the subject of latex clothing, a surprisingly deep field in terms of its variety and history as clothing for fetish, fashion and costume. We hope you’re intrigued enough to try latex yourself at least once. Love it or hate it, we guarantee it will be a unique experience to remember!