February Trash, Triple Lace Latex Dress, source: February Trash
“As soon as I tried it on I felt like superwoman, and knew that I wanted to use this fabric to design clothes, as I thought other women might get the same feeling,”
-Atsuko Kudo
Sasha Velour for Bricks Magazine Issue 7, wearing Soft Skin Latex
"IT IS A NOBLE AND NATURAL MATERIAL THAT DOES NOT KILL ANIMALS, DOES NOT CUT DOWN TREES AND ISN'T PLASTIC EITHER."
-FRENCH FASHION DESIGNER ARTHUR AVELLANO
"WE KNEW WE WANTED IT TO BE BLACK AND SEXY AND TIGHT AND SHINY. LATEX IS AS BLACK AND SEXY AND TIGHT AS YOU CAN GET... WE MADE A BODY CAST OF HER, AND THE COSTUME WAS MADE ON THE BODY CAST. WE WERE AFRAID THAT IT WOULD RIP, BECAUSE SHE HAD THESE CAT CLAWS, AND BECAUSE IT’S LATEX, ONCE IT RIPPED IT’S OVER, YOU CAN’T REPAIR IT. SO WE HAD TO MAKE ABOUT 40 CAT-SUITS, BUT ACTUALLY IT NEVER RIPPED, IT WAS VERY STRONG." -COSTUME DESIGNER MARY VOGT ON MICHELLE PFEIFFER’S CATSUIT, ANOTHER MAG
MEOW!
Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns (1992)
Its production can be sustainable and carbon-negative, when grown on non-forested or degraded land, as the trees are not cut down during harvesting. The material gets its name from the milk-like sticky fluid plants produce to protect themselves from pests—when a plant’s bark is damaged, latex appears to seal the wound!
Natural latex comes from this sap, making it biodegradable, renewable and eco-friendly. It’s known for its durability, elasticity, and hypoallergenic properties. These trees are grown in plantations across South America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia.
In contrast, its evil twin AKA synthetic latex is made from petroleum-based chemicals and is less sustainable and biodegradable, although it mimics some of natural latex’s qualities. Therefore it’s lame.
Claude Knight by Jonny Kaye, wearing Soft Skin Latex, source: Soft Skin Latex
From being pushed to the underground for the fetishization of the material, to finding its way into punk and later club kid and party culture, all the way to Hollywood and back, latex has definitely lived a life of its own.
Designers such as Thierry Mugler and Maison Margiela have incorporated latex into their collections, pushing the boundaries of conventional materials. Now it’s time for latex to embrace its role in both sustainable and sexy fashion—who said you can’t look hot while saving the planet?
Mugler Fall/Winter Couture 1995, source: Vogue
Avelanno, FW23, Look 15. Source: Avelanno
Lady Gaga wearing Atsuko Kudo to meet and perform for Queen Elizabeth II in Blackpool,England, on December 7, 2009, source: X
Leon Neal/Stringer/Getty Images, source: Business Inside
Wearing an all-red all-latex outfit is definitely the perfect choice to meet the Queen in.
However, not all is sunny in latex-land. Harvesting latex can and does contribute to deforestation (particularly when forests are cleared to expand plantations, especially on large-scale industrial ones), and the processing of latex into wearable fabrics often involves harmful chemicals. Therefore, while natural latex can be a more sustainable option, it requires careful and mindful sourcing and processing. On the other hand, natural latex also has significant environmental advantages when grown on already cleared land or in sustainable systems, making it a way better alternative to synthetic rubber and other crops like palm oil.
The focus should be on managing production sustainably to minimize its impact on forests.
Latex also carries a certain taboo, often linked to fetish culture and sexualized imagery.
"As rubber clothing increased in popularity, some wearers came to discover it was both pragmatic and sexually pleasurable. 'It’s the most sensual fabric there is,' says The Baroness, because it has a unique look, smell, taste, sound and feel.” -BBC
Harikrishnan's inflatable latex garment. Source: Dezeen
Brooke Candy for the 'Sexorcism' Album cover, wearing Soft Skin latex, photographed by Steven Klein, source: Soft Skin Latex
Due to its connections to fetish, some still view it as ‘provocative’ or even inappropriate. Yet, as fashion becomes more diverse in its exploration of identity and expression, latex is increasingly being embraced for its unique texture and possibilities and potential in sustainable fashion. So, ready to rock some latex?
cover: Soft Skin Latex @SoftSkinLatex
SOURCES:
Dezeen: Hahn, Jeniffer. "Latex: The Natural Rubber Material Pushing Fashion TowardsSustainability." Dezeen, December 1, 2020. Link
Gay Times: Williams, Jack. "Sustainable BDSM and Kink Clothing: The Future of Fashion."Gay Times, 29th December 2023 Link
Medium: Poppunk. "Bound But Not Constrained: A History of Latex Fashion." Medium,Aug 5,2023. Link
BBC Culture: George, Cassidy. "From Fetish to Fashion: The Rise of Latex." BBC Culture,January 8, 2020. Link
The Guardian: Swash, Rosie. Queen + Lady Gaga: The Spectacular Fashion Moments."The Guardian, December 8, 2009. Link
Another Magazine: Lack, Hanah. "Costume Designer Mary Vogt on Michelle Pfeiffer's Catsuit."Another Magazine,July 20, 2012. Link
Beauty Shall Save The World: Tanner, Sharon.“Moments of Mugler: For the Love of Latex.”Beauty Shall Save The World, January 31, 2022.Link
Carbon Brief: Chandrasekhar, Aruna. “Rubber drives ‘at least twice’ as much deforestation aspreviously thought.” Carbon Brief, 18 October 2023. Link
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