Latex Care & Instructions ..

Latex clothing ..

Latex rubber is used in many types of clothing. Rubber has traditionally been used in protective clothing, including gas masks and Wellington boots. Rubber is now generally being replaced in these application by plastics. Mackintoshes have traditionally been made from rubberized cloth.

Latex rubber as a clothing material is common in fetish fashion and among BDSM practitioners, and is often seen worn at fetish clubs. Latex is sometimes also used by couturiers for its dramatic appearance. Latex clothing tends to be skin-tight. There are several magazines dedicated to the use and wearing of it. Less commonly, latex clothing can be loose-fitting.

Use in clothing

Latex has been used to make leotards, bodysuits, stockings and gloves, besides other garments. Latex is also often used to make specialist fetishistic garments like hoods and rubber cloaks.

Latex clothing is generally made from large sheets of latex which are delivered in rolls. The "classic" colour for fetishistic latex clothing is black, but latex is naturally translucent, and may be dyed any colour, including metallic shades or white. It can come in thicknesses which generally range from about 0.18 mm to 0.5 mm. Instead of being sewn, latex clothing is generally glued along its seams.

Because latex sheet is relatively weak, latex clothing needs special care to avoid tearing. Whilst latex can be repaired using materials similar to those provided in a bicycle repair kit, the result is rarely as attractive as the original appearance of the garment. Latex clothing is often polished to preserve and improve its shiny appearance.

Putting on latex clothing can be difficult, because latex has high friction against dry skin. To make it easier to put on, wearers often use talc to reduce friction against the skin when putting the clothes on; then, because stray talc is very visible against the rubber, wearers generally polish off any visible talc.

Here are some check lists for enjoying latex clothing:-

1) Do not leave latex garments on the floor .. as they can be punctured by high heels on carpets .. causing rips to occur from the punctured hole;

2) Do not store latex garments in sunlit rooms .. store either folded flat in the ziplock back provided in a light fast drawer .. or in a lightfast wardrobe .. any light that touches the latex may cause sunburn which turns the latex white in appearance ..

3) Do not use strong perfumes as they contain chemicals that may irreversibly damage the latex;

4) Do not put any metals on latex .. as this can cause dark spots to appear and cannot be removed as it can change the chemical structure of the latex ..

5) Do not over-stretch .. latex can stretch 1 or 2 inches at the most .. anymore than that and it may rip and ruin the garment ..

6) Be careful with long or sharp nails .. even coffin shapes can rip the latex if not buffed smooth enough ..

7) Latex garments can be treated to render the latex innert .. as well as permanently shiny and therefore those who are allergic to its spores can touch and wear it with no ill effects .. this is called Chlorination and specialists can be contacted to perform this service ..

8) Do not allow petroleum based products anywhere near your latex .. this also means be careful if wearing a latex piece when filling up your car at the petrol station .. as even the fumes can cause damage to latex ..

9) Always wash latex garments in warm water with no detergents .. do not leave in water for more than 10 mins .. and either hang up in the shower to drip dry .. or towel dry and then leave in a well ventilated area .. do not put away wet latex as the water will affect the latex adversely ..

10) Repairs to latex should only be carried out be a Latex designer .. otherwise you risk ruining your outfit ..

Hope this helps ..

Susey ..

xxx