Latex: A Brief History

What is latex? That is a question often posed to those of us who regularly wear it or utilize it in play. The scientific answer is: the treated and worked sap of rubber trees. It is non-porous, provides no insulation to heat or cold (thus it typically takes the temperature of whatever it is in contact with), has a sleek texture, and can be shined to a high gloss.

Historically it has seen use in everything from medical equipment to high fashion to becoming a symbol for certain parts of the BDSM community. You can find it in movies, music videos, concerts, red carpets, runways, dungeons, kink-friendly clubs, and your daily walk around town.

It was first utilized in fashion in the 1820s when James Syme built England's first rubber factory. and a Mr. Nadier produced rubber threads for use in clothing accessories. The first widespread success it found in clothing was as part of the waterproofing process pioneered by Scotsman Charles Mackintosh, forever branding his name on that particular piece of clothing.

England's first modern fetish organization, The Mackintosh Society, was founded in the 1920s and saw a steady increase in membership until post World War II. As social conservatism swept the nation, fetishists were forced underground to avoid being labeled as "perverse" or "degenerate".

Latex fashion had a second coming in the 1950s under the stewardship of John Sutcliffe, create of the world's first catsuit. What began as a method of making weather resistant clothing for bikers turned it's target to a different, more intimate niche. AtomAge founded it's own self titled magazine in 1972, making latex kink and fashion more accessible to the general public.

The United Kingdom punk scene, in particular, embraced the use of latex as both a fetish and a fashion statement. The clothing shop originally titled 'Let it Rock' rebranded to SEX in 1974 with a sign made entirely of pink rubber. Vivienne Westwood, co-owner of SEX, is quoted as saying "The bondage clothes were ostensibly restrictive, but when you put them on they give you a feeling of freedom."

And with the 80s latex found the freedom to break into mainstream popular culture.

Taking the nightlife of the era by storm, club performers and attendees alike embrace the glossy material as a way to express themselves among the crowded masses. It found it's way into music videos (thank you MTV) and the closets of culture icons as bespoke pieces.

Designers like Theresa Coburn turned to latex as just another material, embracing its subversive nature while avoiding excessive fetishization. She turned what was typically only seen in clubs into daywear, challenging the publics perception of latex as a fashion statement.

The 90s continued the absorption of latex into the public conscious as leading ladies found themselves coated in the stuff on the silver screen. Batman Returns, Tomb Raider, The Matrix, and more used the unique material to convey a mix of sensuality and danger. Meanwhile the music scene found itself similarly infiltrated with pop icons ranging from Madonna to Britney Spears embracing the glossy fabric.

As we entered the 2000s latex broke fully onto the catwalk. Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Anna Sui, and others brought rubber to the world of fashion couture, paving the way for modern fetish design icons such as Atsuko Kudo to find their calling and add their unique stylistic voice to symphony of fetish wear.

And now here we find ourselves, halfway through the 2020s as latex continues to spread it's hedonic tendrils in fashion, culture, and media. I, for one, look forward to embracing the journey to see how far we can further push the envelope.