Well it’s finally happened, rubber clothes are hitting the mainstream: high street fashion retailers Topshop has released a selection of garments under its funky flagship banner ‘Unique’. With its own regular show at London Fashion Week and supermodel Kate Moss lending her name to one of its clothing ranges, Topshop has campaigned successfully to turn around its 90s low-end reputation. Now this daring move aims to capitalise further on urban street-styling.
On offer at the Topshop website is a pink rubber pencil skirt priced at £130; cycling shorts at £110 and a black Bandeau – or ‘boob tube’ as they’re affectionately called in the UK – retailing at £80.
Now doubt influenced by the recent popularity of latex leggings and various pop divas such as Beyoncée, Britney Spears, LadyGaGa and the Pussycat Dolls, the range is aimed at the female youth demographic. In addition, Topshop are giving away free postage and packaging for orders over £100 within the UK.
The move has created much debate within the fetish scene online – especially on Fetlife and Facebook – with a divide between some fetishists who see it as a sign of society becoming more permissive and others complaining of the items being too basic and expensive, and that to really wear latex you have to love it. This has been countered by those who believe ‘latex for the masses’ has to start somewhere. Topshop say that the range is aimed at the fashion-conscious under-35s who covet the Unique brand, and that it’s ‘tongue-in-cheek… and style with a twist’.
Of course we fetishists know other rubber designers such as Libidex who sell such items at less than half the price, but what is interesting is the adoption of mass distribution. Ironically, the edgy, sexy quality of rubber clothes has the ability to backfire when worn sloppily. Will it all end in tears? Please share your comments with us above.
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I think they’re going to get a LOT of returns from people who don’t know how to take care of it and destroy it.
Great post.
A few posters on Rubber Pal made some amusing observations about some of the mishaps that could occur, but I do wonder if anyone will buy it, and if so, what kind of care advice have the personnel been given?
Well, if there’s one thing unique about this it’s gotta be the price tags. This is really bizarre rubber.
I am still waiting for reports of this rubber to actually arrive in the stores. I bet the staff have no idea about the items and are clueless.A wasted chance to properly sell the idea, however many will be unable to look after latex.
Spotted on Facebook from Kaori’s Latex Dreams:
I have posted this on my profile before but re-posting it now. Loads of girls will wear it once and tear it without being given any care instruction whatsoever (which is very unfair). It’s a crime to make clothes so disposable like this!
So, to protest against this, I will massively undercut Topshop. If anyone wants the… same skirt in any colour, I will do it for £60 (which is even less than half).
Email me to kaori_matsubara@hotmail.com
Many people don’t know what is latex. They mislead latex with lace or shiny lycra.
This is a fashion trend which will pass with some joining the fetish faithfuls but most going on to the next trend.
Fetish is something rather deeply ingrained in the psyche and it may be something that people can “learn” but it has to be accompanied by a clear appreciation of the benefits as well as the cost (both in dollars and emotional independence which attend).