Latex Fetishism

Latex fetishism is the fetishistic attraction to people wearing latex clothing, or in certain cases, to the garments themselves. Sometimes this is called rubber fetishism also, as latex is closely-related to rubber (the latter usually being thicker and less shiny, more matte). Latex or rubber fetishists sometimes refer to themselves as “Rubberists“.
PVC fetishism is closely related to latex fetishism and refers to shiny clothes made of the synthetic plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This is sometimes confused with the similarly-shiny patent leather, which is also a fetish material.

Some “PVC” clothes are actually made from a mixture of polyester (58-80%) and polyurethane (PU) (20-42%). Just to add to the confusion, this is sometimes described as just “PU”. An alternative mix includes PVC (63%), polyester (27%), and PU (10%). Pure PU clothes seem rare. The alt.lycra FAQ notes that PU “is a type of ‘plastic’ material that is very similar to rubber in many respects but has many superior characteristics and none of rubber’s ‘bad’ habits.” However PVC is usually not skin-tight like latex and degrades quicker. It is often referred to by rubberists as “the poor person’s latex”.

One reason why latex, and other tight shiny fabrics may be fetishised is perhaps that the garment forms a “second skin” that acts as a fetishistic surrogate for the wearer’s own skin. Thus, wearers of skin-tight latex or PVC garments may be perceived by the viewer as being naked, or simply coated in a shiny substance like paint. Latex and PVC can also be polished to be shiny and can also be produced in bright colours, adding further visual stimulus to add to the physical sensations produced by the material. The tightness of the garments may also be viewed as a kind of sexual bondage. The smell of latex rubber is also a turn-on for some rubber fetishists, and such garments are usually impregnated with chemicals to enhance the odour.

However, some latex enthusiasts are also turned on by the wearing of draped latex garments such as cloaks. Other rubber paraphernalia, such as gas masks and Wellington boots, are also often added to the scenario. Some PVC enthusiasts are turned on by PVC Hazmat suits and other forms of industrial protective clothing.

One variant of rubber fetishism involves Mackintoshes. This appears to be predominantly a British form of rubber fetishism and is rare among rubberists.

Latex fetishism often involves dressing up in the material, or looking at it worn by sexual partners, or fantasies about wearers of skin-tight or other latex garments, such as divers and workers wearing industrial protective clothing. Another common stereotype of is the image of a dominatrix wearing a skin-tight latex or PVC catsuit, usually jet-black.

For hygienic reasons, many sex toys such as dildos and butt plugs are made from rubber or similar materials, and this is also a factor in rubber fetishism. Some rubber fetishists are also medical fetishists or have an interest in klismaphilia – medical gloves are made from latex, as well as condoms.

The Batman films made heavy use of rubber and PVC for Batman and Catwoman’s (Batman Returns) costumes respectively. The upcoming major fan-film (publicised in several newspapers and popular websites like The Internet Archive), Catwoman: CopyCat uses an entirely latex costume for the femme fatale.[1]

A substantial industry exists to produce specialist latex or rubber fetish clothing garments for rubber enthusiasts.

The International Association of Rubberists is a free online support community for those who may be struggling with their fetish. It is also a vast source of information on the rubberist subculture and its related industry.

Lots of latex or rubber clothes appear on websites such as eBay, and in recent years clothes made in PVC have been prevalent in young people’s fashions, particularly in jackets, skirts and trousers. Several mainstream designers have made latex clothing. As fashions come round and round again it would seem that PVC, latex and similar materials will appear again in mainstream street fashions as well as continuing to be central to the fetish scene.

The artwork of Allen Jones has been strongly influenced by the imagery of rubber fetishism and BDSM.

There are a number of specialist rubberist magazines devoted to this fetish, including:

* AtomAge
* Dressing for Pleasure
* Marquis
* «O»
* Shiny International
* Skin Two