Simon Rose designs latex fetish wear for first timers and rubberists alike. Spray 'em on and peel 'em off, just don't forget the talcum powder and try not to sweat! If things do get a bit messy, you’ll find the Perv-o-Shine product along with his whole collection on www.libidex.com.

WHEN DID YOU START DESIGNING FETISH CLOTHING?
I've always designed rubber clothes, ever since I wrapped myself in a rubber blanket and wore my father's gas mask and danced around when I was a child. OK then - about 15 years really!

WHY 'LIBIDEX'?
It's a mixture of 'libido' and 'latex' - it was thought up by my friend who started the business. But we've called our shop in Covent Garden 'Liberation' - which rolls off the tongue a bit more easily.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN GOING TO FETISH NIGHTS?

The first one I can remember was the Rubber Ball in 1992 (when I was only 10 of course!) - it was the night Jean-Paul Gaultier and Right Said Fred turned up.

IS LATEX AND RUBBER CLOTHING YOUR FETISH?
I do love latex clothing - though it's just one of my many fetishes!

WHAT'S THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS OUTFIT YOU'VE EVER WORN TO A FETISH NIGHT?
All my outfits get pretty outrageous, but I think the best was 'Spotty Man' - a full enclosure number in white rubber with inflated breasts covered in spots on 12 inch platforms, with an inflated doughnut headpiece. My tribute to Leigh Bowery.

ARE FETISH CLUBS MORE ABOUT THE FASHION THAN THE MUSIC OR EXPERIENCE TO YOU? OR DOES YOUR OUTFIT DETERMINE THE EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE?
As Wagner would have said (if he’d ever been to a fetish club) it's a Gesamtkunstwerk - for me it’s the whole experience - but wearing a fab outfit always increases the pleasure.

IS DRESSING UP ONE OF THE MOST LIBERATING THINGS AN ADULT CAN DO?
If it’s the right outfit for you then yes - but sometimes people just get it wrong and that's very unliberating.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DRESSING UP?
Ever since I played the first sheep in the nativity play. I came from a large family with a military father and we were always putting on shows – we were a bit like the Von Trapps. So I’ve always enjoyed dressing up!

DO YOU WEAR FABRIC TROUSERS VERY OFTEN?
Well I do actually - running a business while wearing a latex catsuit would be a bit sweaty!

DO YOU PREFER WORKING WITH LATEX OR RUBBER?
Don't want to get technical, but latex and rubber are basically the same thing! And I tend to use the words interchangeably.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR QUALITY TO THESE MATERIALS THAT YOU MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DESIGNING CLOTHES OUT OF THEM?
You have to make allowances for the stretchiness - it has to be made a bit smaller than the stated size, and a lot of people don't understand that.

WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR LATEX AND RUBBER?
Pretty much every company gets its sheet latex from 4D, a company in the UK - they specialise in making this kind of latex for the fashion industry.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BUSY IN YOUR WORKSHOP - CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE DESIGN PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH?
We have about 4 people in our workshop, and we keep them pretty busy. As for the design process - I am allowed some secrets!



HOW DO YOU CLEAN LATEX AND RUBBER - IS IT WIPE-DOWN?!
There’s a special latex cleaner we use - sometimes called 'Perv-o-Shine' - which gives a very good finish, but you can also use soap and water. For a really high gloss shine, you can use silicon spray. But don't ever use oil - or the clothes will fall off you and disintegrate!

TELL US ABOUT THE MOST EXCITING TIMES YOU’VE SEEN YOUR DESIGNS BEING WORN?!
It's always exciting to see them worn by celebs - we've done stuff for Oasis, Eminem, Caprice, Rachel Weisz and so on. But I think the most exciting thing is to see one of our custom made outfits delighting the customer (especially if it's the first time they've worn rubber!).

WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO DESIGN A FETISH OUTFIT FOR?
Maggie Thatcher - there's a woman with some dark and devilish thoughts.

DO YOU EVER ENVISAGE THE ACTIVITIES YOUR DESIGNS WILL EVENTUALLY CLOTHE; THE EXPERIENCES THEY WILL ABSORB OR FUNCTION AS THE UNIFORM TO?!
I often find it hard to imagine what our customers get up to in some of the outfits we make for them...for example the man who ordered a latex horse outfit...!

WHAT INFLUENCES OR INSPIRES YOUR DESIGNS, ASIDE FROM THE FETISH SCENE?
All sorts of things - Club freaks, men in uniform, Bettie Page and designers like Jean Paul Gaultier, Terry Mugler, even historic fashions for example Victorian. I suppose you could say I’m very eclectic.

DO YOU ENJOY TWISTING TRADITIONAL GARMENTS - PENCIL SKIRTS, SHIRTS - INTO SOMETHING NAUGHTY OR FETISH?
I do a lot of classic designs, but the fact that you can make a pin-stripe suit out of latex for example is kinky in itself. All my stuff tends to have a bit of a naughty twist to it.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION FOR THE ENCLOSED HOOD DESIGNS WITH CHARACTERS, ANIMALS OR EXPRESSIONS DECORATING THEM?
Quite often from my nightmares! I get a lot of it from things like Expressionist art, Pop art, even high Gothic artists like Fuseli. Or I just look at some of my friends...!

TELL US ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE WORK YOU DO AT FETISH NIGHTS?
I think some people take their fetish too seriously, so I like to send the scene up a bit. None of my shows are ever what you'd call a straight fashion show - they always involve a lot of mad antics such as girls bursting out of huge inflated rubber balls and things - Libidex has quite a reputation for it!

WHERE DOES THE CONCEPT BEGIN FOR A PERFORMANCE AND ITS OUTFIT?
It might start from something like an interesting pair of shoes I see in a shop or a piece of music - or if someone gives me a theme, I immediately want to subvert it and see the unconventional way of interpreting it.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF FETISH? WILL IT EVER CROSS OVER INTO THE MAINSTREAM?
It's getting quite mainstream on the surface - lots of people now take fetish in their stride, but I think there’s still a deep dark core who will always think it's their special thing...

WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE FANTASY?
Being in a rubber sack with Angelina Jolie (and Brad!)

HOW WOULD YOU PERSUADE SOMEONE TO WEAR LATEX?
Tie them up first - but with most of them the problem is getting them not to wear it!

To see and try on the gear for real, head to Liberation, 49 Shelton St, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9HE. Map.



Words: Lucy Wilson