Commonly fetishized materials include leather, fur, satin, rubber, spandex, fishnet, chainmail and fabrics made from plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC, vinyl), polyurethane (PU) and polyamide. The uniforms associated with certain occupations are frequently fetishized; for example, nurse, maid, schoolgirl, law enforcement officer (particularly motorcycle patrol) and military officer. It is possible to buy uniforms made out of fetish materials rather than regular fabric.
Note that these materials are also commonly used in functional clothing, and that clothes made of these materials are not necessarily fetishistic in nature. However, this has also led to fetishization of functional clothing such as riding boots, diving suits and industrial clothing such as hazmat suits and gas masks.
Common items of fetish clothing include catsuits,
thigh-high boots and stockings, collars, bondage masks and hoods, and leather body harnesses. Fetish clothing is often worn within the fetish subculture, frequently as a way of keeping curious non-fetishists out of fetish clubs.
Fetish fashion models such as Midori, Bianca Beauchamp and Dita von Teese specialize in this type of attire.
Many elements from fetish clothing have been adopted by mainstream fashion designers.
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.
The terms "PVC", "vinyl" and "PU" tend to be used interchangeably by retailers for clothing made from shiny plastic-coated fabrics. These fabrics usually consist of a backing woven from polyester fibers with a surface coating of shiny plastic. The plastic layer itself is typically a blend of PVC and polyurethane (PU), with 100% PVC producing a stiff fabric with a glossy shine and 100% PU producing a stretchy fabric with a silky shine. A manufacturer's label may say, for example, 67% polyester, 33% polyurethane for a fabric that contains no PVC; or 80% polyvinyl chloride, 20% polyurethane with mention of the polyester backing omitted. To add to the confusion, the plastic layer is often textured to look like leather ("leatherlook", "pleather"), as opposed to smooth ("wetlook", "patent").
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. Rubberists also enjoy the idea of exhibitionism and some fantasise about going out in public wearing fetish attire. Some do this, especially in the more liberal areas (Berlin, New York, San Francisco, etc).
A compelling reason that people are turned on by wearing rubber is its transformative abilities. As with any costume, a rubberist can imagine themselves having a new identity, especially one that permits a different code of behavior.
Some latex enthusiasts are also turned on by the wearing of draped latex garments such as cloaks. Other rubber paraphernalia, such as wet suits,gas masks, splash suits, Mackintoshes, galoshes and Wellington boots, are also often added to the scenario. Heavier fetishists often attempt duplicating all kinds of "everyday wear" into a rubber counterpart. Some PVC enthusiasts are turned on by PVC Hazmat suits and other forms of industrial protective clothing.
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 and catheters are made from latex, as well as condoms.
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. There is also the extremely popular website www.crfriends.de, created by a German couple with a rubber fetish as a free portal for those interested in alternative lifestyles. Another free resource for those curious about wearing latex and wanting to meet like-minded people from across the globe is the RubberPal site, where various things are discussed including wearing, caring and purchasing items. A major site for Gay rubbermen is Rubberzone and World Rubbermen.
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.
In the recent Batman film series, which make heavy use of these materials, Batman's costume is of rubber; in Batman Returns, Catwoman wears PVC. The upcoming major fan film, Catwoman: CopyCat, publicised by several newspapers and popular websites (e.g., The Internet Archive), uses an entirely latex costume for the femme fatale
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.
The terms "PVC", "vinyl" and "PU" tend to be used interchangeably by retailers for clothing made from shiny plastic-coated fabrics. These fabrics usually consist of a backing woven from polyester fibers with a surface coating of shiny plastic. The plastic layer itself is typically a blend of PVC and polyurethane (PU), with 100% PVC producing a stiff fabric with a glossy shine and 100% PU producing a stretchy fabric with a silky shine. A manufacturer's label may say, for example, 67% polyester, 33% polyurethane for a fabric that contains no PVC; or 80% polyvinyl chloride, 20% polyurethane with mention of the polyester backing omitted. To add to the confusion, the plastic layer is often textured to look like leather ("leatherlook", "pleather"), as opposed to smooth ("wetlook", "patent").
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. Rubberists also enjoy the idea of exhibitionism and some fantasise about going out in public wearing fetish attire. Some do this, especially in the more liberal areas (Berlin, New York, San Francisco, etc).
A compelling reason that people are turned on by wearing rubber is its transformative abilities. As with any costume, a rubberist can imagine themselves having a new identity, especially one that permits a different code of behavior.
Some latex enthusiasts are also turned on by the wearing of draped latex garments such as cloaks. Other rubber paraphernalia, such as wet suits,gas masks, splash suits, Mackintoshes, galoshes and Wellington boots, are also often added to the scenario. Heavier fetishists often attempt duplicating all kinds of "everyday wear" into a rubber counterpart. Some PVC enthusiasts are turned on by PVC Hazmat suits and other forms of industrial protective clothing.
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 and catheters are made from latex, as well as condoms.
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. There is also the extremely popular website www.crfriends.de, created by a German couple with a rubber fetish as a free portal for those interested in alternative lifestyles. Another free resource for those curious about wearing latex and wanting to meet like-minded people from across the globe is the RubberPal site, where various things are discussed including wearing, caring and purchasing items. A major site for Gay rubbermen is Rubberzone and World Rubbermen.
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.
In the recent Batman film series, which make heavy use of these materials, Batman's costume is of rubber; in Batman Returns, Catwoman wears PVC. The upcoming major fan film, Catwoman: CopyCat, publicised by several newspapers and popular websites (e.g., The Internet Archive), uses an entirely latex costume for the femme fatale
