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Some seasonal stardust sprinkled by latex-loving celebs
Some of the latex made by MM Latex for Luis de Javier, who has been sprinkling seasonal stardust with his latest collection
SOME SEASONAL STARDUST SPRINKLED BY LATEX-LOVING CELEBS
With the end of 2023 fast approaching, we’re catching up with some seasonal stardust sprinkled by celebs and latex designers that may not have received the media attention it deserved. And not least among these is the recent collaborations between London-based celebrity fashion designer Luis de Javier and newish north of England latex specialist MM Latex.
One reason the alliance between these two brands is so refreshing is the very fact that it has been publicised at all — and, what’s more, by both parties. In our experience, it is far more common for high-end fashion labels — having managed to get some celebrities into rubber from the seasonal latex collection they’ve just daringly added to their range — to very purposefully not credit whichever designer/makers from the latex clothing industry they’ve subcontracted to produce the garments for them.
Luis de Javier wearing MM Latex in his short fashion film Le Robo Una Rosa — read more about the movie below
How latex industry collaborations with fashion brands usually work
Of course, exactly how the creative effort is shared in such collaborations will vary between different partnerships. But broadly speaking, the fashion brand will provide some kind of garment spec (which could range from very specific to quite generalised), then the latex specialist will translate that requirement into something that can be successfully produced in latex, possibly with several prototyping stages involved before arriving at the final design.
The bigger and more prestigious the fashion brand is, the greater the measures it will likely take to protect commercially sensitive information. This can obviously include the identities of the specialist craftspeople who turn its ideas into wearable garments — and consequently the imposition of non-disclosure agreements is not unusual. But for the latex makers who do get subcontracted for this kind of work, it can be truly transformative for their businesses — as long as the fashion brand doesn’t go bust, of course!
Luis de Javier and Julia Fox making a latex-clad getaway in Javier’s film Le Robo Una Rosa — watch the movie below!
So it has been great to see both MM Latex and Luis de Javier — who has dressed the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna, Cardi B, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Janet Jackson and Naomi Campbell since graduating from university in 2018 — not just publicly acknowledging their collaboration, but positively singing each other’s praises on Instagram and elsewhere.
And although a major objective was to provide de Javier with latex for his recent collection, the public collaboration didn’t stop there. Because the designer decided, in addition, to make a short film in which he himself would appear along with latex-loving actress Julia Fox — and in which latex costumes supplied by MM would also have a starring role!
Titled Le Robo Una Rosa, the 14-minute short (released in September) was directed by Joel Palmer and produced by independent production company Serious People. Aside from de Javier and Fox, it also features Yves Tumor and Dangerous Rose, and is a pretty edgy piece, as surely befits de Javier’s fearless design approach and his previous internships at Vivienne Westwood and Gareth Pugh. You can watch Le Robó una Rosa for yourselves at the bottom of this very article. Enjoy!
Performers Bia and Loreen choose black latex for key appearances
Bia (left) models the latest latex outfit made for her by Venus Prototype. Right: black latex-clad Loreen with her trophy at the NRJ Awards
Meanwhile, on the US West Coast, latex designer and Hollywood stylist Venus Prototype has also been sprinkling some seasonal stardust. These days producing latex fashion in partnership with her daughter at their label Venus and Violet, Ms Prototype continues to be one of the go-to costumiers for women in music — both established and rising stars. One of the designs that really caught our eye in October was her latest outfit for regular customer Bia featuring oversized grommets (pictured above left).
In November, Europe was a focus of international music biz interest with Paris playing host to the 2023 NRJ Awards. Swedish singer Loreen (who won this year’s Eurovision) won NRJ’s International Revelation of the Year, both performing and accepting her trophy while wearing black latex. One commentator pointed out that, as Loreen (pictured) had been “around for years” and had previously won Eurovision in 2012, she was actually “only a revelation to the French”. But at least she was a revelation in latex!
Avellano dresses Cyrus & Peck, Mara Lafontan, Timothée Chalamet
Avellano latex fans sprinkle seasonal stardust, l-r: Orville Peck with Noah Cyrus; ‘Countess’ Mara Lafontan; Timothée Chalamet
Last but not least, we’re sure you’d want to know that new Paris fashion label and latex specialist Avellano has also been sprinkling seasonal stardust with the help of various celebs, since making a big splash at various high profile industry events earlier this year. Back in October, the designer’s red latex gown had a starring role in a shoot featuring Mara Lafontan (above, centre) paying homage to American Horror Story’s The Countess. In November, actor Timothée Chalamet (above right) was snapped wearing Avellano’s double-breasted latex coat. And in December, Noah Cyrus posed with Orville Peck for a shoot in Marvin magazine (above left).