Romanie Smith models Latex Peplum Bustier by Catalyst Latex, probably the best known UK name for chlorinated latex fashions. Catalyst also provides a chlorination-by-post service for your own garments (photo: Doll House Photography)
The enthusiastic embrace by celebrities of hot new Paris-based latex fashion brand Avellano, as reported in recent Libidex Blog stories, has reignited interest in the sometimes controversial practice of chlorinating latex.
Avellano appears to be using a type of chlorination to create the ‘textured’ latex option it calls Snakeskin. This would make good sense for a latex brand whose target audience is not fetishists but fashionistas — a group particularly likely to appreciate the convenience chlorinated latex provides, as it’s smooth and slippery, does not stick to skin and requires no lube or talc to aid dressing.
Among latex devotees, you’ll find love and loathing of chlorinated latex in equal measure. This article aims to review the treatment’s main pros and cons, with those whose curiosity about it has been only recently aroused particularly in mind.
Chlorination is a chemical process involving treatment of latex with a chlorine solution. The treatment is generally applied to whole finished garments since latex is difficult or impossible to glue after chlorination.
Avellano Snakeskin Dress, seemingly using chlorination for a muted sheen and leather-like texture (model: Ushka; image: Avellano)
The process both toughens and slightly thickens the latex, making it more resistant to accidental damage and potentially extending the garment’s life whether being worn or in storage. It also reduces the natural protein in latex that causes allergic reaction in some people, making it good choice for rubber lovers with a latex allergy who don’t want to stop wearing it.
People who like to enjoy their latex fetish in public point out that its silky finish makes it easy to team with woven fabrics, whether as a visible fashion look (eg a fluffy top with latex leggings) or secretly under normal clothes. And if you like to wear your latex in bed, chlorinated latex won’t snag on the bedclothes!
In some situations, though, the extreme slipperiness of chlorinated latex can be a downside — literally. Certain garments that would normally be self-supporting, such as latex stockings, can, if chlorinated, easily slip down!
Given the difficulty of gluing it, repairing chlorinated latex is often claimed to be impossible. A more nuanced view is that thicker chlorinated latex can be repaired, if you have the patience to first grind down the surfaces of the rubber sufficiently to expose the untreated, still-bondable layers beneath.
Tamar Roxx models bubblegum pink Catalyst Latex Vest Dress. Catalyst latex garments come already chlorinated (photo: Joan Ilejay)
There are a couple of other issues around chlorination that may concern you. First, chlorinating lighter latex colours carries a risk of discolouration that can’t be remedied. Second, chlorination does (initially at least) remove the familiar fragrance of untreated latex. So if the olfactory aspect of rubber is very important to your enjoyment, bear this in mind. Views differ on just how drastic this effect is: some sources claim your chlorinated latex will forever smell like a swimming pool; others say the chlorine/industrial smell fades with time, but the natural rubber fragrance may never fully return.
If you fancy trying some chlorinated latex, there are various options depending on where you live. You can buy an outfit from a latex label that supplies all its garments already chlorinated — such as Catalyst Latex in the UK. Or you can buy from a designer who offers chlorination as an option (for which there may be an additional fee).
You can send your own untreated latex garment (whether a longtime favourite piece or a brand-new item you’ve just bought from Libidex, for example!) to one of the companies that offer a chlorination service. In the UK, Catalyst again offers this service, as do Latex Essence (which also does repairs and alterations) and Klenfixkestrel (a chlorination specialist).
Latex chlorination services are also available in continental Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia among other locations. It makes sense to use a service in your own country when possible. Remember: Google is your friend.
Wondering whether to have your Libidex latex lingerie chlorinated? This article reviews the main pros and cons of the process
All chlorination services specify the physical condition of garments you may send for treatment. Usually they want any used latex thoroughly cleaned by you, and garments you send to be undamaged and free of metal elements.
These days there are plenty of latex clothing labels that appear to offer chlorinated garments either as standard or as an option. But surprisingly, some that devote space on their websites to discussing the pros and cons of chlorination are not as clear as they could be about what they themselves offer. It might seem obvious to them that they are offering chlorinated clothes, but a prominent statement confirming it would still be preferable!
There’s quite a lot of chlorination info out there if you want to investigate further. Much of it has evidently come from the same source material, which may well be the very detailed page you can find (in English) on the Simon O website. Incidentally, this highly regarded Austrian brand recently introduced SSC — Single Side Chlorinated latex — which combines untreated shiny latex outside with silky, gliding chlorinated latex inside.
The Simon O chlorination info page is unmatched for its thoroughness — including all the chemistry behind the process (if you need to know it). It also provides a complete DIY section if you want to attempt chlorination at home. But be warned: the process involves working with hazardous chemicals, and a very strict safety regime must be observed. So unless you’re really confident that it’s within your competence, we suggest you play safe and use a professional service.
Below: Austrian brand Simon O has a high level of chlorination expertise — including a DIY guide — which it shares on its website