In his recent Achieving Care for Your Latex Apparel – TechBullion, Abdul Baist gives us an extensive rundown of how to care for our favorite textile.
And we couldn’t have ‘said’ it better.
In all we write, render, and reveal of latex couture, Dawnamatrix has always recommended a specific latex couture care agenda. But due to the wear’s time constraint or circumstance—a model swiftly changing out of one garment to quickly wiggle into another at a fashion show or shoot, a partier peeling out of an outfit to rush into their shower after hours of sweaty dancing at the club—our latex can suffer lots of abuse.
Latex accessories also often receive the same treatment.
It’s surely not a deliberate mistreatment. Let’s face it: latex dresses or even a few pairs of latex tights can cost a good amount of money. But as Baist says, “…whether you find yourself in a latex dress, bodysuit, or catsuit, this unique fabric takes a little extra attention to ensure that you are looking your best.”
What do Dawnamatrix and Baist, pretty much all latex designers, suggest?
First and foremost, clean your latex. Hand washing is best, with lukewarm water and soap. Don’t pull too hard as you clean it, and make sure that the soap you use is mild. Immersion in a bathtub is your best option here. Once sufficiently washed, it’s time to get to drying your latex. Avoid heat, dryers, or hanging your latex outfit in direct sunlight is out. It’s best just to lay your latex flat on a soft towel and pat all excess moisture away. Be extra careful cleaning latex couture that has glued seams.
And again, don’t stretch when drying.
Storing your latex? Again, keep your latex pieces or outfits away from heat of any kind. Pretty much store them in a cool, dark space, and keep them away from other fabrics…metal or leather can damage or even stain our favorite pieces.
Padded hangers or garment bags are certainly great to have on hand here.
As you see often, there are plenty of silicone-based products that can be used to shine latex, and it’s also a good idea to spray your wardrobe pieces with these products (or even use a shine powder) prior to storage. You want your latex as ready to go as you are when you come to wearing it.
As with anything else, we could dive deeper into the latex weeds here with the specificity of cleaning, drying, and storing. But as Baist guides in his above piece, and we agree, these are some basics to making sure that whatever latex you might wear for the upcoming holiday or any time, will always stay looking its best.
As you do when wearing your latex finery.
