Finding Honour
Along the market of Lower Marsh are red brick buildings lining the market walkway. A store with sleek black panelling stands among the windows, contrasting the cherry-red backdrop and posed mannequins in wet-look wear. There is an aura of taboo to the display. A naughtiness. Commuters merely glance at the shined clothing on the how and walk on. Teased but not yet enticed by the world of alternative clothing. This is where I am meant to be.
I ring the doorbell and wait to be let inside. This outwardly minor detail sets the tone for a boutique experience. The excitement builds. To have never even thought about wearing latex, then standing in front of an expert fantasy clothing retailer was, I’ll admit, a bit daunting. But we’re breaking moulds here; there’s no time for nerves! Luckily, the experience of working at Bondara has educated me on the world of Kink and Fetish. I was ready.
The door is answered, and I meet Larissa, Honour’s Social Media Manager & Content Creator, who takes me on a tour of their Waterloo store. There are racks of clothing and displays from wall to wall and ceiling to floor. It is notably warm, which differs from the coolness of the checker plate floor panels. A converted house, the shop’s layout can’t help but be warm and welcoming; now a home for latex and PVC garments, each room caters to either Women’s wear, Men’s, lingerie, changing rooms, or adult toys.
What is Honour?
Larissa was kind and answered many questions Bondara had about latex wear and Honour clothing.
Honour’s story begins in 1988, when it opened its first store in Waterloo, London, as a lingerie retailer. It expanded into latex, PVCs, leathers, wet looks, etc.. In 2012, Honour merged with Skin Two Clothing, further expanding its styles and designs.
Customers love the Latex Skater Dress, the High-Neck Skater Dress, the catsuit, and the skirts. Due to the increasing acceptance of the alternative scene, new people are discovering latex wear every day, but Honour also has some hardcore fans from the 90s.
Both Bondara and Honour have seen an uptick in the popularity of latex clothing in the mainstream. The red carpet is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of creativity, with Kim Kardashian, Salma Hayek, and Timothee Chalamet sporting the material and Alex Scott wearing a skintight number on the pitch.
Much like any other business in the adult industry, Honour admits that they struggle with the adult restrictions across social media platforms and search engines. There is a fine line between being sexy and adult, although Honour is promoting day-to-day styling rather than strictly fetish wear.
The world of adult actors and content creators has become a part of recent conversation due to the shock value of characters such as Bonnie Blue and Lily Philips. Despite this, the Kink and Fetish culture and its community remain largely buried and taboo and anything attributed is lumped into a “restricted” category.
The Ritual of Latex
Many of our processes today are designed for efficiency. The rituals of travel, conversation, dressing and cooking no longer require our mindful presence. The value within each of our laborious days is how quickly we can get through each task rather than how present we are throughout each moment. Latex brings back the need for self-awareness, mindful practice, and ritual.
Understanding your boundaries can help you determine what coverage level you want. You can also decide whether the pieces will be worn privately, under your ‘regular’ clothes, or for parties and events.
Latex is a naturally occurring rubber derived from the rubber tree sap. It is collected via “tapping,” whereby the tree bark is cut, and a container is placed below the incisions to collect the latex. Time allows the liquid to coagulate and form into clumps before it is taken away for further processing.
Before wearing latex, it is a good idea to determine whether you may be allergic to it! If you are, you’ll experience a reaction within 30 seconds to several hours after touching the material. This means you could experience a range of symptoms varying in severity (mild itchiness or even anaphylaxis!) If you’ve ever felt itch after using medical latex gloves, balloons, latex condoms, or catheters, it’s probably best to get your allergy confirmed by your local GP before attempting to wear a catsuit, but for everyone else, jump right in!
For those with latex allergies, other wet-look fabrics are just as nice and comfortable, like PVC, which you can try in-store. Many people even prefer the feel of PVC over latex, so don’t feel disheartened.
I’m allergic to latex condoms and had to find out the hard way (literally). However, I’m not allergic to latex worn on the skin, like gloves! Yay!
I quickly learnt that latex wear demands care and respect. Sharp objects and nails are a no-no and will tear the fabric. Correct storage in a cool, dry location will also ensure the longevity of your garment.
How do I wear Latex?
“I recommend that you take your time and start small. Start with a small fashion piece, e.g., a corset or a tube top, understand the fabric, and build layers. Through time, you get comfortable with your skin and can experiment with more!” – Larissa, Honour’s Social Media Manager and Content Creator.
Step-by-step
- Find an item: Styles range from the traditional pin-up silhouette to catsuits, so pick the level of coverage that makes you feel comfortable—you don’t have to get your tatas out if you don’t want to!
- Lube up: Depending on your garment and how sweaty you are, you’ll have to apply some lube to your skin where the garment will sit. This will help you slip into the fabric more easily. If using lube sounds like a sensory nightmare, talcum powder also works like a dream (and is my preferred method).
- Get dressed: At this point, you’ll be half-naked, lubed up, and ready to start dressing. It might be helpful to have a friend on hand to help adjust any straps or zips or to help tug.
- Shine, shine, shine! This is where your friend might become helpful again – apply some shiner to a cloth and wipe down your latex. It is so satisfying watching it go from matte to shiny.
Larissa gave some sound advice: start with “Easy to get on, garments”. If you want to buy some latex, try a pair of gloves. For PV, our recommendation would be the same: gloves, tube tops, vests, skirts, shorts, etc.
Losing my Latex Virginity
When I put on the latex, the material was cold at first. Very quickly, though, your body heats the fabric. The latex is almost like a second skin without being claustrophobic. It can be a bit of a tug and pull, but once it’s on, there is a massive relief. I thoroughly enjoy the sensation of tight-fitting clothing. It feels safe, and that’s the exact feeling that these latex garments gave me.
The other notable positive was the aura of confidence from before compared to after wearing the latex. The fabric hugged all my curves in the right way, and my ass looked great! I’d worn the [] by Bondara before and didn’t think to dabble any further into the fetish wear world. Worry not; I have been converted.
Pairing my black latex suspender body with shiny thigh-high suspenders, wet-look black boots, and gauntlet-style leather guards pulled the entire look together. In the mirror stood a woman trying something new, bold, brave and going against society’s ‘good girl’ policy. Any apprehension that I may have had melted away the moment I tried on latex, despite the misconceptions around fetish wear.
Wet-look fashion
For the girls…
My trip to Honour prompted me to take stock of our wet-look fashion. Although Bondara isn’t a specialist in the latex game, we have fetish clothing options for everyone!
For the guys…
For the shine…
