Magpie Latex: An Inspirational Journey to Latex Fashion Designer

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Magpie Latex fashion clothing
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It’s always so difficult to resist anything shiny, and a newly launched latex designer has taken this belief to heart, with the launch of his new, aptly named, latex clothing brand, Magpie Latex. In his first official interview with any form of media, Magpie owner Josh Champion talks to Latex24/7 about his inspirational journey from musical drop-out to latex designer, and how a near-death experience changed his entire outlook on life.

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Q: When and how did your journey into the world of fashion begin?
A: Formally it started in March of 2023 when I decided to do the latex garment making short course at CSM. I had made 2 simple pieces of underwear before but they didn’t go very well, I didn’t know about the need for a cleaner so the outcome wasn’t great. At the time when I made those first two samples I was studying at university in Brighton for Bass guitar but after a while I took a step back from music as I was no longer particularly stimulated by it. I initially just googled how to make latex clothes in the hope I would find some online tutorials but when I saw the course I thought it could be a really good opportunity. The brilliant Nick Jones (of Tainted Love fame) ran the course. It ran for a week and I learned so much from him. Other than that course I am fully self taught in fashion of all aspects.

Q: Where and when did you first discover, or experience, latex clothing?
A: I think from Instagram, following other latex models and designers. I always had a love of gas masks and I remember watching the club scene in the Matrix film when I was younger and loving all the crazy outfits people were wearing and remember at the time wishing that these clubs existed, little did I know that they did, I just hadn’t discovered them yet. I always found the look intriguing, I see it as a way of expression without ego, it has a neutralising effect which draws judgement away from the individual and helps people be expressive without focusing on the self. I had been to a few Torture Garden events later down the line which was the first time experienced wearing latex clothing and seeing others style it in person. It was such a sensory experience that took it from being an abstract admiration to a real fixation.

Q: What was it that drew you toward latex vs other materials? What first sparked and started your interest in making latex fashion garments?
A: A few years ago I had no interest in fashion at all, latex or otherwise. I didn’t pay attention to clothes as a means of identity or consider what I wore, which my partner will testify to. Latex was the first time I considered clothes as a means of self-expression, it made me feel something that more mainstream materials had never done. This snowballed my interest in fashion in general. It has been two years since I started creating my pieces. I have always been creative but felt that I could no longer express myself through music in the ways I wanted to. I wanted to pursue visual art as an outlet. Fashion felt like a new and exciting means of trying something different. I see the world through the way things go together, and how shapes are made and the specificity was intriguing to me. Years ago I remember saying to a friend that I see the world in patterns, not clothing patterns, rather patterns and shapes in my head and this was something I had never heard anyone describe before. Further down the line, I had a therapist enlighten me that this was probably a number of forms of synesthesia. I think this has a part to play in my creative output and was probably a great help in transitioning into the world of fashion.

Q: Who or what are your biggest influences and who do you respect most in the genre of latex fashion?
A: The designer who first caught my eye was Dayne Henderson. I remember seeing his inflatable pieces and thinking they were just incredible. In particular, the hoods with horns have a devilish presence that captivated me. The pieces stand in such blatant juxtaposition from the ordinary. As somebody who follows the Jungian sense of the embracing of the shadow, I felt his designs represented this concept in a physical form. I drew major inspiration from this theme in my first collection. I also owe a lot to Nick Jones who was a game changer for me as he was my instructor when starting out. He is one of the greats in this area and has worked with the best of the best. I also love the futuristic and matrix-esque style of Avellano and the clean but striking work by Elisa Poppy.

Outside of latex, Daniel Roseberry’s creative direction of Schiaparelli with their surrealist shapes was an inspiration, particularly oversized shoulders which you can see referenced in the ‘Rapture’ dress I made. The use of boning erupting from the shoulder is made to be an extension of the wearer’s skeletal structure, with the effect running down the back of the dress extending to the rib cage. Almost as if the darker side, the devil on one’s shoulder, is trying to break free, which to me is quite beautiful. I call it gore-couture.

Magpie Latex Rapture Dress
Josh describes elements of his designs as ‘gore-couture’, including the ‘Rapture’ dress, worn by Darc

Q: What was your biggest fear when going out and starting your own line?
A: It was a natural progression of knowing that I had something to say, and finding that latex design was my way of saying it. The ideas came first and from there it was a smooth transition to laying them out into materials. I was always intending on selling them if the interest was there, however, I created with no intention of making money as this started as a small passion project alongside other work. For that reason there was no risk involved and it was a liberating endeavour that previously I had not had the time or experience to execute in the way I had imagined. For those that are esoterically inclined, this first collection felt to me like an automatic writing session. It flowed from me and when I finished and stood back I had managed to create a coherent collection with central themes.

Q: What do you enjoy most about working with latex?
A: The tactile nature of using the material is what I enjoy most. The sounds, smells and feel of latex is fun to interact with. There are big differences when approaching making latex compared to other materials. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to finishes, so instead of having seams with loose threads, being able to have such sharp cuts which come together cleanly is very satisfying to me. I think as I don’t know how to sew or work with other materials just yet I didn’t have to adjust my knowledge, I was coming to it having never made clothes before so I had a clean slate to start my knowledge from. However, once the seams are set they’re stuck that way, so checking everything the first time is really important and being confident that the pattern is correct is crucial. The inflatable vest was the most trial and error, having to find various methods to weave the chains through the back and make sure it would be airtight and secure. From concept to completion I spent a year on that piece. I worked in small bursts and encountered so many hurdles, often taking breaks from it for weeks so that I could think things through and take time from the often frustrating need for accuracy, especially to achieve the spinal cord effect on the back and find ways to put in the curved metal valves.

Magpie Latex Little Devil Dress
The ‘Rapture’ dress, worn by Sophia Gray, is surely one of the most iconic pieces in the designers first collection

Q: Now that you are about to launch your first collection, please tell us a little about the ethos behind it.
A: The overarching theme of this collection is balance. It’s being tackled from an esoteric and spiritual angle, playing into a semi-perennialist concept of the themes of good and bad. These notions permeate all aspects of society regardless of cultural or religious background. They materialise on an individual level based on a person’s own beliefs. This idea of balance is carried through to even the brand name itself, not only do Magpies collect shiny things as part of their mating ritual but their black and white colourings physically embody these total opposites, almost as if they are a living Yin and Yang.

To get very real, 6 years ago when I was living a very different life to now. I had a drug overdose and experienced a double cardiac arrest. I flatlined and required multiple attempts of defibrillation to get my heart beating again and when it did I was placed into a medically induced coma. I woke up a few days later. After this, my perspective on life and my existence shifted drastically. I had quite literally experienced death, and a part of me felt like it had been left in that place and not fully come back. For many years, things felt flattened and it thought it had left a hole in my life. I had always been a pretty spiritual person but had never properly studied anything specifically before this event but after this I found comfort in the occult and esoteric forms of knowledge. I then began to realise that instead of leaving something behind, I had bought something back, a very valuable and unignorable, almost exterior perspective. First feeling drawn to Thelema and its associated practices, this took me down the path of discovering other beliefs like Hermetic Qabalah, Neoplatonism and Gnosticism with its concept of the Pleroma and the Monad. This ontological construction sat well with me and gave a new meaning to the new reality I experience since such a major event.

This is represented in the collection through the ‘Devil’ dress being inspired by the Devil tarot card. In this card, the Devil sits atop a post with a male and female chained to the pillar below, which is shown with the chains interwoven in the dress. Contrasting this is the ‘Nails’ dress. With its translucent latex forming a Biblical cross. The placement was designed to frame the nipples in such a way that they appeared beautiful and all aspects of the human form can be celebrated within religious context, one where sexuality has often been considered taboo. There are six pieces in total in this collection; a floor length gown with two meter train, three short dresses, the inflatable gilet and the ‘Cuff Bag’ (a hand bag that unzips into handcuffs), all of which have motifs to hint to these ideas in their own way. Tackling these themes from multiple angles is my way of saying that one is never better than the other, there is a place for both the ‘light’ and ‘dark’, and we must have balance between them if we are to move forward together harmoniously. Hence the collection is titled ‘Angels and Demons’.

Magpie Latex Little Devil and Nails Dresses
His first collection, entitled ‘Angels and Demons’, has contrasting designs such as the ‘Nails’ and ‘Little Devil’ dresses worn by Darc and Sophia Gray

Q: Moving on to the customers who get to wear your awesome designs; how important is the reaction of your clients when they get to experience and try on their garment for the first time?
A: When it comes to making custom orders I’m open minded because I enjoy helping people bring their ideas to life. People coming to me are doing so because they’re seeking something they can’t find buying off the rack. I want them to feel as if they can be the most empowered version of themselves. I have been really fortunate to have such positive responses from those that have ordered from me. I want to show people that there are new possibilities to latex design whilst still incorporating its classically desired use for festish wear. One way I did this was creating the ‘Cuff Bag’ (handcuff handbag) to create a multifunctional element. This is something I had not seen done before.

Magpie Latex Cuff Bag
Innovative designs such as the ‘Cuff Bag’ (a hand bag that unzips into handcuffs) highlight the Magpie Latex designers skill, modelled by Sophia Gray

Q: Latex clothing means different things to different people, ranging from the empowering to the outlandish. What does latex fashion mean to you?
A: I agree with both empowering and outlandish. To me it represents a desire to break free from the norm. I haven’t seen any other material that elicits such instant reactions from others, because of its connotations. I think that is what makes latex so powerful for both the wearer and the audience.

Q: Latex fashion has become more and more of a normality in mainstream thanks to the music, film and celebrity industries. Do you see this trend increasing or do you think outfits made using the material will always be a niche item?
A: I definitely see it becoming mainstream. Big fashion houses like Thom Browne, Rick Owens and Maison Margiela (to name a few) have incorporated latex into recent shows. We all know that once the big leagues start to bring attention and appreciation to something it trickles down and becomes something people are exposed to. It’s possible we could start to see it appear more in the high street, but the quality could be an issue if being mass produced. When owning a latex piece you have to consider the cleaners, shiners and lubricants needed to maintain the quality of the item. Mainstream use requires more understanding and knowledge of the ritualistic side of caring for the garments owned. If that was possible and the quality could remain consistent it is a sustainable option for the future, as it has many pros in terms of it being more biodegradable and renewable so far more sustainable than other polyester based fabrics.

I would like for my work to bridge the gap between those who are seeking something made with care that can be worn to the club, but also in everyday life. I recently made a tennis skirt for a woman in the US who wore it to play a round of golf, and looks amazing doing so.

Q: What do you feel are the biggest barriers for people who haven’t worn latex fashion before? What stops them from taking the plunge and wearing it?
A: One of the main things is that latex is only perceived as extreme festish wear but there are still so many opportunities to represent it in new and captivating ways outside of this niche. Another barrier can be that there are still limited shops where people can feel it and try it on before it’s bought. I would recommend for someone’s first piece they should go into a shop and see how it fits on your own body. The people working there can also offer great advice for caring for it and are always positive that people want to embrace it. There are so many options online to suit whatever wardrobe you’re looking for also. I always do my designs on a made to measure basis for custom orders which gives you peace of mind that the fit will be perfect.

Q: What tips do you have for anyone who would like to include latex fashion into their “everyday” outfits?
A: As mentioned before, it’s absolutely becoming commonplace that it’s being combined with other styling. Tops and bodysuits make great additions as can be worn with other materials on the bottom half, I’ve seen people do this for festivals. Corsets are also an amazing addition to a look, they can be put over more conventional dresses or shirts to add a shine. Additionally there are a growing number of accessories, such as the bag I made, that can be included without the commitment of wearing it on your body.

Q: How do you see the world of latex fashion changing over the next 5-10 years?
A: I think people are seeking things to take their looks to the extremes more and more. Personally, I stopped having any interest in going to vanilla clubs and find it a much more enhanced experience entering alternative spaces. Latex is often one of the uniforms so to speak of those nights and is amazing to see the creativity people bring to the table with their looks. I know many others who feel the same, and want to experience safer and more queer-friendly spaces whilst looking amazing doing so, so in that sense I think it’s gaining in popularity. Outside of that, red carpets are full of latex as well as the runway. I want that to continue to see all latex designers get the attention they deserve.

Q: If you could create a latex outfit for anyone in the world, who would this be for and why?
A: There are so many people I could envision weaning my pieces, I have always thought my inflatable Gilet would suit the style of Liz Uzi Vert. In terms of creating something original for someone it would have to be the artist Poppy as I’ve always been a huge fan of the way she mixes up genres, her sound is really unique. I have seen her wearing latex before and think her aesthetic and sound align with the Magpie brand. One look I would love to do for her is a crinoline bell shaped dress with an asymmetrical bodice elongated past the shoulders, as if there are two shields across her chest. Her blend of pop and metal sounds would be reflected in the colours of the dress as pink would blend into translucent smoky grey using a decaying effect from colour to dark, almost as if flesh is peeling away revealing the darker tone beneather, similar to the way i used the boning in my red ‘Rapture’ dress, just on a much grander scale.

Magpie Latex Inflatable Gilet
The inflatable vest took over a year from concept to completion, a testiment to the effort which goes into each garment. Worn by Sophia Gray

Q: Are there any upcoming projects which you will be involved in, which you could give us a sneak peek of?
A: I’m currently working on building out my website and the infrastructure of the brand to make it more visible and accessible for people to make orders. Along with this I’m currently creating an exciting promotional video for Magpie which I hope will further captivate both the aesthetics and ethos of the brand. I have many more photoshoots planned such as a futuristic biker style shoot using the inflatable gilet whilst riding a motorbike with a professional photographer. My future collections are already coming together nicely in my head so when things are all up and running with the website I will be working on bringing these new themes and ideas to life so definitely keep an eye out for those in the coming months!

With such an open-eyed view of the world and a clear path for his latex apparel, we are sure that Josh will be able to take Magpie Latex to new heights. Be sure to follow his Instagram profile to be kept up to date with this exciting and innovative new brand.

All images courtesy of TOMZ.

For all the latex clothing and fashion news be sure to check Latex24/7 regularly.


 

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