After the shock news in January 2023 of the sudden closure of Yummy Gummy Latex, owner Rebecca Allsop had always planned (and hoped) to find a designer to revive the business and continue the legacy which she had started. With over a year and a half now passed since this announcement, the Yummy Gummy name will live on as the coverted brand will shortly be re-launching with new owners. Both Allsop and the new owners Yuki and Ruka of Se’tyo were kind enough to speak to us about the past eighteen months and their hopes and dreams for the future.
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After a decade of creating some of the most iconic and highly respected latex sheeting and clothing which has graced catwalks and events galore, the latex clothing industry and community were left shocked and saddened by the cessation of trading of Yummy Gummy. An outpour of messages and comments reached owner Rebecca and the level of public support was beyond anything she could ever have imagined. “The messages were unbelievable!”, Allsop commented, “I didn’t realise how much Yummy Gummy meant to people! It was mind-blowing what a huge impact it had on people I had never even met. It was obvious Yummy Gummy had become so much more than just sheet latex and I think removing that creative option in people’s life and being so honest about my reasons for stepping away really pressed the abandonment and loss buttons in many. People told me they were crying along with me as they watched the video, it was an emotional time.” With the loss of huge stocks of liquid latex, due to an unusually cold period (even for the UK), which the Yummy Gummy designer used to create her brand’s unique and eye-catching latex sheeting, Rebecca knew that the time was right to close this chapter in her life. “I was happy though, it was a huge relief and I had time to focus on my studies without being overwhelmed, I knew it was the right thing for me. I did a lot of introspection and the part where all the emotion was, was in the potential that Yummy Gummy still had and that I wouldn’t be the one to help realise it.”, the emotion and memorites still clearly strong with her.
It was clearly both this sentiment and the reaction from her customers and the community which gave Rebecca the encouragement and inspiration to search out new owners. “It needed a new owner who could take it to its new potential, and show off all the designs I had created but never made into clothes”, she told us. “The potential for more pioneering designs and the joy of sharing it with others was what caused me the biggest grief.” Rebecca noted, her focus clearly on the customers, as it had been during the entire time Yummy Gummy was trading. Throughout the next few weeks and months, she held onto the hope that the brand could re-launch and that the ‘physical’ side of the business would find a new home. “I was happy to let it go but it felt unsatisfactory to take the tables to the tip and get money for scrap, there was more to it than that, and it would have been so final, there would truly be no more Yummy Gummy. So I waited and prayed a bit longer, and the patience paid off!”
After a number of failed attempts to sell the business, either through disagreements in the plans of potential new owners or Allsop knowing that they would not continue the legacy she had created, Yuki and Ruka of Se’tyo came forward and Rebecca knew they were the logical choice to sell the brand to. “They were keen! Enthusiastic! And they weren’t just one person, they already had thought through how they were going to make it work. We were aligned in mind, they knew what Yummy Gummy meant to me and the fan base.”, Rebecca commented. “They took their time to find the right workshop and for us to write a personal contract. I appreciated their down-to-earth honesty and authenticity.”, this again something which Yummy Gummy had always been known for.
Yummy Gummy Latex is Leipzig Bound
So, what about the new owners? Yummy Gummy will shortly pass over to Yuki and Ruka, who have successfully been running bespoke latex clothing brand Se’tyo. “We planned to set up a design label for some years, although the original focus was on fashion, and not on materials. But getting the right stuff turned out quite challenging, which is why we decided to set our brand Se’tyo up slightly differently”, the new owners told us, as they continued to talk about their involvement in the industry. “Probably it would be surprising if we would have had no contact with latex before, wouldn’t it? 😉 Both of us have been part of the scene for several years and designed and produced our outfits ourselves from the very start. We are happy to now be able to share this passion with all of you.”
“We expected that someone would be interested in Yummy Gummy quite quickly, but prepared a little space for sheet production for our needs as part of the business concept.”, with a clear expectation to be producing their own latex sheeting for their apparel. After an initial first attempt to purchase Yummy Gummy, the pair tried a second time. “But, you know, sometimes things get their own dynamic in growing and so, Yummy Gummy is going to move about 900 kilometres to the East. We [Yuki and Ruka of Se’tyo], are Leipzig based. While Ruka has a master in cutting and bespoke tailoring, Yuki has experience in working with latex, what we see as a perfect match for letting the spirit of Yummy Gummy come back and grow even further.”, the Se’tyo owners told us.
It was originally the intention to find a UK buyer for the company (something which Rebecca was very passionate about pursuing) so it clearly speaks volumes about the confidence and value which the current owner places on Yuki and Ruka. “I knew the location wasn’t what I wanted but the people for sure were exactly what was needed for Yummy Gummy.” Rebecca told us. “They will be able to make clothes in-house rather than using freelancers. They also have their own plans and are creative people and master tailors in their own right. Yummy Gummy will not go unchanged, leaving it in their capable hands I cannot expect them to be me, act like me and have the same creative vision as me. They will give it their own twist with everything I had and all the knowledge I can give them. I look forward to seeing where they take it.”
So what appealed to Yuki and Ruka most about taking over Yummy Gummy?
“Actually, we have been customers too, for a number of our own projects. We loved the colours and endless possibilities in patterns, Rebecca offered. It was a pleasure to work together with her. We miss those times a lot, but we are very happy about the ability to bring all those colours back to the latex world.” And so are we. It was obvious that the new owners held the brand in as much a high regard as many of its other customers, and this formed a large part of their decision to purchase the brand. “There might be several reasons [the brand is regarded so highly], but the most obvious and important is the endless possibilities it offers for latex sheetings. Our designs have always relied on this variety, which is never reached with standard products from other sheeting manufacturers.”
It’s clear that after speaking to Rebecca, Yuki and Ruka, they intend to keep the original spirit of Yummy Gummy alive. “For the beginning, we want to bring back the set of products, Yummy Gummy once offered”, the Se’tyo owners informed us, “We then want to add our own ideas and designs, as we believe there is still a lot you can do with latex. It’s kind of a playground and we are very much looking forward to using all of it.” As well as maintaining the Yummy Gummy latex brand the pair are keen to incorporate their recent purchase into other designs, “Also, as we introduce Yummy Gummy as part of our fashion brand Se’tyo, we want to introduce unique and personalised designs, beyond the borders of what is commonly known as possible. Fashion will be an important part too and we might even have more focus on that than YG had before, but we will continue on both, outfits and customised sheeting.”
The Handover
During the handover period, Rebecca will be working closely with Yuki and Ruka to ensure a smooth transfer, something which all three of them were keen to embrace. “Both of us have some experience with latex and sheets” Yuki and Ruka noted, “but how could we have gained the amount of knowledge and feeling for sheet production Rebecca has gained in ten years? This part might be the most important to ensure a constant quality of products for our customers. Plus, it’s not about a contract or about a boring business sale. It’s more about a passion we all share and so all of us will do our best for you!”
Despite this, they are under no illusion about the road ahead and the inevitable challenges they will encounter. “Besides the usual and countless challenges which setting up a business means, we think it is a lot about bringing it back to regularly running production. On the one hand, there are a lot of changes in suppliers and we might face some limitations on available pigments. We are already in talks with some suppliers, but there still is a long way to go. On the other hand, we are facing a massive increase in material cost within the last two years and we will be forced to start with significantly higher prices than we all were used to. We could easily say that everything got more expensive, but for us, it is very important to keep the products as accessible as possible. The acceptance of this is nothing, we can influence alone.” It’s clear that both Yuki and Ruka are excited about these challenges and, with Rebecca onboard (at least in the short term), we’re sure some of these hurdles will become a little less bumpy.
And what are the new owners most looking forward to? “Well that can only be the unlimited possibilities of colourful effects of this fantastic material”, the pair responded. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves!
What Does the Future Hold?
Yuki and Ruka are clear about the re-launch of Yummy Gummy. “We’re gonna re-launch in steps. We hope to be able to sell the first items in Autumn, but will surely have a wide selection online around Christmas. However, we expect some limitations by the start and hope to have the full range of products online by next spring.”
And on the future of the brand, and what’s next, it’s only right that the final word comes from Rebecca. “It’s a huge relief that all that work wasn’t for nothing, I get personal closure and not an emotional trip to the tip. Seeing the impact my closing had on people personally, there is now a chance for it to blossom into something even more beautiful.”, as Allsop continues to praise the new owners and to talk about her legacy, “I knew that they would be able to understand the principles of latex sheet making so, in the not-so-distant future I can walk away into the sunset with no regrets and no looking back, my new, slightly less shiny, life beacons To give people the option of flexing their creativity and exploring their kinks without feeling like it’s too black and scary and keeping the option of “everyday wear” latex alive”. (amen to that!)
Here at Latex24/7 we wish both Rebecca, and Yuki and Ruka well in the future.
To keep up to date with updates about Yummy Gummy Latex be sure to check back here at Latex24/7 often and follow YG on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and Se’tyo on Facebook and Instagram.
What are your memories about Yummy Gummy Latex? Do you own any YG outfits? Let us know in the comments section below.
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