The Artisan's Book of Fetishcraft by John Huxley; Greenery Press, $27.95
Taking pride in the showcasing of your own handmade creations is one of the finer aspects of establishing yourself as an artist. Canadian woodworker and craftsman John Huxley's beautifully expansive volume of fetishwear The Artisan's Book of Fetishcraft is so much more than a hobbyist's workbook of patterns and processes; there's even a disclaimer in the opening pages absolving the author and the publisher of "any damage sustained" as a result of readers who attempt to design the bondage-related gear for themselves (or their favorite scene partner).
Comprehensive and stylish, Huxley's guidebook is required reading for both the novice crafter with a casual interest in leather fetishwear and the experienced artisan who is open to new patterns, new ideas, and a fresh perspective on the fetish lifestyle. Brimming with exacting details and instructions for sewing, stitching, and handcrafting with leather, cloth, and metal hardware, Huxley's book also includes specifications on the usage of the machinery and trade tools needed to complete each of his prototypes. The range of materials and styles extends from Zentai whole-bodysuits, leather corsets, vests, and chaps to lace-up masks, strap harnesses, leashes, and step-by-step instructions for constructing a singletail bullwhip, which the author notes is "one of the most difficult and time-consuming" projects in the book – and the most impressive, if executed well.
Embellishing the artistry of these varied and wonderful items are drawings of Egyptian funerary Amduat artwork found on the walls of the tomb of Tuthmosis III, the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt. The inclusion of these recreated drawings lends the chapters both a historical and a gothic significance, and bestows Huxley's patterns with the regal grace of kings and the loyal dedication of their subordinates.
This type of meticulously imagined and executed artistry is enjoyed by many talented artisans worldwide, from the San Francisco Bay Area all the way to Germany, where Seven Mitchell, also known in creative performance circles as "Aurora Switchblade" (his "dark passenger"), works as a self-employed graphic designer in Dusseldorf. He co-owns the business "Victor Language and Design" with his partner, and finds great enjoyment working with latex "and the forceful aesthetic of fetish design."
A lover of the "dark motif," Mitchell admits that latex can be a vexing material to work with and finesse into the exact design he is aiming for. He notes that while his former work with Mr. S Leather in the South of Market district taught him a great deal about the challenges of "appeasing a mass, branding, marketing, and politics," his affinity for the fetish industry is as strong as ever, and "comes down to celebrating the freaky dark fantasies that live in all of us, and making those fantasies a reality."
Robert Hendricks, a UCSF project manager, is another fetish craftsman with boundless passion and determination. He began handcrafting with leather in 1994 as a hobby together with his partner Bill Gooch (Northern CA Mr. Drummer, 1991), and currently, as a leather fetishist, he revels in the sheer enjoyment of taking "a piece of raw material [leather] and turning it into something that will look good on someone." He enjoys getting creative with his clients – mostly males who range in age from 22 to 60 – and his hand-made clothing repertoire contains a virtual leather treasure trove of items like chaps, titleholder belts and sashes, wrist and arm bands, collars, and cock and ball toys.
Huxley's instructional masterpiece closes with articulated chapters that immerse the reader in the actual application of leather fetishwear within the realms of ritualistic scene-play. This methodology is meant to fully embody and harness the various aspects of dominance, submission, physical movement restriction, and sensory deprivation, and integrate it into a unique amalgam of pleasure and pain.
Fantasies can indeed come to life with this exquisitely produced, fetish-crafting instructional and educational handbook.