The “bondage” design refers to the inclusion of elements from the BDSM culture (Bondage and Sadomasochism) such as impossible zippers, flying straps, chains, rings and handles on any type of garments.
Nowadays this aesthetic is still a trend, and the culprits of bringing it to fashion are Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm Mclaren, godfathers and creators of the punk movement as we know it today.
In 1971, in their store “Let it rock”; which has crossed by many different names as the infamous Seditionaries; Vivienene & Malcolm started creating clothes inspired by the motorcycle world, the leather fetishism or prostitutes. Their designs include accessories such as safety pins, razor blades, bicycle chains or cisterns, dog collars or baroque jewelery, all of it combined with impossible makeup and hairstyles.
The event that brought all these vibes to fame was when Malcolm McLaren became manager of the “Sex Pistols” who started wearing all these designs and act as ambassadors of the punk movement. Thanks to this, Vivienne Westwood began to have more notoriety and creative freedom which took her to be one of the best designers in history.
Written by Adrián Lorca
