tie me up, tie me down (part I)

Shibari is a word mostly used by westerners to describe the art of Kinbaku, which is Japanese erotic bondage that has been around since the late Edo Period and has been co-opted by the Western BDSM scene. I've been fascinated by the idea taking this rope tying into fashion for a while, and I'm not the only one.


A couple of the tamer photographs by Araki, famed Japanese photographer of kinbaku among other erotic subjects.

Shibari/kinbaku-inspired lingerie from Coco de Mer

Marios Schwab SS08

Marios Schwab SS09

Here's where the shibari/kinbaku really begins to come out. Me gusta.

Thakoon SS09

Not technically rope, but of the same spirit.

sources: coco de mer, style.com