Hydroglove

[devo]

It appears that Hydroglove, maker of vintage-style drysuits and other rubber water apparel, are no more.

I owned and enjoyed a two-piece Hydroglove drysuit and separate hood from them for many years (I'm wearing the top of the drysuit in my profile picture).  However, the heat and humidity  of the brutal Florida climate (combined with my occasional impatience) resulted in both the top and bottom eventually becoming ripped beyond repair.

Thinking to get some new items from them, I went to their website only to get a short message on an otherwise blank page that the unexpected death of its owner has shuttered their doors.

This made me think of other instances in which fetish entities came to untimely ends because of the death or problems of the owner.  "Gwen Media", "O2 Extreme", "INSEX", even the beloved "Atomage".  Granted, "INSEX" and "Atomage" came to their ends due to government persecution but these are all instances of how the loss of a single, dedicated person can put an end to something beloved by many.

[Like Ra]

"House of Gord"

[ltxrob]

Hydroglove owner was only a few months ago I think.
Maybe 6?? Hard to tell time flies so fast.

[devo]

"House of Gord"

Yes, I forgot about that one, thanks.  I'm sure there are other lower profile outfits as well that have fallen by the wayside once the owner could not function for one reason or another.

[devo]

Hydroglove owner was only a few months ago I think.
Maybe 6?? Hard to tell time flies so fast.

The message I got said he died last Friday.

[Will90MeeG]

Wow, I didn't know 'Atomage' was shut due to persecution/prosecution. I should have guessed because we have/had an awful history of censorship here in the U.K.

And to think such British magazines like 'Dressing For Pleasure' and 'Rubberist', not to mention Skin Two were flourishing in the late eighties and nineties.

In terms of wonderful websites closed tue to death of owner or persecution, House of Gord continues in its current form, though I haven't been a member for a year or two. But The first two websites that I remember being fascinated by were 'Shortfuse' (Where Jim Weathers started) and 'Devonshire Productions'.

Sadly missed.

[Like Ra]

The first two websites that I remember being fascinated by were 'Shortfuse' (Where Jim Weathers started)

BTW, Mr. T from Shortfuse also died.

[Like Ra]

BTW, Mr. T from Shortfuse also died.

Found the post:

https://www.likera.com/blog/wp/archives/14549

[Culmor]

Wow, I didn't know 'Atomage' was shut due to persecution/prosecution.

Neither did I.

Warning, the following is my subjective opinion...I remenber AtomAge outfitting the stage production of 'The Avengers' back in the seventies and the pvc costumes they made for the villainess Madame Gerda (the late Kate O'Mara)  and her henchwomen were, frankly, pretty dreadful . If they were intended to showcase thei company's work I'm not surprised they folded.

Here's a promotional pic.

   

Their suits are better fitting in that pic than many others I've seen, I suspect the use of the old fashion photographers' trick of tightening clothes by using bulldog clips at the back...

[devo]

From the Wikipedia page on John Sutcliffe:

"AtomAge attracted a certain amount of attention when the police decided to prosecute the publisher, Sutcliffe, in the mid-1980s, for obscenity. Despite protest from both fetishists and defenders of civil liberties alike, Sutcliffe pleaded guilty. His stock and photos were seized and destroyed and the publications temporarily closed. The shame may well have contributed to his death."