Repairing your latex clothing
Due to its fragile nature, you might find that your latex clothing pieces acquire a few rips and holes over their lifetime. If this should happen, we are only an email away to lend a helping hand and hopefully carry out the repairs for you.
For an estimate, please email images of the damaged garment to us at helpline@westwardbound.com. Repair costs start from £35 plus postage.
We appreciate that many of our customers live on the other side of the globe and the cost of associated postage can be an issue. Fortunately, minor damage to latex can be repaired at home and is relatively simple once you know-how.
We are unable to help directly if this path is chosen, please take care and consideration when enacting your own repairs. All self-repairs are undertaken at your own risk.
We are currently scheduling the making of our own videos on this subject. For now, we suggest that you make an online search for ‘latex clothing repair video’ as a visual aid to such repairs.
You will need:
- Spare latex in the correct colour, for patching. We can supply this to you. There might be a slight colour difference, as the patch is on the inside this should not provide too much of an issue. Contact us for a costing.
- Rotary cutter.
- Wooden or Metal Seam Roller
- Solvent, such as paint thinner. Use a well ventilated room or wear a PP3 mask. Please follow the manufacturer's guidelines. Please search online for Natural Rubber Cleaning Solvent for specific products in your country.
- Latex/Rubber glue Use a well ventilated room or wear a PP3 mask. Please follow the manufacturer's guidelines. Please search online for Natural Rubber Clothing Glue for specific products in your country.
- Please follow the manufacturer's Health and Safety guidelines concerning the use of all solvents and glues.
- Plastic card / flat plastic to spread the glue. Or, a half inch/12 mm paint brush, if preferred.
- Lint free cloth
- Ruler
- Tape
Method:
- Begin by measuring around the rip or hole, you’ll want to ensure your patch is big enough to completely cover the damage as well as having some extra leeway in case the damage gets worse so it’s reinforced by the patch. Cut your patch to size; you might wish to round off the corners to make the patch look neater.
- Use the solvent on the lint free cloth to remove any talc or lubricant from the patch and the garment itself. Leave to dry completely.
- Place your patch on a piece of tape so it doesn’t curl up on itself when you apply the glue. Use the plastic card to apply an even coat of glue to the patch and to the area of the garment to which it’s being attached. Be careful not to use too much as it will make the patch too rigid and unable to move and stretch with your garment. Wait a few minutes for the glue to become tacky.
- Remove your patch from the tape and stick on to your garment, pressing firmly. Use the seam roller to ensure the patch is stuck down securely with no air bubbles.
- Wait 24 hours for the glue to dry completely, and your garment is good to go.
For larger rips and holes, a patch may work temporarily but will likely only last for two or three wears. Please contact us, we will see what we can do to help you. It may be that we need to fix a replacement panel or leg/arm for you. Each case will be taken and estimated as a cost based on its uniqueness.
The age and condition of the garment will naturally play a part in our online appraisal. Send images showing the damage.
We only offer a repair service to Westward Bound garments.
