There are a few ways to prepare a fabric tape zip to install into a latex garment.
First, however, you need to choose what type of zip you want for your latex, such as : Metal, Coil, Plastic and Invisible ((see here for the blog on zips). You can also choose decorative zip pulls to add detail. Often, for tight fitting latex such as rubber catsuits, you need an auto locking zips which stay in place e.g YKK auto locking zip pulls. You may need a specific type of zip such as: open ended, closed ended, continuous, 1 way open, two way open, O-type, X-type dependent on your latex e.g a latex catsuit may use a O-type.
If you have an industrial sewing machine or one that has a ball tip sewing needle, able to puncture through latex sheeting, you can sew a strip of latex to a zip pull. However, most prefer the glue method which means preparing the zip for latex, by soaking the fabric tape both sides with:
Copydex - or similar latex based glue
Liquid latex in white or a colour to match your zip
Rubber cement - Bostik 3851
Once the glue has dried with the latex based product, it will allow the zip to bond to the latex garment using your Bostik 3851 rubber cement glue.
Next, you must finish the ends of the zips if using a continuous length zip tape but melting the plastic teeth, binding the ends with cotton thread (see above) and using a small piece of latex to wrap the ends, or using metal zipper stops for the top and bottom (see below)
Then you have to cut out a piece of latex sheet that is 1' longer and 1" wider than your zip, which will be glued to the back of your zip and glued into the garment inside. This will reinforce and secure the zip into place because there is 1/2 an inch wider piece of latex either side of the zip tape (see below). You need to cut a 1cm wide section from the middle of the latex sheet shorter than the zip tape (see below) You can also add a skin guard on the inside of the garment that is normally around 1.5" to 2" wide flap, that helps guard the skin from being pinched by the zip pull.
Once you have glued your zip into the garment, you need to roller press the latex to bond the rubber cement glue firmly to the latex sheet. Now your latex zip installation is complete and you can consider adding more zip details to your latex garments or replace broken ones too!
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