Skin Two's Rubber Ball Weekend is unquestionably the biggest fetish event of the year. A truly global event, this weekend’s seminal London happening will bring together lovers of leather, rubber and other fetish gear from all corners of the globe to celebrate their individual appetites. Emceeing the massive event this year is San Francisco's own Fetish Diva Midori.

Since its inception, the Rubber Ball has grown a reputation for bringing out the best in fetish culture. While past attendees have included Mick Jagger and Jean-Paul Gaultier, this event is not about stargazing or spectatorship so much as participation. While the Ball's fashion show is still a centerpiece, the event itself has grown to include a whole weekend's worth of clubs, parties and activities.

Now in its eleventh year, the festivities begin at the aptly named "Hardcore" party on Friday. This dark soiree will be held at the legendary industrial factory venue, The Electrowerkz. Limited to 500 guests, Hardcore boasts an excellent atmospheric dungeon and an alternative electro-breaks music policy.

London's infamous Torture Garden posse will be throwing a bash at Club Coliseum on Saturday as part of the Ball weekend. This amazing new 1200-person capacity location will host TG's usual unique mix of eclectic music in all four rooms (Club Arena, Dungeon, Vegas Lounge and Electronique Boutique) along with theatrical performances and visuals.

But the Rubber Ball is not all about partying. Attendees will be able to come along to the Barbican on Saturday and Sunday for the world's biggest international design and fashion fair, the Skin Two Expo. Some of the many latex clothing and accessories exhibitors already signed up include Pigalle and DV8.

In addition to exhibitors, the Rubber Ball fashion show will put all poseur fetish fashion shows in their proper place! New fetish wear from House of Harlot, Libidex, Inner Sanctum, Skin Two, and San Francisco's Mr. S will be modeled by some of the world's hottest fetish models. There will also be themed installation performances in Japanese bondage by Nawashi Murawa, burlesque bondage by Gwendoline and medical bondage by Crash 70.

Tickets for this year's events can still be nabbed. They cost £17 for Hardcore, £6 (per day) for the Expo, £17 for Torture Garden and £30 for the Rubber Ball. There’s a £1 booking fee on each ticket and we donate £1 to Crusaid for every Rubber Ball ticket sold.

You can order them online using our secure order form, by phone on +44 (0)20 7627 3332, fax us on +44 (0)20 7498 5565, e-mail to or by post to: SKIN TWO, Unit 63 Abbey Business Centre, Ingate Place, London SW8 3NS, UK.

For more information, go to Skin Two's website at www.skintwo.com.

[Editor's Note: I am terribly saddened by the death of Kaisu Paakkola. Even though I am here in San Francisco and never personally met Kaisu, her death touches me, and everyone in the San Francisco sex and Fetish communities. Her stature, her presence, and her contributions to our community and our lives will ensure that she is never forgotten. On behalf of the entire staff of Eros Guide, I would like to offer condolences to Kaisu's family, Torture Garden, London, and the entire Fetish community.- Cara Bruce]