A strap-on is the ultimate lesbian sex toy and in recent years has become an increasingly popular toy for straight couples wishing to explore the delights of pegging too.
But back when we started, if a woman wanted to strap on a dildo to pleasure her lover, she had only two choices; either a ridiculous elasticated affair that twanged back on her every out-stroke and so flimsy it couldn't hold up a banana... Or a heavy leather/rubber strap-on, complete with studs and buckles and about as comfortable as a medieval chastity belt! And, dildo-wise it was dick-shaped all the way.
No wonder these toys turned a lot of people off strap-on sex!
For many lesbians, 'realistic' strap-ons felt weird - after all, many had been told for years that either they were trying to be a man (with their short haircuts and 'manly' boots) or all they actually needed was a good seeing to by a man...
For most M/F couples, 'realistic' strap-ons weren't right either. Straight men were just beginning to discover the pleasures (particularly prostate pleasures) of strap-on sex, but being done by a dick-shaped dildo wasn't always on their fantasy list.
When Sh! first opened, we searched in vain for decent strap-ons to stock. Whilst innovative and colourful silicone dildos were being made by bespoke producers in the US and NZ, no one was doing it in the UK. Problem was, as hand-poured, artisan dildos, they were already not cheap, but importing them would make them financially inaccessible to many of our customers.
So, we resolved to make our own strap-on harnesses and dildos instead.
Hand-Pouring Silicone Dildos
Silicone is a very tricky raw material to work with. It needs de-gassing to remove all the air bubbles, or you end up with dildos that resemble aero bars. Silicone is also very sensitive to atmospheric conditions. Too hot or too dry and it starts to set before you've finished pouring. Too cool or damp, and you get permanently tacky-feeling sex toys. Not a desirable selling point!
For the first few months, we were producing more dog chew toys than dildos, such was our failure rate. Our exasperation and frustration levels soared as our finances dwindled. Silicone is a very expensive raw material, and as the business started out on only £700 and had no financial backing, each duff dildo batch took us nearer to the brink of giving up.
But slowly we learned how to understand and control the sensitivities of silicone and we were on our way.
Handmade Strap-Ons
Meanwhile, we had addressed the designing of the perfect harnesses to accompany our dildos. No longer were the women of the UK going to be forced into uncomfortable, unflattering and often unpractical strap-on harnesses!
Our strap on harnesses are made in soft leather in easy to wear styles, without pinching buckles and gravity-defying weight.
From our simple 2 strap harness to our sassy corset harness to the inventive thigh harness, Sh! was the first company in the UK to produce quality strap-ons and offer couples of all persuasions the kind of innovative and stylish sex toys they deserved - and wanted to play with!
We are now the largest manufacturer of silicone dildos and strap on harnesses in the EEC producing 30 unique silicone dildo designs and 10 styles of strap-on harnesses in an array of cool colours. We're no longer pouring dildos in our shop basement but in a dedicated manufacturing unit. Our dodgy dildo days are long gone - nowadays our strap-on dildos are requested to star in films, featured in TV shows and reviewed in major mags!
More importantly, long gone are the days of enforced comedy strap-on dongs; Sh! strap-ons have turned them into the cool, classy toys for sensual lesbian sex and pleasurable pegging.
1 comment
Your corset harnesses are gorgeous. I’d love to see them in more stores!