There is nothing I love more than lingerie. There is simply nothing more beautiful, soft, and feminine than a simple slip dress or a beautiful garter set. And putting one on? Well, it’s such a beautiful way to embrace your femininity. Dita Von Teese was certainly right in saying, “lingerie wasn’t about seducing men but embracing womanhood.” 

Yet, when you cross into the land of fetishwear or more BDSM-focused lingerie, everything suddenly becomes heavy. You don’t even need to be shopping for such items to notice the heavy black harnesses and leather details that often exist within kink-based lingerie. But that’s not very fun, is it? At least, that was the perspective of Venus Snot (a pseudonym for the owner of the like-named brand). As she grew to realize the lack of femininity for those that enjoyed lingerie, BDSM, and frilly details, she did what so many entrepreneurs before her have done; created her own. With heavy focus on pearls, she beautifully combines the term preppy-punk that I’m thoroughly obsessed with. After interviewing her, my adoration of the details on the chokers, gags, leashes, waist beads, and harnesses only grew. 

Along with this, the company doesn’t only focus on “pretty girl kink” but also creates jewelry, crochet hats, and other miscellaneous items that are sure to capture your attention. For instance, the pearl plant holder is probably my favorite thing on the site. Whether you are part of the kink community or simply are happy to embrace pearl details more in your day-to-day life, the following interview with Venus of Venus Snot will provide you with the inspiration you need. 

What inspired you to start this company? Did you have a specific goal in mind for creating this brand? 

Venus Snot began as a personal project! I started making jewelry because most pieces that were commercially available did not really fit with the vision I had for myself.  I am clearly inspired by BDSM aesthetics, but a lot of fetishwear pieces are visually very aggressive - black leather, chunky silver hardware, etc. - which does not really work with my hype- femme personal style. I wanted to soften the look of fetishwear without watering down BDSM or removing any of its core elements. I did not plan for Venus Snot to grow in the way that it has, and I definitely did not plan on so many other people embracing the pieces that I make in the way that they have! 

Given that your website says the pieces are handmade, I’m wondering if they are done by just you or if you have a team. 

Every piece is handmade by me. It would be really lovely to have a small team someday, especially as the brand continues to grow, but I am nowhere near ready for that yet. Venus Snot is still mostly a side project, but I hope to be able to make it my full-time job in the next few years. 

Each BDSM piece focuses on pearls, is this to continue with the mythology of your name (if that is the case), or is there another reason? Have you thought of using other stones or feminine fabrics? 

The pearls came before the name actually! I wanted something feminine and easy to work with, and I was inspired a lot by fetishwear designer Creepyyeha and her take on chokers and harnesses. I am looking into making some pieces with crystal beads, but I would still like my pieces to be durable and affordable for my customers. Accessibility is very important to me, and the faux pearls I use now are lightweight, durable, and affordable, making it easier for me to create long-lasting pieces and multiples of the same designs.

I love that you don’t just sell kink wear, but also jewelry and hats! What is the most popular item in your store- is it kink-based or more every day? 

The most popular item is definitely the Pearl Ball Gag, that piece will always be a classic! To be honest though, my personal favorite piece is the Choke Her Collar. I love when everyday fashion meets fetishwear, and I think that is one of the easiest pieces to transition between play sessions and day-to-day wear. I actually learned how to knit and crochet in middle school, so the hats and bonnets are mainly just for fun! 

I see that you started in March of 2020, did the pandemic have anything to do with you creating Venus Snot, or was it already in the works? 

I had been making jewelry for myself for quite some time; it has literally been an ongoing hobby since I was in elementary school, but I did not begin selling my pieces until 2020. Polishing my creative process and making an official website were definitely quarantine hobbies, but I am happy that it took off and that I have been able to continue to grow my brand over the past two years.