Underground Shibari

As in “underground,” underground Shibari refers to bondage practices surrounded by secrecy. The purpose is to make the sessions and the scenes even more exciting. It is difficult to find information about underground Shibari, but this is what we have found out so far.

The most usual form of underground Shibari is secret Shibari parties. Contrary to what happens with a regular party, these events are not publicized either hiring ads or on social media. It is only by a personal invitation that one can attend such parties.

In a similar manner, there are secret Shibari studios, usually located on private houses, to which you can only have access through a personal invitation. In these private studios, scenes tend to be more edgy, and some attendees prefer to hide their identity and not mingle with the rest of the guests.

At these events, it’s not unusual to have a first-class rigger do a scene with a model playing bottom. Drinks and snacks are of the highest quality, and attendees include celebrities and public figures. And this is what may explain the secrecy surrounding these parties. Since social perception is still not unanimously positive about Shibari, some people, especially those with a public image to take care of, rather keep their enthusiasm for ropes at a discreet level.

Dress and behavior codes are quite strict in these events. Nobody wants to upset a guest celebrity, and that’s why rules for communication and interaction are more rigid than usual.

So far, this is all we have been able to find out about the underground Shibari. We’ve heard rumors that there are also secret Shibari websites, on which high-profile bondage enthusiasts share photographs and videos of their scenes. But we weren’t able to verify them.

How about you? Have you ever attended an underground Shibari event?