Gothic Beauty Interview 

Although she offers stunning off the rack creations, it's her show pieces that offer the fullest jaw-dropping effect, not to mention the ones that have taken the most amount of time from conception to execution.

"The first show I did at Torture Garden had outfits with 1,400 peacock feathers in them! The kimono with the appliquéd sleeves was also rather time consuming, I believe the sleeve alone took a couple of days from first drafts to completion. Sometimes when I've been working all day I look at the time and realize I've been at it for twelve or thirteen hours!"

Her painstaking attention to detail show through, even if the design is a simplistic one versus something more elaborate. And while there will be other companies that incorporate their themes of military or medical, Nina prefers to go off on her own and just create what appeals to her.

"I want to make original and beautiful designs. I could be cheesy and talk about making things that people feel special in, but to be honest I mostly make things that I would like to wear myself, and luckily that seems to be popular! I've always loved haute couture fashion and want my show and couture pieces to have that same utterly polished, structured almost mythical quality to them."

"My favourite colour combination is black and white, which is something that does reoccur in my designs a lot, be it in applique work, trims or bows. However id like to stay away from nurses uniforms and gimp masks to create something more 'fashion & beauty' based."

In her shows and shoots, she combines lavish make up and hair to compliment her creations, giving it an almost larger than life quality, letting the viewer slip into another world, if only for a moment. Nina doesn't seem short on inspiration for her varied ideas, but on the occasions that she runs into a block, she doesn't push too hard.

"I always find that a long walk while listening to my ipod will always get me thinking again. Though sometimes I can wake up in the middle of the night with ideas for things. Its the same with anything - you cant force ideas, you just have to wait till they come to you."

Written by Acid PopTart, Originally published in Gothic Beauty Magazine issue #23

There are few mediums that can express the female form in such true fashion as to mimic a second skin as rubber, and Nina Kate of Jane Doe Latex loves nothing better than to work her magic with. Her designs challenge the conventional tried and true fashions and she's sent them reeling head first into a whole new world where past fuses with future, and elegance and daring walk hand in hand. You'll not find typical fetish uniforms of officers and nurses here;  but you will discover post apocalyptic warrior women and unearthly succubines.

Nina was seduced at a young age by the allure of rubber, form there her love for the supple medium only grew.

"I first started playing around with latex when I was at college doing art, by then I already had a fairly extensive latex wardrobe, ran my own fetish club, modelled for a few companies and had a Skin Two cover. Then when I was eighteen I was offered an apprenticeship. I've b een wearing latex dresses since I was fifteen and it seemed like a natural progression. I worked within the latex clothing business for several companies on and off for about four years before I decided why not do it for myself! I had so many ideas but never the time to try them out."

She seems to pull influence from every available source, drawing on the natural energies of those around her who share similar visions. Creating from within and working with others seems to fuel her passions.

"Many things inspire me. There are certain cuts and shapes that I will always love and work into my designs. The female shape is such a wonderful thing to work with and what better way to compliment it than a rubber dress! The most inspiring thing is working with such a great team! Robert Masciave, who I have worked with many times, always impresses me with his amazing hair creations - he really makes my garments come to life. Hyperion (who took the photos for this spread) seems to know exactly what I am picturing in my head...along with Robert and Carla Levy (MUA) we make it happen!..

"Hyperion's style of photography fits so well with my garments that we are usually thinking about the same idea in the first place! His talent and skill aren't matched by anyone I can think of".