Fabric changes the language of restriction. Unlike jute rope, which draws lines across the body, fabric settles, gathers, folds and contains. It can feel soft, enveloping and almost devotional, while still creating intense physical and emotional states.
This workshop begins with a 30-minute opening performance by Conor and Vika, using fabric as a tool for capture, suspension and quiet endurance. The performance will offer a glimpse into the material’s possibilities before we begin to examine how it behaves technically, emotionally and structurally.
Throughout the evening, we will explore how fabric can be used within a Shibari informed practice without treating it as a simple replacement for rope. Instead, we will look at its own qualities: the way it distributes pressure, limits movement, obscures the body, changes sensation, and creates new possibilities for suspension and floor based restriction.
Content
The first part of the workshop will focus on safety, material awareness and risk assessment, paying close attention to load, stretch, compression, friction, slippage, heat, breath, circulation and communication.
From there, we will move into practical exercises using fabric for restriction. We will explore wrapping, gathering,, anchoring and body manipulation, with an emphasis on working slowly enough to understand what the material is doing. This will include floor based captures, partial weight transfer and supported shapes that allow both partners to stay in close contact.
The final section will open into guided experimentation. Participants will be invited to experiment with fabric as a central material, combining technical awareness with atmosphere, tenderness and restraint. The goal is not to create a fixed pattern, but to build confidence in working with unfamiliar materials in a way that is creative, responsive and sustainable.
What to Expect
A 30-minute opening performance by Conor and Vika
Safety considerations for using fabric and non normative materials
Floor based restriction, wrapping and body containment
Material testing, communication and risk assessment
Emotional tone, capture, desire and quiet endurance
Guided time to explore your own sequences
Who is this for?
This workshop is open to all skill levels. However, it is mandatory that participants must not tie outside their equivalent shibari skill level. Attendees should have a basic understanding of rope safety, body awareness and communication.
While absolute beginners are welcome, participants must adhere to their current shibari skill level during the workshop. Models should be comfortable communicating clearly and be open to exploring restriction, vulnerability and unusual sensations.
Location
The studio is located in Amsterdam west, Doctor Jan van Breemenstraat 1.
You can get here by bike, or from Central Station by Tram, please check on their website since there is construction works affecting the regular route, the stop is Adm. Helfrichstraat.
If you decide to drive to us, here is a link for a parking space just besides the studio.
In our experience the Mobypark platform gives better rates and has several options in the neighbourhood.
Language:
All our workshops and events are taught/guided in English.
Conor Aphilia (he, they, his)
is a Shibari-focused Sexworker, educator, and the owner of Aphilia Studio in London.
His practice integrates rope as an extension of his broader kink interests, using it to explore nuanced and often challenging emotional and physical states. Regularly working with beginners and those new to the practice, his body-centric and intentional approach is shaped by professional experience, ensuring that each encounter is a dialogue rather than a predetermined experience.
For Conor, Shibari is a tool for physical communication, where aesthetics, compositions, and patterns are guided by the needs of the scene and the individuals involved. His work prioritizes safety, exploration, and the creation of new emotional spaces in which people can navigate their experiences with excitement and care.
Informed by the techniques and aesthetics of Japanese masters, Conor has developed an inclusive style that welcomes individuals of all backgrounds. His years of study have led to a distinctive blend of Western and Eastern influences, further shaped by his background in design. This evolving approach to rope play transcends traditional boundaries, celebrating diversity and fostering deeper connections through sensuality, trust, and artistic expression.
Important
Iridescent Studio is a queer led organisation and in our events we do not tolerate racism, discrimination, sexism, homophobia or transphobia.
During the entire workshop we do not allow the use of any mobile or electronic devices to record the content of the workshops.
Please note that if your skills do not meet the requirements for certain workshop exercises, our facilitator may ask you not to participate in those activities for safety reasons. It is your responsibility to ensure your skill level is suitable, and we encourage you to contact us in advance if you have any doubts or concerns.
Event’s door closes 10 min before we start, after this, no entry will be granted.
Please read carefully our Term & Conditions page
Tickets
We want to keep our events accessible to everyone. Through mutual understanding and shared support, our community continues to grow.
Please choose the ticket that best reflects your situation, whether your resources are limited or you are able to support others.Tickets are per participant, you can join by yourself or with a partner.
Before you purchase this ticket , be sure to have the skills required for all the workshops. Please contact us if you have any doubts.
Solidarity Tickets 65€
Regular tickets 85€
Support us tickets 95€