What they said! Slip casting latex. If you thicken it with latex thickener it can be used the same as ALEX. In my opinion it's well worth it for your health and the longevity of the materials. There's a bit about it on the Materials and Supplies page under "Using latex and silicone on neoprene": http://mernetwork.com/index/content....s-and-Supplies

I know the Canadian Mermaid Marie "silicones herself in" to her fabric tails. Basically she wears the tail and puts tin cure silicone (such as GE Silicone II clear) over the fabric to turn it into a more durable tail. However I think this is extremely unwise. Tin cure silicone is very toxic while wet as well, and to a point after it cures, and wearing it while it soaks through the fabric and cures while in contact with you skin can be extremely dangerous and would not recommend it to ANYONE! You can take a feather from her hat, but please stuff your tail with towels or something to give it shape if you wish to do this. Otherwise, go with the least dangerous rote and do it with platinum silicone. However tin cure or platinum, silicone will discolor over time- eventually to yellow then to brown. So keep that in mind.