This entry is a summary of the review video “Comparison: Leatherotics 1811 vs Budget Ebay Corset” which you can watch on YouTube here:
Leatherotics Corset |
Chinese Ebay Corset |
|
| Fit, length | About 12 inches high; very straight busk that does not bow outwards. Gives a very gentle silhouette. Appropriate for average to long torso length. | Center front is about 13 inches high; busk bows outwards a bit, giving the appearance of pooch. Gentle silhouette. Slightly longline compared to Leatherotics. Appropriate for average to long torso length. |
| Material | 2 layers; fashion layer is black polyester satin, and the lining is black cotton twill. | Only one layer; a red satin that has a kind of sturdy non-stretch backing. |
| Construction | 6 panel pattern, assembled with a lock-stitch. Internal boning channels. Also has 4 garter tabs. | 6 panel pattern, assembled with a top-stitch. Internal boning channels. Also has 4 garter tabs. |
| Binding | Matching black satin (made from bias strips of the same fashion material), machine stitched on both sides, finished cleanly. | A close colour match (but not exact) red satin commercially made bias tape, machine stitched on both sides in one go, finishing is not clean. |
| Waist tape | 1″ wide visible waist tape made of satin ribbon, seen on inside, stretching across all panels and secured down at boning channels. | 1/2″ wide waist tape made of grosgrain ribbon, seen on inside, stretching across ONLY panels 3-4-5, leaving the other panels unprotected. Secured down at boning channels. One side has the waist tape wrinkled in a seam. |
| Modesty panel | Attached lacing protector on the back made of two layers (black satin and twill); also includes a placket overtop of the busk to hide it. | Attached lacing protector on the back made of one layer (red satin) and lace around it, also includes a placket under the busk. |
| Busk | Standard 1/2″ wide busk on each side, about 10.5″ long (5 pins). Very sturdy. | Wide busk (1″ wide on each side) about 11.5″ long (5 pins), however it’s more flimsy than the Leatherotics busk. |
| Boning | 12 steel bones not including busk. 8 spirals (1/4″ wide) 4 flats (1/4″ wide) sandwiching the grommets. | 14 steel bones, all spiral steel bones even on the back by the grommets. Bows and collapses when trying to tighten up. |
| Grommets | 28 grommets total, size #00 two-part grommets with small flange; set equidistantly from eachother and between the two bones; no splits, no wear/fraying/pulling out of grommets | 20 grommets total, size #00 two-part grommets with small flange; set equidistantly, except offset towards the last bone at the back edge. Starting to pull out around the waist after only 2 wears. |
| Laces | Strong nylon braided shoe-lace style laces | Strong nylon braided shoe-lace style laces |
| Price | Plain satin version of this is currently £40 in the UK, or $60 USD – and they offer custom sizing, more bones, different fabric/ colours. | Plain satin version of this is currently $35 USD on Ebay, no other options for custom sizing, fabric etc. |
Final Thoughts:
You get what you pay for! If you just want a simple cheap fashion corset without any waist reduction, OR if you’re looking for a cheap corset just take apart in order to learn how to recreate a corset pattern, then the cheaper corset may suit your purposes. However the Leatherotics brand offers custom sizing – this will give you as much or as little curve as you like. But remember the limits of each brand – if you want to be sure you get a corset made exactly to all of your measurements and specifications, you will have to go with an independent corsetier(e).
