Fetish in disguise

"Drawing for beginners" (1920) Credit: Internet Archive Book Images

Foot fetish has ruled the community of kinks for years now. Its established its dominance as the most common fetish since a 2007 study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research aimed to map fetishes, and found out that “feet and objects associated with feet were the most common target of preferences”. Despite being so common, 50% of Brits hide their fetish from their significant others, according to Wiki Feet who polled more than 42,000 foot fetishists.

Kine spoke to a couple about their foot fetish.

Foot fetish is when a person has a sexual interest in feet. The attraction can be pointed towards the shape and size of the foot, high arches or even long toes/short toes. Another point of attraction can be getting treatments such as massages and painting the toenails. While some prefer getting handsy, others are just fine with admiring from afar.

June had no idea about Raymond’s fetish when they first met 9 years ago. The couple, who now have a daughter together, never touched the subject until Raymond one day came clean. He said, “It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders, for all I wanted was for the two of us to enjoy it together”. June admits she was sceptical to begin with, but her “love for Raymond accepted it” and she’s now a “proud foot fetishist”.

Wiki Feet also ran other polls, like foot tattoos, where they found that 48.9% of British foot fetishists are in favour of inked feet. A solid 77% prefer painted nails. Both polls had over 15,000 people answering. London Foot Party is an organisation throwing fetish-themed parties in London.

June and Raymond have gone to previous ones, calling them a “safe place to meet other like-minded people where no one gives you a weird stare or judges you”.

Raymond explains that the reason he didn’t say anything about his fetish was that he was “afraid of being judged and treated differently because of something very personal”. He says he first realised the interest in feet when he was 18 and his then-girlfriend painted her toenails. Raymond says he eventually got to paint them for her. “It was meant as a joke, so I don’t think she realised I actually enjoyed it.” He says he’s now very thankful to have met someone who’s “accepting of my sexual interests”.