Bänana, a ten-year bondage enthusiast, found her passion in shibari in 2017, drawn to its raw and authentic nature.
As she has always been fascinated by the expression of emotions, shibari, and more specifically semenawa has opened up a new path of exploration to her.
She began to follow Docvale’s teaching in November 2018, later partnering with him to co- manage Atelier Simonet in Paris until summer 2023.
Bänana considers that in order to tie well, we must understand each of our technical choices rather than learning the instructions by heart. She gives to her students a solid grounding so they can feel free while tying and put these technical abilities at the service of the relationship with their partners.
Being in ropes is also something to be apprehended. Not that you have to behave in any particular way. On the contrary, every tied-up person has to find the way that pleases him or her. It's also a long journey full of questions and emotions, and it seems important to Bänana that all this is taken into account during her courses.
Bänana's courses are so often highly interactive, with the idea that everyone should have a place to ask questions and express their experiences and feedback in order to grow together in this practice.
Bänana organizes regular events at La Cabäne, a small shibari venue she runs in Paris.
She also travels internationally to share her passion!
eratobanana.com
About Soft Armor (They):
Fern found rope in 2022 and felt immediately at home in the intimacy, aesthetics, and explorations in body-trust that is possible in rope.
They are new to rope and ‘bottoming’, but not to life; as a rope model, they love to nerd out about how the connections and containers we create in rope feels like ‘aftercare’ for vanilla life.
Fern is based in NY but also travels and ties in LA, Paris, Berlin and beyond.
