Now we just stick with YKK. The zipper on my jacket broke today. Had they simply used YKK—the industry standard—this would have never been the case. The zipper of my wedding gown broke, just finished sewing. The company is willing to customize zippers to meet the needs of manufacturers, so many YKK zippers only feature the name of the clothing company that makes the item. Many manufacturers mix zipper types. For example, the ISM backpack features a plastic waterproof zipper for the laptop compartment, but a metal zipper with a custom pull tab for the main compartment.
Another way the YKK zipper may seem like it's not a YKK zipper is their slider: The typical slider often used by YKK is a flat piece of metal with a circular cut out near the bottom, but in reality there are many different varieties.
For instance, the ISM bag has a more 3-dimensional shape, as well as a less commonly seen metallic gold or silver finish. We also include a leather pull tab for additional ease of use. Though clothing like jackets and jeans usually only include one zipper, bags and backpacks will often use two. A head to head zipper means that you have two sliders, giving you the freedom to create smaller openings useful if you just want to slide a hand inside and grab a wallet. It also means that the sliders are easier to access, so you can sling a backpack off one shoulder while you pull one of the sliders with your right hand.
Random thought One out of every two zippers in the world is a YKK zipper. Companies that value quality over quick savings still reach for YKK, despite cheaper zippers being available. YKK makes over 7 million zippers a day in over different styles and standard colors.
Superior quality at an affordable price point means that YKK is the go-to zipper for mid to higher end brands, including luxury fashion houses like Prada and Gucci. Bag But high street brands will rarely work exclusively with one zipper manufacturer, which is why you will find a variety of different types of fasteners in items from the same brand.
I own enough stuff from Zara to supply a small shop, and I had to really dig through my collection to find an item with a YKK zipper. So, why exactly is that? The thing is, fast fashion companies need zippers that fit into the design of their items. Brands like Zara are able to have copies of runway looks in their stores in about two weeks — from designing the knock-off item to you paying for it at the counter.
Two weeks is a really short time, and if a company does not have a specific zipper shape they have in mind, they will turn to a different supplier.
This also explains why the quality of items in the same store is rarely consistent. The main reason why YKK still manage to dominate the worldwide market is reliability. Over the decades, YKK zippers have become synonymous with toughness, durability and excellence. And as consumers, we are the ones who help the company come out on top year after year. But none of them were YKK. Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world.
With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Last Updated: October 4, Table Of Contents Show All. The YKK Zippers. The Competition: YKK. High-Street Clients. Gervis Byron has made zippers at YKK for 38 years.
I ask her how it feels to know that she had a hand in making the zippers we use every day. Our mission at Marketplace is to raise the economic intelligence of the country.
Marketplace helps you understand it all, will fact-based, approachable, and unbiased reporting. Generous support from listeners and readers is what powers our nonprofit news—and your donation today will help provide this essential service. Skip to content. I've Always Wondered Adriene Hill Jan 13, Listen Now. Share Now on:. Stories You Might Like As clothing sales drop, zipper and button makers struggle.
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