Fabrics & materials

Metal or plastic fittings such as D-rings, swivel clips, rivets, and sliders used to attach straps, close flaps, and reinforce stress points on bags.

Rigid or semi-rigid strips, of steel, plastic or historically whalebone, inserted into channels to shape and support structured garments such as corsets and strapless bodices.

A disc or shaped fastener sewn to one side of an opening and passed through a buttonhole or loop on the other side to close a garment.

A reinforced slit or bound opening in fabric sized to admit a button, finished by machine zigzag stitching, a bound technique, or hand stitching.

A stretchable band, braided, knitted or woven with rubber or spandex core yarns, used in waistbands, casings and cuffs for gathered, adjustable fit.

A decorative fastening of intricately knotted cord or braid, with a button-like knot and a loop, traditionally used on Chinese-style and Asian-inspired garments.

A reinforced metal or plastic ring set into a punched hole in fabric to prevent tearing and to allow lacing or cord to pass through.

A flat metal hook and matching straight bar used mainly at waistbands to hold the closure edge to edge without overlap.

A small metal fastener pair, a bent hook that catches on a loop or bar, used at waistbands, plackets and the top of zips for a flat, secure closure.

A two-sided fastening tape of a stiff hooked surface and a soft looped surface that grip when pressed together, used for adjustable or quick-release closures.

A zip whose teeth are concealed behind a folded tape, sewn with a special foot so only a thin seam-like line shows on the finished garment.

A zip in which the two sides detach completely at the bottom, used on jackets and cardigans that open fully rather than a fixed-bottom garment closure.

A two-part mechanical fastener with interlocking ball-and-socket discs that click together, used for quick, low-profile closures on garments and accessories.

Twill tape pre-fitted with evenly spaced snap fasteners, stitched to a garment opening in one pass, commonly used on baby clothing for quick closures.

A mechanical fastener of two rows of teeth or coils drawn together by a sliding pull, used to close openings in garments and bags.