Zips may not be considered to be the most sophisticated of technology and are often taken for granted by most of us, but they are the most widely used mechanism of the past and present century. In dressmaking, zips are a necessity and are used on everything from dresses and trousers to shoes and bags as a way to join and separate two ends of a garment, for example the front of a jacket or the back of a dress.
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An example of how to use your zip as a fashionable embellishment.[/caption]
In recent years, the fashion industry has ceased to utilise zips as merely a functional item and have begun to expose the zip as a fashion trend itself. Designers such as Calvin Klein, Dior and Michael Kors are making accessories out of the zipper with attention grabbing designs such as the popular zipper dress made famous by stylish celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez. Gone are the days of a concealed zip being the only choice for a glamorous evening gown, now the zip itself becomes the main feature of the dress.
The current trend of using zips as an embellishment allows you to make your basics stand out from the crowd or add an accent to clothes and accessories. Whilst you may not wish to commit to a bright pink bag, you can add a colour pop to your otherwise understated accessory with the addition of a brightly coloured zip or add a zippered pocket to your jeans and sweaters for a fashionable utilitarian look. Whatever your project, zips are almost always a necessity but should also be considered as an ornamental addition to ensure that you remain bang on trend.
We carry a wide variety of zips ensuring that you are able to choose the correct zip to suit your needs. The massive amount of zips available can sometimes make choosing the right one a daunting task so in order to assist you here are details of just a few of the different types we stock:
Open End Zips - as the name suggests, this type of zip is open ended, meaning that the zip opens at both ends allowing your material to become completely separated. This type of zip is normally found on items such as jackets, coats and cardigans. We stock a variety of different kinds of open end zip including plastic open end zips which have moulded teeth and are perfect as replacement zips for coats, jackets and even knitwear. The brass open end zip is also a very popular zip, they have a rustic look to them and work well in leather jackets or heavy knitwear.
Closed End Zips - used in items such as dresses, skirts and trousers closed end zips are designed so that both ends of the zip are closed. Closed end zips can also be used on luggage, bags and accessories or for any item where the zip is not required to come off the track. Our range of closed end zips includes the concealed or invisible zip which is a popular choice for when the designer does not wish to make to zip a feature of the garment. When applied correctly this zip will disappear into the seams of the garment and are often used in items which require a clean finish such as delicate evening dresses and bridal gowns.
Jeans Zips - this type of closed end zip is useful when you are working with heavier fabrics such as denim and leather. This zip can be used as a replacement zip to extend the life of your jeans and other items of clothing.
Metal Open End Zip - this is a very popular zip and is a great choice when embracing the exposed zip trend.
Dress Zips - these closed end zips are a lightweight zip which will not weigh your garment down. Our dress zips are available in a wide range of colours and have teeth matching to the fabric ensuring that you achieve the perfect blend with your garment. It is also possible to use your Zip as a design statement by purchasing a contrasting coloured Zip.
Have you used zips as an embellishment in your dressmaking? As always we love to see your designs on our Facebook page.
Until next time!
Calico Laine
An example of how to use your zip as a fashionable embellishment.[/caption]
In recent years, the fashion industry has ceased to utilise zips as merely a functional item and have begun to expose the zip as a fashion trend itself. Designers such as Calvin Klein, Dior and Michael Kors are making accessories out of the zipper with attention grabbing designs such as the popular zipper dress made famous by stylish celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Lopez. Gone are the days of a concealed zip being the only choice for a glamorous evening gown, now the zip itself becomes the main feature of the dress.
The current trend of using zips as an embellishment allows you to make your basics stand out from the crowd or add an accent to clothes and accessories. Whilst you may not wish to commit to a bright pink bag, you can add a colour pop to your otherwise understated accessory with the addition of a brightly coloured zip or add a zippered pocket to your jeans and sweaters for a fashionable utilitarian look. Whatever your project, zips are almost always a necessity but should also be considered as an ornamental addition to ensure that you remain bang on trend.
We carry a wide variety of zips ensuring that you are able to choose the correct zip to suit your needs. The massive amount of zips available can sometimes make choosing the right one a daunting task so in order to assist you here are details of just a few of the different types we stock:
Open End Zips - as the name suggests, this type of zip is open ended, meaning that the zip opens at both ends allowing your material to become completely separated. This type of zip is normally found on items such as jackets, coats and cardigans. We stock a variety of different kinds of open end zip including plastic open end zips which have moulded teeth and are perfect as replacement zips for coats, jackets and even knitwear. The brass open end zip is also a very popular zip, they have a rustic look to them and work well in leather jackets or heavy knitwear.
Closed End Zips - used in items such as dresses, skirts and trousers closed end zips are designed so that both ends of the zip are closed. Closed end zips can also be used on luggage, bags and accessories or for any item where the zip is not required to come off the track. Our range of closed end zips includes the concealed or invisible zip which is a popular choice for when the designer does not wish to make to zip a feature of the garment. When applied correctly this zip will disappear into the seams of the garment and are often used in items which require a clean finish such as delicate evening dresses and bridal gowns.
Jeans Zips - this type of closed end zip is useful when you are working with heavier fabrics such as denim and leather. This zip can be used as a replacement zip to extend the life of your jeans and other items of clothing.
Metal Open End Zip - this is a very popular zip and is a great choice when embracing the exposed zip trend.
Dress Zips - these closed end zips are a lightweight zip which will not weigh your garment down. Our dress zips are available in a wide range of colours and have teeth matching to the fabric ensuring that you achieve the perfect blend with your garment. It is also possible to use your Zip as a design statement by purchasing a contrasting coloured Zip.
Have you used zips as an embellishment in your dressmaking? As always we love to see your designs on our Facebook page.
Until next time!
Calico Laine