The humble zipper, a ubiquitous innovation in modern fastening, owes its inception to the unique minds of two individuals. Whitcomb L. Judson, an engineer, is credited with creating the ‘clasp locker,’ a device that laid the groundwork for zip fasteners.
However, it was Gideon Sundback who, with improved design and functionality, refined Judson’s invention into the modern zipper we know today.
Table of Contents
Who Invented the Zipper?
Whitcomb L. Judson invented the zipper. He was an inventor who first introduced the fastener as a ‘clasp locker’ at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Gideon Sundback later refined Judson’s design, achieving the commercial success of what would be recognized as the modern zipper, a device that gifted society with a continuous clothing closure solution that’s both practical and reliable.
The Clasp Locker to Modern Zipper Transition
The clasp locker, the precursor to the modern zipper, was an assembly of hook-and-eye elements devised by Judson. Although his initial design was more about fastening boots and did not immediately take off, it was the foundation of the modern zipper.
Sundback brought his engineering prowess into play, contributing meticulous design skills that increased the number of fastening elements and enhanced the overall functionality. His notable addition of the slider mechanism allowed a continuous zipper chain to be opened with ease—an invention called the ‘separable fastener,’ patented in 1917.
Universal Fastener Company and the Growth of the Zipper
Sundback’s enhancement of the clasp locker led to the formation of the Universal Fastener Company, where these new zippers were mass-produced. His ingenuity facilitated the move from a simple fastening boots mechanism to a universal fastener employed in a myriad of products.
To handle the increased production volume, manufacturing machines were engineered to produce a few hundred feet of zipper at a time, with a special Y-shaped wire stitching the scooped dimples and dimpled raised bumps of two facing rows of metal teeth. Sundback’s role in the history of the zipper is central, his design marking the rise of the separating zipper, a pioneering step in the fastener industry.
Sewing Machines: Integral to the Zipper’s Rise
The mass production of zippers became possible with advanced sewing machines capable of attaching them to leather goods and clothing. The interplay between the sewing machine and the zipper led to improvements in both technologies—a synergistic development that streamlined clothing manufacturing.
Sewing machine innovations enabled more intricate zipper designs, including the insertion of plastic zippers or invisible zippers into fine garments, highlighting the sewing machine’s role in elevating the zipper to an essential component in the fashion industry.
Tobacco Pouches, Rubber Boots, and Beyond
Early applications of Sundback’s separable fastener extended beyond fastening boots. Tobacco pouches became a testing ground for the new device, and soon after, the rubber boots industry recognized the separable fastener’s value, with the Goodrich Company marking its debut in footwear.
Goodrich is also credited with coining the word “zipper,” a term inspired by the sound the fastener makes—a ‘zipper beat’—as the slider runs across the interlocking elements.
The Fashion Industry Embraces the Zipper
Zippers underwent a surge in popularity when rubber boots and leather jackets incorporated the new fastening method. It did not take long for French fashion designers and head designers globally to recognize the newest tailoring idea.
The fashion industry, captivated by the automatic continuous clothing closure, began to sew the zipper into high-fashion pieces, using it as a functional closure system and as a fashionable detail offering both aesthetic charm and the promise of avoiding any unintentional and embarrassing disarray.
Zipper’s Influence on Adults’ Fashion and Self-Reliance
The impact of the zipper on adults’ fashion cannot be overstated. The zippered fly’s many virtues—ease, swiftness, and the support for self-reliance in dressing—were all hallmarks of this evolution. With the zipper, outerwear like leather jackets and everyday items such as pants benefited not only from a more streamlined look but also from an enhanced functional aspect that prevented embarrassing disarray.
Invisible Zippers and Airtight Zippers: Innovations and Specializations
Innovation in zipper technology continued with the creation of invisible zippers, which provided a clean, seamless closure ideal for elegant garments, and airtight zippers designed to withstand extreme conditions like those found in diving suits. These specialized zippers served precise needs, from high fashion to protective gear, showcasing the versatility of Sundback’s original concept for a separable fastener.
Zipper Day Celebrations: Unzipping History and Innovation
Annually, enthusiasts and the fashion industry alike mark National Zipper Day, commemorating the day the zipper was patented and honoring its profound influence on modern life. Equal parts a nod to past ingenuity and present-day applications, this day offers a moment to reflect on the zipper’s pivotal role in fashion, functionality, and culture.
A Force in Industry: The Zipper’s Economic Footprint
The zipper’s invention by Whitcomb L. Judson and subsequent perfection by Gideon Sundback spurred an industry that now thrives on a global scale. This fastener has not only become an indispensable part of everyday life but has also contributed to economies as a component requiring dedicated manufacturing, distribution, and innovation strategies. The zipper market is a layered economic force that extends from the supply of raw materials to the automated precision of sewing machines, which affix them onto the myriad products that define modern convenience.
Zippers in Safety and Functionality: Beyond Clothing
The functional reach of zippers extends into critical areas such as safety equipment. Airtight zippers are an essential feature in chemical and biological protective suits, where their ability to seal out contaminants can be lifesaving. Meanwhile, separating zippers find their way into life vests, where their functionality is paramount in emergency situations. Protective gear for first responders and military applications often includes specialized zippers, engineered for both rapid deployment and secure enclosures.
Businessman Colonel Lewis Walker: Zipping up Success
The journey of the zipper into public awareness and commercial success owes a significant chapter to businessman Colonel Lewis Walker. Walker, alongside Sundback, helped commercialize the fastener after founding the Universal Fastener Company. Through strategic business decisions, product development, and an understanding of market needs, Walker played a role in the zipper becoming a mainstay of the clothing industry and beyond.
The Specialized Craft of Zipper Manufacturing
The creation of a functional zipper is a feat that demands skill, engineering precision, and attention to detail. A manufacturing machine must meticulously align each scoop and dimple, ensuring that the metal teeth of a zipper interlock seamlessly. This meticulous process guarantees the integrity of the fastening elements, ensuring a continuous clothing closure free from failings that could lead to unintentional and embarrassing disarray.
The Continuous Evolution of the Zipper
The history of the zipper is one of continuous innovation, where each advancement in design mirrors society’s changing demands and technological capabilities. From brass to nylon to plastic zippers, the materials used throughout the zipper’s development have adapted to specific uses, from heavy-duty applications in the leather goods industry to delicate placements in high-end fashion. Each new zipper variant brought with it nuances in the mechanics and functionality—a proof of the zipper’s adaptable and enduring design.
Celebrating the Unseen Marvel
Two pieces of steel fasten a strip of fabric. That’s all a zipper is.
What’s fascinating is that this gilded metal strip has managed to be the hero behind regulating wardrobe malfunctions globally.
It’s everywhere. And as long as the sense of fashion exists, so will the zipper.
References:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/shareview/10.1080/00405000.2019.1627987
https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA15852047&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=0036861X&p=AONE&sw=w