Clothing Fasteners

Whether you’re making your clothes or crafting costumes for the stage, one of the key aspects you need to consider is what type of fabric fasteners to use. Clothes fasteners are essentially any device that you use to join two sections of material together in a way that can be opened and closed. That includes everything from zippers and buttons to press studs, frog fasteners, and hook and loop tape. Even humble safety pins count!
If you’re looking for clothing fasteners, Manhattan Wardrobe Supply has an extensive range for all your clothing and craft costume creations. See below.

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When deciding which form of sewing fasteners to use for your project, you’ll need to consider both the type of garment you’re making and the fabric you will be using. For example, do you want the clothing fasteners to be visible or not? Will they form part of the design of the outfit? Do you need fabric fasteners that are super quick to open and close to allow for quick costume changes? All of these factors will play a part in choosing the best clothes fasteners for your garment.

To help you out, here’s an overview of some of the most popular types of clothing fasteners we sell here at MWS to add to your sewing kit.

Zippers

Zippers are one of the most common and easy-to-use clothes fasteners. They consist of a series of interlocking ‘teeth,’ which are joined together and eased apart by a slider. Zippers can be adjusted to fit almost any length, and you can also choose between different teeth sizes that offer various levels of strength and flexibility. This allows you to use zippers with heavy duty material such as denim as well as delicate items such as dresses. They’re also easy to sew onto garments, either with sewing machines or by hand.

Do you want to use a zipper but don’t want it to show on a formal outfit or stage costume? Choose one of our invisible zippers, and the audience will be none the wiser! We also have zipper repair kits if you just need to replace a broken or damaged slider.

Buttons

Buttons are a cheap and cheerful form of fabric fasteners used on everything from coats and shirts to pants. There are actually several different types of buttons out there, varying in size, color, shape, and what they’re made from. Whether you’re better off using plastic or metal or some other material like shell or glass will depend on the style of garment you’re attaching them to and how sturdy you need the buttons to be. Don’t forget to make a corresponding button hole on the other part of the fabric!

Some of the most common styles of button include:

  • Flat two-hole and four-hole buttons, which are the most frequently used variety and often seen on shirts, skirts, and other types of clothing. They are attached by passing the needle and thread directly through the holes in the center. Buttons with four holes tend to be a bit sturdier than those with two.
  • Shank buttons, which have a loop at the back that’s used to sew them onto clothing. They tend to be larger and stick out more from the fabric, making them great for use with thicker materials like coats
  • Cloth buttons, which are attached in the same way as shank buttons but made with fabric. They are less durable than plastic or metal buttons but are perfect when you want the button to match the garment perfectly
  • A frog closure, which is a highly decorative form of braided loop clothing fastener. You slip a knot through a loop to close frog fasteners. Therefore, you don’t need to create a buttonhole in the garment itself

Snaps

Snaps – also known as snap buttons, poppers, and press studs – are very easy types of clothes fasteners to use. They come in pairs, and when the ball half is pressed into the socket half, they join together with a satisfying snap sound – hence the name! To undo them, you simply pull them apart.

Snaps can either be sewn onto fabric or fixed in place with a special setting tool, depending on which type you choose. Likewise, you can use either plastic or metal styles. For press studs which are easier to attach and less noticeable, you can use snap tape that’s sewn onto the garment as a strip with the snaps already in place. You can do this either by hand or with sewing machines. Snaps are often used on personal care garments such as baby-grows because they’re so quick and simple to open and close, yet very secure.

Hooks and eyes

These styles of fabric fasteners consist of two parts: a metal hook and a corresponding metal eye. To fasten them, you simply feed the hook through the eye. They’re most commonly seen in bra fastenings and also on skirts and dresses above the zipper as an extra layer of security. You can find hook and eye fastenings in various colors and sizes to suit a range of different garments.

When using these clothes fasteners, one factor to bear in mind is that there normally needs to be some tension in the fabric to prevent the hook from slipping out of the eye again. They can also be a little fiddly and delicate, meaning they are great for formal outfits but might not be ideal for quick costume changes.

Velcro

Velcro is the brand name for hook and loop tape, which consists of two strips of slightly different materials. One is a bit harder and made with hooks, while the other is softer and made with loops. When pressed together, the two sides stick securely to one another but can be easily pulled apart when needed. Velcro is commonly used as children’s shoes and clothes fasteners because it’s so simple to use but is also useful on theater costumes for quick changes. Thanks to its heavy duty nature, Velcro is also useful for bags and other types of outdoor gear. Hook and loop tape comes in a range of different sizes and colors, with some forms that need to be sewn on and others that stick on with adhesive.