The zipper is a fastener of two tapes with teeth that a slider engages and disengages, joining the edges of a garment quickly and securely. Invented in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the zipper truly revolutionised clothing, displacing rows of buttons and hooks and making garments more convenient. Beyond function, the zipper also became a powerful design device: an exposed metal zip is a sign of sporty, biker or punk style, while a concealed one marks the delicate, clean cut of evening dresses. Zippers are made of metal, plastic, invisible and decorative. It is a detail in which engineering precision met aesthetics, changing forever the way we dress.
