Which brand use Japanese ykk zippers. Manufacturer Secrets: What the YKK Zippers Mean

YKK is a world leader in the production of zippers. It produces 90% of all such fasteners in 71 factories around the planet. This is a group of Japanese companies, whose trademark was registered almost 70 years ago. YKK stands for and translates from Japanese as "Yoshida Factory" - that was the name of the founder of the company, who opened the production of fasteners for clothes in the 1930s. The success was achieved thanks to the cooperation with leading clothing brands and the introduction of particularly stringent quality standards. In addition, very for a long time the clasp-making machine was kept a closely guarded secret. This helped the company to quickly outflank its major competitors.

Metal Zipper Series

The Metal Zipper series is the oldest type of zipper and YKK uses a wide variety of metals for their production: nickel, brass, manganese, aluminum.

Metal Zipper Standard especially suitable for thick fabrics such as leather jackets and bags. The metal clasp in them becomes an element of decorative trim. The clasps in lemon gold and copper give an elegant look.

YZiP - fastener as an option for finishing clothes with a slider, which can be used not only for jeans, but also for denim jackets.
Everbright are very shiny zippers with increased corrosion resistance compared to conventional metal zippers. Used for stylish bags.

Excella - the highest quality metal zippers with fully polished elements. Their beautiful sheen makes clothes or bags look luxurious appearance... These clasps come in a variety of colors, including silver, gold, and antique finishes.

LUMINA - a kind of Excella zipper, which consists of aluminum alloys. It is very lightweight and has rich color variations. There is also a multi-color option.

Polished metal zipper - polished clasps with a particularly shiny surface.

Cotton touch tape - Natural soft touch zippers created using polyester and woven rayon yarn. They are comfortable, natural and great for everyday wear.

Marble tape - clasp of natural marble look, soft to the touch, made of high quality viscose and polyester.

Satin tape - Shiny satin clasp for a luxurious touch to the garment.

Organic cotton tape - zipper, which uses corespun technology. It strengthens the cotton base.

Cotton tape - high quality cotton zipper with sufficient strength.

Designed woven tape - unique design clasps in two different colors.

Cation poly blended tape - a completely new tape woven from polyester and cations. There are two woven patterns: chambray and herringbone.

Fire Resistant / Retardant tape - fire resistant zippers for industrial use and other special suits.

ProSeal - air and waterproof zipper, which is used in wetsuits and chemical industry in suits to protect workers from hazardous materials.

Design Bottom Stop - zipper with original design.

Coil Zipper Series

AUROLITE - a new type of lightning with a rainbow color effect. This creates a pleasant impression and is more commonly used in sportswear.

FLATKNIT extra soft - Surprisingly flexible and soft closure with a very low profile for the lightest and thinnest garments.

CONCEAL - invisible zippers that do not change the design of clothes at all, therefore they are best suited for skirts and dresses, as well as jackets where some details need to be hidden.

SOFLEX - flexible stretch zipper, able to increase up to 10% with a load of 1 kg. It is used in stretch clothing and also in underwear. Also suitable for flexible parts such as pockets, hoods, sleeves.

PRIFA - zipper with colorful inkjet printing on the ribbon: logos, patterns, gradation. You can choose a standard template or create your own design. Can be combined with water-repellent or eco-friendly zippers.

PRIFA clear tape - transparent zipper through which the main fabric is visible. Thus, an individual design of the clasp is obtained. There are two types of tape: nylon and polyester (softer).

Color Combination of coil zipper - zippers with multi-colored elements: threads, ribbons, fabrics, stitches, including neon colors.

Metallion - zipper with metallic teeth that draws attention to the garment. They come in two types: shiny and matte red bronzes for a vintage look.

Coil Zipper Standard - zipper made of spiral plastic elements such as polyester or nylon. This popular universal clasp is used in everything from clothing and bags to cars.

RC (Racquet Coil) - Specially designed bag zipper, abrasion resistant and high performance.

MINIFA - Slim zip for inside pockets with specially designed slider.

Woven In Type (EF) - especially thin and durable fastener, the elements of which are woven into the base band.

Jacquard tape - Exclusive graphic design zippers on a high quality jacquard tape with various two-color combinations, emblems, etc. The working elements of this zipper are hidden, so you can embody any exclusive design right in the middle of the tape.

Elastic Tape - Stretchable zipper, durable and comfortable to wear. There are two types: vertical stretch (ELT / ELV) and horizontal (ELW).

Flex knit tape - a flexible knitted ribbon that allows you to sew it into curved elements of clothing without disturbing the cut.

Create-a-shape tape - a clasp that takes the desired shape in clothing of a complex cut.

AquaGuard (Coil) - water-repellent zipper created by lamination on the seamy side. There are three types: shiny transparent, matte film transparent and matte colored, including trendy neon colors.

AquaGuard two-tone zipper - zipper of different colors outside and inside. When open, it creates a color contrast that adds decorative accents to clothing.

NATULON - Chemically Recycled - the fastener is designed for garments to be recycled. Made entirely from chemically recyclable polyester.

Silky tape zipper - zipper in a beautiful silky sheen reminiscent of satin.

Smooth - textured zippers for smart wear.

Anti-static tape - Anti-static zipper, crafted and specially treated fabric. It is used in clothing where it is necessary to reduce static stress: sportswear, uniforms.

VISLON Zipper Series

Reflective - reflective zipper that makes clothes safer by illuminating them. Reflection is also a trendy element.

VISLON Flat - made of injected plastic elements such as polyacetal resin. It is lighter than a metal zipper of the same size. May have rich color variations.

METALUXE - plastic zipper with a metallic sheen, including the popular antique copper color. Its shiny elements give the garment a luxurious look, but much lighter than metallic ones. VISLON with a mirror surface, which is achieved by attaching foil to the zipper elements.

VISLON multi-color - multicolor zipper with multiple color elements. It is used to decorate clothes, and some colors on the ribbon can be replaced with others.

Aquaseal - Ideal for waterproof sportswear. Its smooth and flexible tape has optimal protection against water penetration by means of a film coating and an innovative closing mechanism.

Striped tape - when choosing a zipper design for clothes, you can also find original stripes. These zippers are available in two types: with horizontal stripes and with vertical ones. Several sizes are available for the width of the tape.

Light Weight Tape - the zipper is made from fine yarn and is therefore recommended for use in especially thin, light and soft clothing. Tape # 3 is 20% lighter than a standard zipper, and tape # 5 is 15% lighter.

Neon color tape - one of the latest trends is neon zipper, which makes clothes especially attractive. Neon ribbons are available in several colors. Their sliders are neon too. Moreover, such zippers can be combined and mixed, getting your own design.

LUMIFINE - lightning, glowing in the dark. Available in six neon color combinations. They are used not only as a fashion accessory, but also for safety at night in specialized suits of various services.

VISLON Clear - The appearance of this zipper is softer and more natural than that of a typical company product. Therefore, it looks lightweight.

FinGuard - zipper with visible ribs on the sides of the elements. It comes in a variety of materials, including metallic colors. This unique shape of the closure allows the garment to be unique and distinctive.

TOP OPEN - an unusual zipper with additional teeth, which allows you to quickly open the top closure. You need to pull the slider up and press a little and it will be deactivated.

It seems that such a detail of clothing as a zipper is practically not important in production. But the history of YKK and its continued success proves otherwise. In fact, a jacket or jeans can be the highest quality... But it's easy to get frustrated with them if the zipper is tight or breaks.

YKK is a group of Japanese companies. At the moment it occupies a leading position in the production of zippers and accessories. They own 90% of the market, and 71 enterprises are located all over the planet.

Among the admirers of high-quality accessories are Levi "s, OBEY, Stone Island, Griffin. It is difficult to stop listing the brands. Indeed, you can find YKK in almost all jackets and jeans.

But once upon a time their creation was perceived coldly. We will tell you how the company managed to defend its ideas and overtake competitors.

YKK Firm

Tadao Yoshida, the founder of the company, began manufacturing the then unnecessary products in 1930. The zippers frightened ordinary people. It may seem ridiculous now, but at the beginning of the 20th century, people did not know how to use lightning. In 1894, a two-page instruction was even created. But the zippers of that time were rough, uncomfortable and not in demand. That all changed when YKK entered the market in 1934. The company, the production of which was located in Tokyo, at first constantly changed its name. So from the original San-es Shokai in 1946, the YKK is formed, which appeared due to the purchase of Uozu Tekkousho K.K.

What is the company's secret? It's all about the production of a unique machine that produces lightning. She made the product simple and reliable. The Japanese, who are particularly scrupulous about the quality of every detail, called their production "the cycle of usefulness". This meant that the YKK zipper was tested at every stage. The control applied not only to products, but also to equipment. That is why, during the famous earthquake in Japan, only their factory continued production.

No one can succeed if he does not benefit others. - Tadao Yoshida.

Interestingly, the very name for the zipper "zipper" was invented by Bertram Rock. The founder of the footwear company simply adored this "zzzip" sound, which can be translated into Russian as "whack!" The word itself did not exist, but it became a household word.

YKK Products

The company began collaborating with renowned brands, and now its products can be found on most wardrobe items. Right now, you can grab jeans or a jacket and look at the letters on the zipper. With a high degree of probability, you will see the cherished YKK there. In addition to zippers, the company produces fastening-related products. Starting from buttons and velcro, to cords and stoppers. If you need to fasten something, attach or even tie, YKK fittings will immediately come to the rescue.

At the moment, the company's turnover is over $ 8 billion per year. Working with clothing firms has brought them to the top. There were so many companies that YKK had to introduce a single standard by which they selected factories. Let's try to list the main popular items of clothing that use a zipper or accessories from a Japanese company. But this will be extremely difficult, since the list has no end.

Let's start with the fact that there are a great many types of lightning.

• Metal Zipper Series Includes metal zippers suitable for heavy fabrics. Used in outerwear, jackets and parkas. Nickel, brass and aluminum can be used as metal. Zippers can be of any color, the most durable and resistant to corrosion.
• Coil Zipper Series Includes flexible and soft zippers. The series also has varieties of invisible, transparent and multi-colored products. The so-called twisted zippers can be used both in clothing and in bags.
• VISLON Zipper Series has reflectors and moisture protection. Tractor products are often used in sportswear. Some models are made of a special alloy that is lighter than metal. Innovative ideas fully embodied in the VISLON series. There are neon, glowing lightning bolts with special protective teeth.

The amazing popularity has led suppliers to dream of opening production in Russia. Since for last years profit from the sale of imports amounted to about 80 million rubles.

Sometimes a small invention can greatly facilitate the existence of all of humanity. And it doesn't even have to be vital. For example, a zipper on clothes. Imagine how much longer you would mess around in the morning with your favorite jeans without this comfortable fastener. By the way, have you noticed that almost all zippers have three capital letters "YKK"? What does this mysterious message mean, we find out today.

Take a closer look at your jeans, wallet and even winter boots: most likely, you will find the same inscription on the back of the closure of each of these things. Surprisingly, the letters "YKK" They also adorn the zippers of cheap Chinese bags and expensive (and original) accessories from Hermes. What is hidden behind these symbols?

Alas, no mysticism and Masonic conspiracies. "YKK" is an abbreviation. But it's funny that the Latin letters represent the Japanese name: "Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha"... Translated into Business English, it is Yoshida Company Limited. But what does Yoshida have to do with lightning?

No, the Japanese are not the inventors of zippers. This credit goes to an American company Whitcomb L. Judson,which patented the clasp with teeth back in 1890. But after a couple of decades, a resourceful Japanese man Tadao Yoshida found that the existing "chain fasteners" are not that good, they often jam, and indeed break. And, approaching the problem with Japanese scrupulousness, he founded his own factory, which began to make "lightning" in a completely different way. A special brass alloy was used in the production, own dyes for ribbons and even the shape of the teeth has changed. To put it simply, fasteners are what we know them today.

Rumors about new, high-quality fasteners that are so convenient to use spread quickly. And by the 30s of the last century everyone knew about Yoshida large producers clothes and accessories. The letters "YKK" have adorned thousands of pieces. Today, Yoshida Company Limited produces more than half of all existing zippers in the world. Impressive, right? Therefore, the no longer mysterious "YKK" can be seen almost everywhere.