In 1851 Elias Howe, who invented the sewing machine, received a patent for an “automatic continuous clothing closure”. Due to the success of his sewing machine, he did not pursue the marketing of his invention.

In 1895, 44 years later, Whitcomb Judson marketed a ” clasp locker ” similar to Howe’s patent, and formed the Universal Fastener Company, but  met with little commercial success. Gideon Sundback became head designer at the  Company and married the plant manager’s daughter. After she died in 1911, Sundback busied himself at the design table and in December, 1913 he came up with his design for our modern zipper. His patent for his “separable fastener” was issued in 1917 and he also designed a machine to produce his continuous chain. The name originated in the 1910’s when a company used them in the production of rubber boots, and gave it the name zipper, which we have used ever since.

It wasnt until the 1930’s that the device became part of the clothing industry.It was used in a range of children’s clothes to promote self reliance in the young being able to dress themselves.

In 1937 the zip was used instead of buttons for mens trousers. Since then it became part of the clothing, luggage and leather goods industry in general.

So it is 100 years since the initial design was refined into our modern zipper and gradually became part of our life.
How many zips are in your house??? It would be interesting to spend a few minutes counting them and discovering their various uses.

Vanessa and Helen have celebrated this wonderful invention in their new range of bags and clothing for the month of April in their Tarts window display

Helen has used the zip as a functional part of her jackets  and dresses, and also as a focal point in the designs.There may be something hidden under a zip that we don’t expect.

Vanessa’s bags have always featured Zips as an integral part of construction.

The first bags used were a simple circle of fabric with a cord or leather thong threaded around the circumference of the circle that was gathered up to close the purse and it was worn under clothing for protection. Today we have the zip which ensures security as well as giving form to the structure of a bag.

The Button Bar in The Adelaide Arcade are a wonderful source of zips and have been interested in our window Celebrating 100 years of the Zip. They have generously loaned us a range of zips to include in our display and may even allocate one of their windows at their shop for a display.