ZIPPER SHOPPING GUIDE - MY TOP TIPS FOR ONLINE ZIPPER SHOPPING
Customized zippers from Zippers & Thread.
Even if you possess a mysteriously ever-growing, overflowing zipper stash, it’s happened: you reach the point in your project where it’s time to install the zipper, and…. you don’t have the right one. You may seize this excuse to drive to the nearest Joann, but unless it’s a basic coil or invisible zipper you seek, the pickings can be slim. When I find myself in Manhattan’s Garment District, my top choices for zipper shopping are SIL Thread (YKK), Pacific Trimming (luxurious RiRi), or Botani (their own brand) - and by the way, I’ll make a post for those shops next time I go! - but I can’t always justify the prices of a train ticket and an entire day spent shopping for notions. Wah! So I take to the web.
The internet is vast, and depending on what you need, you may find yourself trawling obscure corners of Etsy and eBay. Perhaps you want a period specific, metal toothed zip for the dress sewn up in fabric from the antique mall and a vintage pattern, or one of those crazy novelty ones with rhinestones in the teeth. If that’s the case, I encourage you to get lost in the sauce of late night googling. But for your basic needs, here are my top three resources, and why I like each of them, along with a simple price comparison for your consideration.
Classic YKK brass zippers with standard sliders.
WAWAK:
If you’re not shopping at Wawak, you are missing out. Plain and simple. Their offerings are impressive and they are my go-to resource for jean tack buttons, pressing tools, and oh yes: zippers. Wawak stocks YKK basics in a large selection of colors, finishes, lengths and sizes. They have great customer service and will answer any questions you send their way.
Wawak has two crucial things going for it: low prices and the fastest shipping imaginable. If you order right now, I bet you’ll have zippers in your hand by this time tomorrow (assuming it’s not the weekend).
YKK #5 Closed 12" Brass Zipper: $1.54
YKK #2 12" Invisible Nylon Zipper: $0.75
ZIPPERSTOP:
The name gives it away, their focus is zippers. But I love that they also stock Hug Snug seam binding (see some in action here), ribbons, rhinestones, and whatever notions you may fancy. In addition to the standard issue YKK zippers, they also carry a few styles from the higher end YKK lines: Excella and Everbright.
Zipperstop’s edge is they will shorten your zipper to any custom length. Let’s say you need a 4.5” zipper, but only 7” long ones are available in that tooth size and tape color? No problem! Add it to your cart, select the option to shorten it for a small additional charge, they’ll cut it down to size. While you can absolutely shorten metal zippers yourself, I’ll be honest, I hate doing it! So it’s nice to have the option.
YKK #5 Closed 11" Brass Zipper: $1.20 - note this is 11”, for 12” you would buy a longer zipper and pay for shortening.
YKK #2 12" Invisible Nylon Zipper: $1.00
A standard YKK zipper on the left, and the same kind of zipper on the right, but with an upgraded slider - elevates the whole look!
Once again, the name says it all. Zipper and Thread stocks basic YKK, and a wider selection Excella and Everbright than I have seen elsewhere. Beyond the greatest hits of notions and tools, they have an incredibly well organized thread offering, broken down by brand, Tex size, and usage. But let’s get back to the zippers, because they do something special: you can customize your sliders (aka zipper pulls), and they have a full color card of zipper tape colors on offer.
Usually only seen in Garment District zipper stores, you can pay to have a slider upgrade. Reader: it’s worth it. Are you sewing a garment with a zipper up the center front? Or a jacket with cool exposed zips on the pocket? There are times when a plain brass pull seems drab. No worries, they have 37 shiny options for you to choose from. Additionally, their zipper lengths may be chosen by the quarter inch. These zippers can take a few days to ship, but the level of customization is worth the wait.
YKK #5 Closed 12" Brass Zipper: $2.50 - slider upgrades start at $2.00 additional charge
YKK #2 12" Invisible Nylon Zipper: $1.51
As always, I am wishing you happy shopping, and encourage you to support these small businesses over the big box stores out there! And if you found this post helpful and would like to buy me a zipper, here’s the link to my Ko-fi. (Actually, all Ko-fi tips go towards hosting & supporting this website.) Happy shopping! XO, Martha