Earlier quoted context omitted.
Here you go: https://imgur.com/a/FQGdSkg
Yes, so the zipper hasn't changed, just the way it is attached to the fabric.
From the Wired article: "The teeth were redesigned..."
The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
21–30 of 154 posts
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#22How do you replace a broken zipper than?
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apparently no tape, the zipper is bare, so special sewing machines are required and you plebs cannot just repair your clothes affordably (or yourself) anymore.
All the other zippers will still exist. Clothes without zippers will still exist. Roughly nobody does this anyway.
>Roughly nobody does this anyway.
I had at least z dozen zippers replaced through my life. Some times you a very good product with poorly chosen zipper, some times it is some sort of an accident.
I find the idea of buying a new coat instead of fixing a small part of the old one weird.
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apparently no tape, the zipper is bare, so special sewing machines are required and you plebs cannot just repair your clothes affordably (or yourself) anymore.
Funny enough they mention that this new zipper cuts emisions but at the same time requires another (propietary) machine to sew them into clothing... are net emmisions actually going to be diminished?
Not only that, but DIYers and alteration/repair will be out of luck too.
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#25This is a big deal for YKK.
Until a few years ago they had a hold on the upper end of the market. The chinese competitor's quality was unreliable enough that clothing manufacturers were willing to pay a premium to ensure a failed zipper does not trash a garment. That situation has been changing, and chinese companies are offering zippers which are getting used on progressively higher end products.
By releasing a new product with substantial changes and thus patentability they can buy a few decades at the top of the market. I suspect this technology has been in development for a long time, and held back until competitors were threatening the premium traditional zipper market.
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#26So, uh, how is it attached to the garment? They talk about specialized sewing equipment, so it’s not bonded (although for polymer-based outerwear solvent bonding seems like the ultimate end-point)… but there’s no thru-holes or other obvious attachment points. Something boring but hidden (hole from the side to the bottom), or something more interesting?
There does appear to be a connecting strand between the teeth, and the article indicates you need a specialized sewing machine. They must sew it, but repairable is probably impacted.
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#27So, uh, how is it attached to the garment? They talk about specialized sewing equipment, so it’s not bonded (although for polymer-based outerwear solvent bonding seems like the ultimate end-point)… but there’s no thru-holes or other obvious attachment points. Something boring but hidden (hole from the side to the bottom), or something more interesting?
From the YKK Digital Showroom website:
> The AiryString® tapeless zipper is designed for elements to be sewn directly onto fabric by a special machine.
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#28After reading the article I have no idea what is different in the new version.
What I can't figure out is how the new version attached to the fabric. That's at the core of this right? Metal-fabric interface.
I wonder how fabrics will handle the mechanical wear vs the durable tape “track” used in a traditional zipper
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#29"Please be aware that when using AiryString® on fabrics with the following characteristics,
there are concerns that the zipper may come unstitched, roll into the slider, or not be strong enough.
◇ Fabrics with notably low slippage resistance
( woven fabrics: fabrics with low thread counts, knitted fabrics: fabrics with loose tension).
◇ Fabrics with low friction resistance
◇ Fabrics with large bumps
◇ Shaggy fabrics"
Seems like the target use case is Athleisure?
Re: The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years
#30"Major Upgrade" for the fast, disposable fashion crowd.
Major downgrade for maintainability and ability to repair.
This "upgraded" zipper will be impossible to replace if broken at home, by hand or with a machine, or even at a typical professional repair shop. YKK documents say a "dedicated AiryString® sewing machine" is required.[1]
[1]https://ykkdigitalshowroom.com/assets/AiryString_202507_en.p...