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Which firms use ykk zippers. YKK zippers - the standard of quality

YKK is a world leader in the production of zippers. It produces 90% of all such fasteners in 71 factories around the planet. It 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 cooperation with leading clothing brands and the introduction of particularly stringent quality standards. In addition, for a very long time, the machine for the production of quality fasteners was kept in the strictest confidence. This helped the company 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- a 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 gives a garment or bag a luxurious look. 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 light 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- clasps of a unique design in two different colors.

Cation poly blended tape- a brand 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 in the 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 that can 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 a metallic teeth color 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 all-round clasp is used on 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 ribbon 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 ribbon.

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 items of clothing without disturbing the cut.

Create-a-shape tape- a clasp that takes the desired shape in clothing with 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. Also, reflection is 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 is much lighter than metallic ones. VISLON with a mirrored 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 the usual typical company product. Therefore, it looks lightweight.

FinGuard- zip 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 push a little and it will be deactivated.

All people have experienced the use of YKK zippers at some point in their lives. They are on jackets and jeans, on bags and backpacks. In any hardware store, a line of these products is necessarily presented. In the article, we will carefully consider what these fasteners are, who produces them and what types are produced.

A bit of history

The Japanese entrepreneur Tadao Yoshida founded a company for the production of such fasteners in 1930. At that time it was a very bold step, since people had never seen anything like it before, they were frightened by such "lightning", they did not know how to use it. This was not a novelty, because there are two sheets of instructions on how to use such fasteners. They were very rough and bulky. People didn't like them. But Tadao transforms them significantly. It was with the advent of YKK lightning that everything changed radically.

The company changed its names several times, but the convenient YKK later stuck. These three famous letters are located on all the sliders of the clasps. What do they mean? This name appeared only in 1946, when San-es Shokai bought another - Uozu Tekkousho K.K. This is how this abbreviation appears.

Almost 90 years have passed since then, and the factory has expanded to 70 factories around the world. The quality of the equipment showed itself during the strongest earthquake, when all enterprises in Japan stopped, only YKK was working. The company cooperates with world brands of sportswear, jeans, jackets. By the way, the word zipper was coined by Bertram Rock. This is a famous shoe manufacturer, he really liked the sound that the zipper made when closing. Zzzzip eventually develops into a common noun - zipper.

Kinds of YKK Zippers


Metal Zipper

There are many types of YKK metal zippers. The company's craftsmen tried to make a real work of art out of fasteners. They not only fasten outerwear, but also serve as a decor. Particularly appreciated are gold and copper pieces with antique finishes. Polishing is used to add extra shine to the metal.

Aluminum clasps have a special lightness and multi-colored options. The materials used in the production of zippers use soft natural cotton fabrics, as well as polyester and viscose. There is a kind of glittery YKK satin zipper that looks great when decorating clothes. Two variants of the pattern on the fabrics have been invented. This is a chaumbra and a herringbone.

For special overalls and overalls, the company's technologists use fire-resistant zippers. There are models that do not allow water and air to pass through. They are used in wetsuits and chemical workers. They reliably protect clothing from contact with the skin of hazardous toxic substances.

Coil Zipper

Twisted zippers have firmly entered our lives. They are soft and come in a wide variety of colors. There are completely invisible, hidden YKK zippers. There is a flexible and stretchable model that is sewn onto stretch clothing. They bend well, can be printed with a printer.

There are water-repellent and laminated models. You can even buy a two-color version: inside - one color, and outside - another.

VISLON Zipper

This popular tractor fastener model is made of polyacetate resin. It is as strong as metal, but much lighter than it. There are zippers that are completely similar to metal ones. They are made using foil.

Has a film coating that protects against moisture. The clasp is fully open, there is a double slider that allows you to open the jacket from the top and bottom. This convenience has already been appreciated by many people on the planet.

The variety of YKK models contributed to the fact that the manufacturer captured 90% of the entire world market for such products. The popularity of the inhabitants of our country has not spared either. Everyone loves YKK snakes.

"YKK" is an abbreviation in which the name is hidden: "Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha". Translated into English "Yoshida Company Limited". Such an inscription means that you are buying a Japanese zipper, improved in 1890 and patented. The products of the factory can be bought at retail in the website store, picked up by self-pickup in Moscow and received in any city in Russia.

What does the Japanese name mean in practice?

YKK zippers are made of a special brass alloy, painted with patented dyes, and have a unique tooth shape. More than 90% of all products are produced with the YKK logo. Over the years, many varieties have appeared, among them:

  • Metal Zipper - includes zippers made of metal alloys for things made of rough materials: leather jackets and bags, jeans and denim jackets, for expensive bags and clothes, casual and evening wear, fire-resistant tapes for industrial use;
  • VISLON Zipper - variations of plastic ribbons for sports, designer clothes and things, includes ribbons with reflective elements, there are neon zippers and glow in the dark.

Ask your store consultant for advice on choosing a YKK zipper. We have both popular and rare options.

YKK is a Japanese brand of various zippers. Belongs to the YKK Group company. The company is considered the world's largest manufacturer of zippers. The company also manufactures other fasteners, architectural products, plastic products, and industrial equipment.

What later became the YKK brand was originally the San-es Shokai Company, which was founded by Tadao Yoshida in Tokyo in January 1934. The company specialized in the sale of fasteners.

In February 1938, San-es Shokai was renamed Yoshida Kogyosho. In February 1942, the company was reorganized into a limited liability company.

In March 1945, after an air raid on Tokyo, the Yoshida Kogyosho plant burned down completely. The company temporarily suspends its activities.

Despite the consequences of the Second World War, the company continues to work and develop. In August 1945, Yoshida Kogyosho takes over Uozu Tekkousho KK and changes its name to Yoshida Kogyo KK.

In January 1946, the company registered the YKK trademark, launching the production of zippers under this trademark. A major technological change came in 1950, when the company purchased a machine in the United States that made it possible to automate the process of making zippers. Previously, they were handcrafted.

In May 1955, a new YKK plant was opened in Toyama. In 1958, the company also introduced its new brand, Conceal, under which concealed link zippers were produced. Another major step took place in November 1959 when the first overseas YKK zipper production facility was opened in New Zealand.

The first American office of the YKK brand was opened in New York in 1960 and is now the country's largest supplier of zippers.

In November 1961, YKK expanded its range by launching aluminum parts for builders and architects.

In 1966, a new product, YZip, was introduced - the heavy-duty jeans zipper. The development of a machine that automatically sewed a YZip into the jeans sewing process further boosted sales, especially in the United States.

In 1968, YKK opened its first branch in Canada. The Canadian headquarters are currently located in Montreal, Quebec.

In the 1970s, further expansion took place: three new factories were opened. Yoshida Kogyo KK also opened a fastener factory in Swaziland (today: Kingdom of Eswatini).

International expansion and expansion of the product range continued in the 1980s. In December 1984, a subsidiary company YKK Industries (Singapore) Pte. Was created in Singapore, which was engaged in the production and sale of building materials. In January 1985, Yoshida Kogyo KK starts an agricultural business in Brazil and also opens a factory there. Production of zippers and aluminum parts for construction begins in Indonesia in September 1986.

In August 1994, Yoshida Kogyo KK changed its name to YKK Corporation.

In July 2000, a subsidiary company, YKK Newmax Co., Ltd, was founded, specialized in the production of buttons and buttons.

In December 2002, an engineering company was founded in Suzhou (China).

In April 2003 in Hokkaido, Japan, the YKK Research Center was established.

YKK Fasening Products Sales Inc., a sales company, was founded in February 2003.

YKK AP Inc. was founded in October 2003 specializing in architectural products.

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 be fiddling with your favorite jeans in the morning 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, you get "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, the resourceful Japanese Tadao Yoshida found that existing "chain fasteners" are not so 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 have become the way we know them today.


Rumors about new quality fasteners that are so easy to use spread quickly. And by the 30s of the last century, all major manufacturers of clothing and accessories knew about Yoshida. 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.