THE HISTORY TIMES
14 February 1937
The Zipper and Fashion
by: ----
The zipper, formerly known as the
hookless fastener, is an item that is
becoming more common in clothing in
today’s time. Invented in 1914 by Samuel
Taylor, a Great War veteran, the zipper is
becoming a renowned and widely used
clothing item.
The concept is inspired by Elias Howe
who procured a patent in 1851. Later on in
1893, Whitcomb Judson presented the
Clasp Locker, but the results were not
popular due to certain difficulties with the
function. Finally, Samuel Taylor took
inspiration from these designs and
patented a design for the zipper.
With the help of The Lightning Fastener put it on.
Co. in St. Catherines, Ontario, the zipper
was manufactured and introduced to the
world.
However, Samuel Taylor's invention me think that surely there was a better way
would not be noticed until a couple of to close up your clothes." Mr. Taylor also
decades later in the 1930's.
The zipper is not only popular for its time, "I may have been paranoid, but I was
functionality, but also the accent it gives to at war. Anything could happen at any time
today's clothing pieces.
Samuel Taylor’s design of the zipper
"The flaw of his design was that the teeth
were too big," Mr. Taylor explained. He
improved the design and made the teeth
smaller. Mr. Judson's design often came
undone so it did not hold the spotlight in
the World Fair.
After the war had ended, Mr. Taylor
contacted an acquaintance from Lightning
Fastener Co. and presented him his
design. The company believed that the
A field officer’s uniform from the Great War item was going to be popular once
produced so they soon accepted Mr.
Taylor's proposal.
Samuel Taylor is a Great War veteran.
Uniforms that were worn in the war were The product was not as popular as Mr.
clasped using buttons that were stitched to Taylor thought it would've been. The zipper
the fabric and buttonholes that held it in was endorsed as an item that composed a
place. Samuel Taylor found that it was a bag, not a clothing. Critics have also said
hassle having to go through the process of that the invention was morally corrupt
buttoning his uniform every time he had to because people were using it to hide
tobacco. Mr. Taylor was disappointed by
the result to say the least, but the public
"Buttoning up my uniform simply took too
opinion changed when prominent figures
much time," Mr. Taylor said, "putting each
and high fashion society took a closer look
individual button through the holes made
at the zipper.
In 1934, the Prince of Wales, Prince
thought about the situation he was in at theEdward VIII, was seen sporting a coat
using a zipper as its clasp. Following this
incident, Italian fashion designer Elsa
and I certainly did not want pants to be Schiaparelli, founder of the House of
undone when that anything happened." Schiaparelli in Paris, also noticed Mr.
Taylor's creation. Ms. Schiaparelli started
Determined, Mr. Taylor thought of designs
designing zippers into her sportswear and
that may help with his dilemma, "I sat
gowns. The zipper then rose in popularity.
down with a pen and paper in hand
whenever I got the time to. I sketched Today, we spot many donning a clothing or
ideas of what I wanted it to look like," he bag with a zipper as one of its pieces. As it
stated. "I was reminded of the Clasp continues to rise in popularity, we see more
Locker that Mr. Whitcomb Judson and more designers use the zipper as one of
their craft items. Designs with the zipper as its
presented at the 1893 Chicago World
centerpiece are slowly becoming the trend.
Fair." Soon, it is expected to show its presence in
He told the story of how he came to couture runways and esteemed fashion
discover Mr. Judson's design, "It was in the magazines with both functionality and style in
its arsenal.
newspapers, but it was buried under many
other inventions that stole many people's
attention."