Every year on April 29th, we celebrate something that most of us take for granted. This item is everywhere - in our clothes, purses, furniture, luggage, automobiles, and numerous other places. That’s right. It’s the zipper. April 29th is National Zipper Day!

1. Every year on April 29th, we celebrate something that
most of us take for granted. This item is everywhere - in
our clothes, purses, furniture, luggage, automobiles, and
numerous other places. That’s right. It’s the zipper. April
29th is National Zipper Day!
National Zipper Day

2. In 1851, Elias Howe, the inventor of the sewing machine,
received a patent for an “Automatic, Continuous Clothing
Closure.” However, he never made an attempt to market
this item.
Elias Howe, inventor of the
sewing machine and the
Automatic, Continuous
Clothing Closure, a precursor
to the zipper
Elias Howe’s sewing machine
U.S. Patent #4,750 issued on
September 10, 1846
Elias Howe’s sewing machine
September 10, 1846

3. Forty-two years later, Whitcomb Judson, the founder of the
Universal Fastener Company, invented the “Clasp Locker,”
a hook-and-eye fastener used to lace up boots. He debuted
it at the Chicago World’s fair in 1893, but it was met with
little success.
Whitcomb L. Judson, inventor
of the clasp locker
Judson’s clasp locker fastener
received a patent in August of
1893.

4. In 1906, Swedish-American electrical engineer, Gideon
Sundbäck, began working at Universal Fastener Company. In
1914, he developed a version of the zipper based on
interlocking teeth called the “Hookless No. 2,” which was the
modern metal zipper. In 1917, a patent was issued for his
“Separable Fastener.”
Gideon Sundbäck, inventor of the
Separable Fastener, a version of the
modern day zipper
Drawing of Gideon Sundbäck’s 1914
patent filing for the Separable Fastener

5. In 1923, BFGoodrich (former American tire and rubber boot
manufacturer) coined the term “zipper” because of the sound
that the device made when used in its boots.

6. Today, if you check out your zippers in your clothes,
chances are many them will say YKK.
YKK is a manufacturer of fastening products including
zippers, hook & loop, plastic notions and snaps &
buttons.

7. YKK was founded in 1934 in Japan by Tadao
Yoshida, who quickly turned his small zipper
company into an international zipper
manufacturer.
Tadao Yoshida, founder of YKK

8. YKK is located in 71 countries. Its fastening
company in the U.S. is YKK (U.S.A.) Inc.
The YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. National
Manufacturing Center is located in Macon,
Georgia.
YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. National Manufacturing Center in Macon, Georgia

9. YKK stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha, which
translates to Yoshida Company Limited. In 1994, the
company changed its name from Yoshida Kogyo
Kabushikikaisha to YKK Corporation.

10. YKK’s worldwide zipper chain capacity is equal to more than 1.2
million miles, or enough to go around the earth more than 50 times
(as of 2014). Of this amount, the National Manufacturing Center of
YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. in Macon, Georgia produces around 68,350 miles of
zipper chain and 26,750 miles of zippers annually.

11. The Brass Wire Plant at the YKK (U.S.A.) Inc.
National Manufacturing Center produces 22
million pounds of brass annually to make
zippers and sliders around the world.

12. Today, YKK makes more than 100,000 fastener products in
582 standard colors.
Where have you seen our products? If you have some
unique photos of zippers, please share them with us by
connecting with us on Instagram at ykk_usa. You could be
the winner of our photo contest.