Open vs Closed vs Two-Way
We’re going to talk about the open zippers, closed zippers, and two-way zippers in this article. Selecting the appropriate type is crucial when creating your product.
Let’s first go over the anatomy structure and function for the 3 types. (The photos are from the English version of the YKK fastening catalog which you can find here)
More Zipper Slider guides here
Closed-End zipper
Closed-end is as it says closed on one end. the two sides of the zipper cannot be fully taken apart.
It is connected at the bottom with a bottom stop.
Closed-end zippers are often used as bag closures, pants, and zip pockets. Any closure that does not need to completely separate at all the way through.
Head-to-head double slider
Bags and Pockets that open from the center outward (like suitcases)
Bottom-to-bottom double slider
Open-End zipper
Open-end is what you need when you need each side of the zipper to completely detach from each other.
The insert pin is at bottom.
Often used on jackets so you can open and close the front.
Two-Way (Open) zipper
Two-way is when you have two sliders and the zipper can be opened from the top or bottom. When both sliders are at the bottom, the insert pin part can be pulled up and the two sides of the zipper will separate like a normal open-end zipper.
The benefit of a two way is that if used on a jacket, the bottom can be loosened (opened from the bottom) to allow for space when sitting, so it doesn’t scrunch up or limit movement like when cycling.
It is also often used just as a styling statement. (waist defining)
I hope this helps in explaining the basics of the open, closed-end, and two-way zippers.
Please double check what you are ordering as once production starts, orders can not be cancelled. All zippers have their own separate open-end, closed-end, and two-way product pages by size (not length).
Check out our zipper page to see all the different types.
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