Japanese clothing giant YKK is innovating the zipper after more than a century of little change. The company aims to eliminate the traditional fabric tape to enable seamless clothing designs. This marks the first major upgrade to the ubiquitous fastener.
For over a century, the zipper has remained largely unchanged, consisting of two interlocking rows of teeth, a sliding pull, and the fabric tape that binds them together. As described in a recent Wired article, this invention has become so integrated into daily life that billions of zippers are used worldwide every day, yet few people consider their mechanics.
YKK, a leading Japanese apparel manufacturer, is now redesigning the zipper by stripping away the fabric tape that has held it together for a hundred years. This innovation promises to pave the way for the future of seamless clothing, allowing for smoother integration into garments without the bulky tape.
The upgrade addresses a fundamental aspect of zipper construction, potentially revolutionizing fashion and manufacturing. Published on October 19, 2025, the Wired story highlights how this change could blend the zipper even more invisibly into clothing, building on its history of quiet ubiquity.