What is metal zipper?

2026-06-13

What is a metal zipper?

1. Basic Definition

A metal zipper is a high-end accessory composed of metal teeth stamped from brass, nickel silver, stainless steel or aluminum alloy, matched with polyester tape and metal sliders. Different from nylon and plastic resin zippers, it is one of the most exported zipper varieties widely used in garments, bags and leather goods worldwide.

2. Main Components

Metal Teeth: The core part of the zipper, stamped and interlocked from copper or steel strips, featuring high sturdiness and wear resistance.
Zipper Tape: High-strength woven polyester tape with customizable colors to hold metal teeth firmly.
Metal Slider: Available in auto-lock, pin-lock and non-lock styles, custom laser/embossed client logos are acceptable.
Top & Bottom Stops: Metal or plastic stoppers to prevent the slider from slipping off the chain.
Insert Pin & Box: For separating open-end metal zippers, convenient for coats and jackets.

3. Common Material Classifications (Widely Used in Foreign Trade)

Brass Zipper

The most universal type with good ductility. It supports gold plating, antique bronze, gunmetal and other plating finishes, delivering smooth sliding performance. Ideal for jeans, apparel and bags with cost-effective pricing.
Stainless Steel Zipper

Outstanding anti-rust and anti-corrosion performance with excellent salt spray resistance, not easy to oxidize. Perfect for outdoor goods, sea freight orders and markets with humid climates.
Nickel Silver / Aluminum Zipper

Lightweight with matte texture, mostly applied to thin leather jackets and small handbags requiring light weight.

4. Standard Sizes

Standard sizes: 3#, 4#, 5#, 8#, 10#. Larger numbers mean thicker teeth and higher load-bearing capacity.

3# / 5#: Leather jackets, jeans, wallets and small handbags
8# / 10#: Luggage, outdoor backpacks, workwear and heavy-duty bags

5. Surface Finishing Technologies (Core Selling Points for Export)

Rough polishing, fine polishing, mirror bright finish, matte frosted finish; vacuum electroplating, water electroplating, antique finishing and anti-rust sealing treatment. Finishes include gold, gun black, antique bronze, nickel, iridescent and more to match various brand design demands.

6. Product Advantages

High durability: Hard metal teeth resist breakage, tooth dropping and deformation under frequent pulling.
Premium texture: Metallic luster upgrades the grade of garments and leather products.
Customization flexibility: Support OEM & ODM for sizes, colors, slider logos and special plating crafts.
Export-compliant: Pass REACH, RoHS, OEKO-TEX and salt spray tests, suitable for long-distance sea transportation.

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