When was the zipper invented?
The zipper was (technically) invented in 1917, but the name was first used in 1923. The American company BF Goodrich Company adapted the Sundback design for boots and coined the term "zip". Goodrich came up with the name based on the sound the lightning bolt makes when used!
Zippers remained an important part of footwear for almost 20 years, until the 1930s, when they were added to children's clothing. Marketing campaigns describe them as increasing children's independence because they mean they can dress themselves. Since then, zippers have quickly made their way into adult fashion, starting with men's trouser panels and gradually making their way into women's clothing.
Interestingly, it was at this time that the idea to completely unfasten the zipper began to emerge. Until now, zippers have been used to tighten two sides of clothing, for example to fasten boots or sew the back of a baby's overalls.
Fully removable zippers require no special skills. Instead of having connected teeth sewn into clothing, this zipper has inserts and holding boxes. Essentially, they allow you to line up the sides of your teeth before moving the slider up.
The first real use of tear-off zippers was on jackets, especially leather jackets. Part of this is due to changes in fashion-up until the 1920s and beyond, casual fashion was very similar to formal wear. Most men wear suits and women wear skirts. You'll wear them no matter what you do, although the fabric and cut may vary depending on the time of day and activity.
However, as more and more people moved towards overtly casual clothing (such as trousers for women and no ties for men), zippers came into play. Plus, people don't realize how time-consuming buttons really are until they see the zipper in use!
Another important factor was women's suffrage. Dresses with straps were considered oppressive and unnecessary - women began to move towards fashionable dresses and trousers. Although they don't necessarily use zippers, they are the start of a trend away from strict formal wear.
