{"id":39217,"date":"2025-10-19T10:02:51","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T10:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=39217"},"modified":"2025-10-19T10:02:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T10:02:51","slug":"the-zipper-is-getting-its-first-major-upgrade-in-100-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2025\/10\/19\/the-zipper-is-getting-its-first-major-upgrade-in-100-years\/","title":{"rendered":"The Zipper Is Getting Its First Major Upgrade in 100 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paywall\">The teeth were redesigned, the manufacturing process rewritten, and new machinery developed to attach the closure to garments. \u201cThe absence of the tape posed various production challenges,\u201d Nishizaki says. \u201cWe had to develop new manufacturing equipment and a dedicated sewing machine for integration.\u201d The result: a lighter, more flexible system that reduces material use and environmental impact compared with a standard Vislon zipper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\">Early adopters are already experimenting. Descente Japan, known for technical sportswear, was among the first to prototype AiryString in 2022. The North Face has selected the system for use in its new Summit Series Advanced Mountain Kit. Smaller brands like Earthletica, an eco-conscious swim and performance label, have also tested it, describing the zipper as \u201csoft, flexible, and almost silent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\">The effect is apparently tactile. Garments move more naturally, lie flatter against the body, and feel less mechanical. \u201cWe repeatedly conduct durability and strength tests by sewing AiryString <em>and<\/em> conventional zippers into various fabrics,\u201d Nishizaki says. \u201cIn terms of usability, AiryString offers much smoother operability.\u201d That translates to a softer, slicker glide\u2014the satisfying pull that separates a well-made jacket from a cheap one.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"paywall\">Little Parts, Big Change<\/h2>\n<p class=\"paywall\">On the factory floor, the benefits add up, too. Traditional zippers consume extra fabric and dye and require multiple sewing passes. By removing the tape, YKK says it trims both material and labor. \u201cIt contributes to reducing work in customers\u2019 sewing processes,\u201d Nishizaki says. \u201cIt also reduces fiber use and water consumption in the dyeing process, lowering CO\u2082 emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\">The math adds up fast. YKK offers a 100 percent recycled-material version of AiryString and claims measurable cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and water usage. The impact is magnified by scale: The company operates in 71 countries and regions, and its trademark is registered in 177. When you make <em>billions<\/em> of zippers a year, these small efficiencies ripple globally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#Zipper #Major #Upgrade #Years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The teeth were redesigned, the manufacturing process rewritten, and new machinery developed to attach the closure to garments. \u201cThe absence&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39217"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39219,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39217\/revisions\/39219"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}