1. Components- fastenings

2. Components - fastenings
Components are the bits and pieces that you add to your fabric to make a textile product. They are pre-manufactured. They can be either FUNCTIONAL, like a zip, or DECORATIVE, like lace edging, or both.
Fastenings
Some components are fastenings. These are used to close products or parts of products (like pockets). Fastenings need to be suitable for the product and the intended user.

3. Components - fastenings
Things to consider when choosing fastenings:
Designers need to consider the following things in order to make the right choice of fastenings for a product:
What is the product going to be used for and what fastenings would suit it?
What role does the fastening play in the product – is it functional, decorative or both?
How secure does the fastening have to be?
Does it need to be concealed?
Is it going to be a design feature?
What will the cost of the fastening be?

4. Components - fastenings
Zips
Zips come in different weights, can be plastic or metal, bulky or concealed.
They are fixed on tapes made of cotton, polyester and polycotton. The weight is chosen to suit the fabric weight, metal zips are often chosen for strength (which is why they are used in jeans).
They can be fixed at one end (e.g. on a handbag)
Open ended zips are used on things like jackets so that you can take the jacket off.
Some zips come with two sliders so that they can be opened in two directions (e.g. suitcases)
Zips can also be invisible and come in many colours so that they can be matched with fabric.
Advantages of zips
Disadvantages of zips
SECURE. A zip closes the product fully with no gaps.
SNAG delicate fabrics
SIMPLE TO ATTACH
NOT USUALLY DECORATIVE
LAY FLAT and don’t add bulk
DIFFICULT TO REPLACE
HARD WEARING and can be WASHED
COLOURED and so can match with the fabric

5. Disadvantages of buttons
Components - fastenings
Buttons
Come in a wide range of sizes
Can be made of almost any hard material e.g. plastic, metal, wood.
Can be fastened with a buttonhole or a loop.
Can be decorative.
Can be covered – covered buttons are often used instead of zips on very expensive dresses like the bridesmaids dress worn by Pippa Middleton. 
Advantages of buttons
Disadvantages of buttons
Easy to attach and replace
They can fall off (choking hazard on children’s clothes|)
Colours can match or contrast, buttons can be covered to match.
They are not very strong.
They add decoration
They can be damaged in the wash.

6. Disadvantages of Velcro
Components - fastenings
Velcro
Velcro comes in two halves, a rough hooked tape and a smooth looped tape.
It needs to be firmly attached and takes a lot of force to open, so it cannot be used on fine fabrics. It is very safe for children’s products.
Advantages
of Velcro
Disadvantages of Velcro
Safe and soft
Hooked tape collects fluff
Machine washable
Not very decorative
Hard wearing
Cannot be used on fine fabrics

7. Components - fastenings
Press studs
Can be metal or plastic
Can be opened or closed quickly
Come in different sizes and need to be matched correctly to the fabric
They are not very decorative
They do not fasten very securely

8. Components - fastenings
Hooks and eyes
Are usually made of metal
Can be hand or machine applied
Tend to be black or silver
Eyelets and lacing
Metal or stitched eyelets are placed on the product and laces are threaded through. This can be decorative and allow for adjustment. This is used in corsetry and footwear.
Toggles
These are similar to buttons. They can be wooden, metal or plastic and require a loop to fasten. Modern toggles have a spring clip to hold them in place. They are found
on rucksacks
and duffle
coats.
Buckles
Can be made from metal or plastic
Can be really ornate
Are popular fastenings on belts bags and shoes.
Drawstring
These require a channel to thread a cord through. Drawstrings are found on coats, jackets, waistbands and bags.

9. Key facts to remember The exam: Components - fastenings Key words:
Zip
Buttons
Velcro
Buckle
Toggle
Press stud
Eyelet
Drawstring
Hook and eye
Key facts to remember
A component is something that you add to fabric in order to make a textile product.
A fastening is a type of component that is used to close all or part of a textiles product.
Zips come in many different weights and can be made of different materials.
Fastenings can be chosen for function or fashion in a textiles product.
The exam:
You need to be able to name a fastening if it is shown in a picture, or suggest an appropriate fastening for a product.