‘Zippers and Fasteners’ are an integral part of clothing design and construction, providing both practical function and aesthetic form in garment design. Zippers are mechanical devices used to bind the edges of an opening in fabric or other flexible material, such as a garment or a bag. In its simplest form, a zipper consists of two strips of fabric tape, each affixed with a series of small tightly interlocking teeth, generally made of metal, plastic or synthetic composite materials. A slider is used to merge and separate the teeth. When the slider moves up, it brings the teeth together, thereby ‘zipping’ the two edges closed. Conversely, moving the slider down separates the teeth, ‘unzipping’ the garment or bag. Zippers may vary in size and fashion, such as the chunky zippers frequently seen on outerwear, to delicate hidden zippers in high-end fashion garments. On the other hand, Fasteners are broad in their scope, encompassing a variety of devices used to connect or join two surfaces or pieces of material together. Fasteners can come in numerous types and sizes, from large industrial bolts and nuts to small, delicate buttons used in clothing. Clothing fasteners are typically small, dainty, and often decorative in nature, including hooks and eyes, snaps and buttons. Buttons, perhaps the most common form of clothing fastener, can be made from a variety of materials including wood, plastic, metal, and even glass. A button is sewn onto one piece of fabric and is then pushed through a buttonhole or loop on a second piece of fabric to secure the two pieces together. Hooks and eyes are essentially two-part fasteners: one with a hook, and the other with a loop (or ‘eye’) in which the hook fits. Snaps, on the other hand, are fasteners that are fitted with opposing pieces that click or ‘snap’ together. Understanding the different types of zippers and fasteners is crucial not only for manufacturers and designers, but also for consumers, tailors, and anyone else involved in the world of apparel. They ensure that garments stay in place as desired by the wearer. However, they can also greatly affect the fit and appearance of a garment, and thus require careful consideration and application during the garment design process.