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| Fastenings described by their creators |
| February 05, 2007 |
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Let us introduce you to Jonathan Lipitch (Corporate Communications YKK Europe), who will talk to you about the world of fastenings and give you (this one's for you accessories designers out there) some tips on the use of the YKK sample book. You might discover a few things about fastenings you did not know. Would you have ever imagined that fastenings are used even on bridges? Read and discover...
Discover your potential with the weird and wonderful world of fastenings ..
Now we can appreciate that some of you (OK possibly more than some of you!) have never really thought about fastenings in much detail before. Well, all we can say to you is this..fair enough.
After all, we can't always be interested in everything all of the time. If that was true, nothing would be thought of as special and it's precisely those things we consider as special which defines us as individuals.
Yes, it's very true that not many people think about fastenings all of the time... Unless you work for YKK of course...
Funnily enough the people at YKK do think about fastenings all of the time. You see, when you think about fastenings all day, everyday, you get to think upon these little fastenings as a bit special. They've got fastenings on the brain you may say. You could say their world is all about fastenings. To these good people we say: good for you. Keep on thinking up new ways of using fastenings...
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Why?
Well..if you read on you might find out why..
Who knows, like us, you might begin to learn more and more about the potential of the humble fastener, then one day after much reflection you may even wake up and realise you have been converted and your mission in life is tell the world about these wonderful little contraptions...
Like YKK we want to change your view on fastenings. We want to take all your preconceived ideas about fastenings and turn them on their head. We want to spin them around and around until your head goes dizzy. Out of the confusion that ensues we want you to develop new forms of thinking and find inspiration in ways you never contemplated before. In short we want you to get creative with fastenings..
So
If you have never really thought in much detail about fastenings before
AND
You are thinking about entering ITS#ACCESSORIES
AND
You are a special person, who can make very special things.. please read on, because this article is going to surprise you....
Right. Let's start with what you know...
Zips do create certain associations and thoughts that spring to mind. For example, we all know that feeling of running to the toilet, unzipping your jeans before finding exquisite relief..The sound of a zipper being opened to reveal what lies underneath....The fashion item that defines a punk, a rocker or a biker. The infamous zipper and safety pin..The childhood memory of buttoning up your coat for the first time all by yourself (congratulations by the way!)
We know that you know that fasteners appear on hand bags, inside jacket pockets, in wallets, on trousers and tents, suitcases, sofas and life jackets. We don't want to waste your time telling you that fasteners appear on back packs, underwear, boat tops, glass cases, astronauts, shoes, bath room plugs and diapers..
No no...we want to make you think well beyond what you think you know ...
Did you know that fastenings have appeared in hovercrafts, bagpipes and on bridges? That fasteners have been used to attach baseball and football pitches? Fasteners are very useful in carpet laying you know. Fishing nets and golf nets make use of fasteners. Toy dolls use fasteners on their tiny clothes. Basically fasteners appear everywhere and anywhere. Remove them and the world falls apart. Quite literally!
Contemplating fastenings
Fastenings should be viewed as more than just zippers.Think rather of fastenings as open and closing mechanisms; a mechanism occupying the point where two spaces meet.
In practical terms, wherever we are or whatever we are doing, we all need to get in and out of spaces. That's what a fastening does; a fastening helps us gain access in and out of different spaces.
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To
Fasten
Affix,
Attach
Bind,
Bolt
Chain,
Clamp, Connect
Fix
Grip
Join
Lace,
Link & Lock
Make
Firm, Seal, Secure
Tie
Now for the theoretical abstract bit..
There are many different spaces in the world. A created space has form with a beginning and an end. This form can take many shapes and be composed of many different materials. Furthermore if it's created by people, this form is likely to serve a particular purpose or function.
THE ITS#ACCESSORIES Sample Book
Have a flick through the YKK sample book. If you do you will see there are more than just basic zippers inside. There are different types of zippers inside. In addition, there are a variety of different fastenings and these fastenings all serve different purposes and functions.
The sample book was created to make your accessories just that special. If you are creating a belt or bag or hat or glasses or a jewellery piece or whatever, we want to see how you can make your accessories stand out from the crowd. How creative can you be with these fastenings?
We want you to create surprising openings.
Contemplate using the Permalok mechanism..Originally it was designed to go onto school skirts and trousers. The angle was this: when you are growing up, you grow out of your clothes very quickly. However with Permalok, all you have to do is push the button down and slide. This will increase the waist diameter of a skirt or trouser. Simple but clever!
What about using the concealed zipper? Secret openings and compartments can be created with this mechanism...
Remember the open ended zipper allows you to separate zipper halves...The potential of this particular mechanism can be seen below
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Detach and reattach different fabrics.
Take off and reveal different layers.
Change shapes and patterns.
Recreate the look and feel
We want to see metamorphosis! We want to see you take a fastening and turn one accessory into a completely new accessory!
AND above all we want you to make it look FABOULOUS
A fabulous looking accessory is very important..
One more piece of Advice
When you begin to think about fastenings and accessories, REMEMBER that
Attention to detail is good! Attention to detail is everything. Attention to detail will make you stand out of the crowd...
If you take care of the little details the big details will take care of themselves..
Remember this point and you're well on your way to fastening sainthood..In fact let me rephrase that, you're well on the way to accessory sainthood!
Now we can appreciate that fastening accessory sainthood is not the easiest of career paths to choose. It takes a lot of hard work, serious thought and dedication..
We can't help you with the hard work or dedication bit. (Only YOU can infuse your item with passion and dedication) BUT we can help you on the way to thinking differently about fastenings.
Hope we've gone someway to doing that. The rest is up to you....
Good luck with it and check out the SAMPLE BOOK. It's full of different fasteners!
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