What are some good brands for zippers?

[Babar]

Originally Posted by rach2jlc

Riri makes great zippers, but so does Lampo. I've got Lampo zippers on jackets from Moncler, leather goods/jackets from Dolce&Gabbana (which I guess means Ruffo uses them), Jil Sander, some of the top-end Prada items, etc.

John

I've found the opposite with Prada. The cheaper stuff I have is Lampo, while the more expensive pieces use Riri. It could just be due to seasonal changes perhaps..

 

[Flame]

Originally Posted by Britalian

A fair enough , general curiosity question to pose, I s'pose...
But would the name of the zip affect your purchase decision to buy if you liked the garment enough? If you were planning a bespoke item I can understand canvassing opinion in this context, too. But otherwise...?
Obviously no. Just that I was interested in knowing more about this hardly-mentioned facet of streetwear.

 

[rach2jlc]

Originally Posted by Babar

I've found the opposite with Prada. The cheaper stuff I have is Lampo, while the more expensive pieces use Riri. It could just be due to seasonal changes perhaps..

It must be seasonal changes, as you mentioned. The most expensive Prada nylon bag I have, from the so-called "couture" collection, uses Lampo, but then I have one from the sport collection (NOT the red-striped line), priced about half as much, that uses Riri.

Of course, Prada changes their quality/materials/locations all the time and so really you never know what you're getting. This past year, I received a gift of a travel bag and it uses cheap, no-name zippers that will probably fall off in another year or two. As well, the materials were so much crappier than my older bags that I actually took it to the Prada Store, thinking it was a fake. "No, not a fake," they told me, "just from the 'entry-level' collection." I think this is Prada's euphemistic way of saying, "We've just really lowered our standards while raising our prices."

Checking around the closet some more, I have some YSL Rive Gauche jackets that use Riri as well; some Prada jackets, Gianni Versace Couture (made by Zegna), and Lardini (the suitmaker that makes Dolce&Gabbana) that use OPTI zippers for the pants.

John

Edited later to add: I just checked and I made a mistake. The Prada bag I thought was Riri was actually IPI, the OTHER brand that Prada uses (they use Riri, Lampo, Ipi, and then some no-namers). My mistake! Anyway, IPI are also fairly decent zippers.

 

[Kane]

Riri zippers are more expensive than Lampos. They're also a ***** and a half to order. Zippers are a ***** and a half to order, period.

My personal preference is for Riris. They're an all-round superior zipper in terms of finishing. Butter smooth when doing them up or down, and they NEVER scratch or catch.

Lampos, on the other hand, are like greased lightning in their zipping/unzipping action, smoother than Riris based on the types of zippers that we've used; however, they tend to be just a little rough when you run your fingers over them.

There's a third zipper company whose name eludes me. We had a rep come by and show us. Italian, pretty nice stuff. Hermes uses them.

 

[faust]

What are the heavy duti ones with RR on them? Rick Owens and Ann Dem. use them on their outerwear. Are they riri as well, just with a different stamp?

Cloaks uses some company called RMS, or MRS, or something like that, I forgot exactly (have to go home and look). I'm guessing they are a step down in terms of quality?

 

[andewhall]

I was checking out 'Ideal' zippers a few weeks ago, they advertise as the second largest zipper manufacturer behind YKK. Although twice the price as YKK. Keen to check out some Riri or Lampos, they sound pretty good

 

[national72]

Albert zips are ok as well. But you can't mess with riri or Lampo. I have a Lampo on a Burberry jacket and it's basic but great.

Whatever zip I have on my Patagonia gore shell sucks. As much as I love my Patagonia stuff it's a major headache to get togetherand zip up.
I think it may be a YKK 2 way.

 

[LA Guy]

Another good company that makes quite decent zippers is Rey, which is based in the US, iirc.

 

[Babar]

Originally Posted by faust

Cloaks uses some company called RMS, or MRS, or something like that, I forgot exactly (have to go home and look). I'm guessing they are a step down in terms of quality?

My Margiela biker uses MRS zippers as well, and they *seem* pretty sturdy at least (one of the things I love about this jacket is actually the chunky zippers). I'm not sure where on the totem pole MRS should be put, but I once had a pair of cheapo Calvin Klein khakis with this zipper where the metal teeth actually tore off.

 

[Stazy]

Whatever MJK uses.

 

[kiya]

I'm also going to have to vote for Riri being the best...
In denim related news, starting fall all Sling & Stones jeans that are zipper fly will come with Riri zippers. to my knowledge, that's a first...

 

[calatrava]

i remember the british company dupe doing jeans with riri zippers, the one with the multicoloured teeth.

but i would love to see the crown chevron zips being used again ...

 

[gdl203]

Am I the only one who likes the tough but smooth Lenzip zippers?

 

[poly800rock]

Originally Posted by kiya

I'm also going to have to vote for Riri being the best...
In denim related news, starting fall all Sling & Stones jeans that are zipper fly will come with Riri zippers. to my knowledge, that's a first...

apc's had riri's

 

[robbie]

In my experience Talon have been the best. If you go to fabric stores a lot of talon zippers were repackaged and sold by Coats and Clark.