Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Metal shank buttons are buttons without holes on the face: underneath they have a loop (shank) through which they are sewn to the fabric. This leaves the whole visible surface free for relief and shape – a rose, a shell, a sun or crumpled metal. That is why in womenswear they are no longer just a fastening but a piece of jewellery that changes the character of a blazer or coat.
What is a metal shank button
The shank lifts the button above the fabric and leaves room for the thickness of the buttonhole edge. Thanks to this, the button lies flat, does not press into the fabric and does not “sink” into thick materials such as wool, bouclé or tweed. With hole buttons the thread passes through the face and interrupts the relief, whereas on a shank button the decorative part is intact – this allows sculptural, three-dimensional shapes that would otherwise be impossible.
Metal shank buttons – why they are a womenswear trend
The button as jewellery
Designers increasingly treat the button as an accessory on a par with earrings or a necklace. One large sculptural button on a smooth wool coat does the job of a brooch, and a row of small relief buttons on a knitted cardigan turns it from a basic into a recognisable garment.
One garment – a new character
Changing the buttons is the quickest way to refresh a collection. The same blazer looks classic with dome buttons in nickel colour (nickel free), romantic with roses in gold and urban with gunmetal. For brands this means more variants from one pattern without developing a new style.
Organic shapes and relief
Recent seasons have been dominated by motifs from nature – flowers, shells, sea snails – and “imperfect” surfaces such as crumpled and wavy metal. They catch the light differently with every movement and give the garment a handmade look.
The styles we offer
All the styles below are available in four colours – nickel colour (nickel free), gold, gunmetal and glossy black. Click the code to see photos and the available sizes in the online button shop.
| Code | Style | Sizes | Colours | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MB-01 | Fish | 25 mm | 4 colours | children's clothing, knitwear, bags |
| MB-02 | Spiral | 22, 37 mm | 4 colours | blazers, coats, bags |
| MB-03 | Drop | 25, 30 mm | 4 colours | blazers, dresses, coats |
| MB-04 | Walnut | 22, 34 mm | 4 colours | coats, blazers, cardigans |
| MB-05 | Round with wavy relief | 12.5, 18, 25 mm | 4 colours | shirts, blazers, coats |
| MB-06 | Knot | 18, 22, 28 mm | 4 colours | blazers, cardigans, coats |
| MB-07 | Rose | 50 mm | 4 colours | coats, capes, bags |
| MB-08 | Oval with wavy relief | 20, 25 mm | 4 colours | blazers, dresses, coats |
| MB-09 | Round with crumpled metal effect | 20, 28 mm | 4 colours | blazers, coats |
| MB-10 | Dome with relief lines | 18, 22 mm | 4 colours | blazers, cardigans, knitwear |
| MB-11 | Crescent moon | 37 mm | 4 colours | coats, bags |
| MB-12 | Sun | 34 mm | 4 colours | coats, blazers, bags |
| MB-13 | Classic blazer button | 15, 18, 20 mm | 4 colours | blazers, uniforms |
| MB-14 | Round with check relief | 20, 25 mm | 4 colours | blazers, coats, cardigans |
| MB-16 | Shell | 15, 25, 30 mm | 4 colours | dresses, blazers, children's clothing |
| MB-17 | Sun with wavy rays | 37 mm | 4 colours | coats, blazers, bags |
| MB-18 | Little rose | 22, 37 mm | 4 colours | blazers, dresses, coats |
| MB-19 | Round with rope braid | 18, 22 mm | 4 colours | blazers, cardigans, coats |
| MB-20 | Interlocking rings | 30 mm | 4 colours | coats, blazers, bags |
| MB-21 | Lips | 20, 28 mm | 4 colours | blazers, dresses, bags |
| MB-22 | Sphere | 14, 18, 22 mm | 4 colours | shirts, dresses, blazers |
| MB-23 | Braided knot | 22 mm | 4 colours | blazers, knitwear, coats |
| MB-25 | Sea snail | 25, 37 mm | 4 colours | blazers, coats, bags |
| MB-26 | Square with crumpled metal effect | 22, 34 mm | 4 colours | blazers, coats |
| MB-27 | Large oval with relief lines | 45 mm | 4 colours | coats, capes, bags |
| MB-28 | Domed “cushion” | 30 mm | 4 colours | coats, blazers, bags |
| MB-29 | Semicircular shell with relief ribs | 15, 20, 25 mm | 4 colours | shirts, dresses, blazers |
| MB-30 | Rectangular with wavy relief | 22, 28 mm | 4 colours | blazers, coats, bags |
How to choose the size
- 12.5–15 mm – shirts, blouses, dresses and blazer sleeves.
- 18–22 mm – blazer fronts, cardigans and knitwear.
- 25–30 mm – coats and outerwear.
- 34–50 mm – statement buttons for coats, capes and bags; often used singly.
The buttonhole should be 2–3 mm longer than the diameter of the button, and for strongly domed styles it should also allow for the button's height. For buttons over 37 mm, a cord loop or a concealed snap button is often sewn instead of a buttonhole, and the metal button remains decorative.
How to sew on a metal shank button
- Mark the position relative to the buttonhole and align the shank parallel to it – this way the button will not twist when buttoned.
- Use strong polyester thread, doubled, in the colour of the fabric.
- Make 6–8 stitches through the shank and the fabric without pulling too tight.
- On thick fabrics, wind the thread 3–4 times under the shank to lengthen it.
- For heavy buttons on a coat, sew a small backing button on the reverse side to take the load.
With figurative motifs – fish, rose, sun – check the direction of the design before sewing so that all buttons in the row are turned the same way.
Care
Wash the garment inside out and in a laundry bag. When ironing, do not place the iron directly on the button, and if the garment is to be dry-cleaned, cover the buttons with foil or remove them – the shank makes this easy.
Ordering and minimum quantities
The minimum quantity is 500 pcs per style, size and colour. You will find more about the series and the finishes on the Metal buttons page, and for other types see the full buttons catalogue.
Polkom – your manufacturer of metal accessories
Polkom has over 30 years of experience in accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags. We offer and deliver metal shank buttons to sewing factories, ateliers and fashion brands. Do you have a question about a style, a sample or a larger quantity? Contact us.
