Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
A snap button sample is a trial attachment of the chosen style on your fabric before serial production starts. The process is simple: you send fabric or a finished part and a description of the product, we suggest a system, style and size, carry out a trial attachment and a pull and closing test, you approve the sample and only then does the production run follow. Lead times for samples and production are agreed on inquiry, depending on the style, the finish and the logo.
Why the sample is made on the actual fabric
The same snap button style behaves differently on different fabrics. The thickness of the layers, the number of plies, the interfacing, the stretch and even the density of the weave determine whether the prongs grip, whether the cap rotates and how firmly the snap holds. The catalogue values – a pull test of min. 90 N for the spring systems and a closing force of min. 15 N / 10 s – are the requirement for the snap button, but confirmation for your garment only comes from a trial attachment.
Here is what trial attachment most often reveals:
| Problem | Common cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| The prongs do not grip the fabric | fabric too thin or too stretchy, short prongs | longer prongs, reinforcement with interfacing, trial attachment |
| The prongs bend inwards or outwards | wrong die, incorrect press force, off-centre die | suitable die for the size, adjustment of force and centring |
| Weak click – the snap opens by itself | wrong combination of socket/stud, deformation during attachment | original set from one system, die check |
| Mark or dent on the cap | press force too strong or worn die | lighter force, replacing or polishing the die |
| The cap rotates | insufficient clamping, fabric thicker than planned | longer post, force correction |
| The fabric is cut or puckers | fabric not taut during attachment, sharp die edges | tensioning the fabric, die check |
Each of these problems is easy to solve at the sampling stage and expensive to solve once the run has already been sewn.
The steps: from inquiry to production run
1. You send fabric and a description
The best specimen is a finished part – a placket, cuff or pocket flap – sewn with all the layers as it will be in the garment. If this is not possible, send pieces of the outer fabric, the interfacing and the lining. If the new snap is to replace or match an existing one, send a sample of that too.
2. We suggest a system, style and size
Depending on the fabric and the product, we choose one of the five systems and the specific style – for example PR-10 for jersey, S54-10 for shirts, H61-10 for jackets or the sew-on SW-10 when you do not want to pierce the fabric. For prong snaps we also determine the prong length – standard or long.
3. Trial attachment and tests
We attach the snaps with a die for the relevant system and size, adjust the press force and check the closing, the pull-off strength and the appearance of the cap after attachment. If necessary, we adjust the style, the prong length or the post.
4. Sample with logo, finish and colour
Once the construction is confirmed, the sample receives its final look: the logo on the cap, the finish of the metal parts and the colour of the cap. The logo is embossed on metal caps, laser engraved on mother-of-pearl and marble caps and printed on plastic ones. More about the techniques on the branding page.
5. Approval
The approved sample becomes the reference standard for the run – colour, logo, finish and closing are checked against it. If needed, we prepare a technical sheet with attachment instructions for your fabric, so that the factory works with the correct setting from the very first piece.
6. Serial production
The run is produced according to the approved sample. Quantities and lead times depend on the style, the finish and the logo – they are agreed on inquiry.
A trial order before the large run
The sample checks the snap button; the trial order checks the process. A small quantity of snaps attached in the actual factory, on the actual press and by the actual staff shows things a sample cannot – how the die behaves during longer operation, how many rejects there are during attachment and how the snap looks after several washes and a week of wear. The quantity for a trial order depends on the style – state it in your inquiry.
What information to send
- product – shirt, bodysuit, jacket, coat, bag, workwear;
- fabric – composition, thickness, number of layers, whether there is interfacing or wadding;
- position of the snap – placket, cuff, pocket, waistband, flap;
- desired look – cap size, metal or decorative cap, a photo or reference;
- finish – for example nickel colour, antique brass, tin oxide, black nickel colour (all nickel free);
- logo – in vector format, and the preferred technique;
- cap colour – a fabric swatch or a reference colour;
- market and use – children's clothing, high-temperature washing, damp environments;
- equipment – which press or machine will be used to attach the snaps;
- approximate quantity – so that we can prepare a quote.
Systems and fabrics at a glance
If you have not yet chosen a system, the table helps narrow the choice before the inquiry:
| System | Suitable fabrics | Sizes in the catalogue | Attachment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prong (Chico) | thin and medium fabrics, jersey, stretch materials | 6.8 – 22 mm | hand press, lever press, motorised and automatic machines |
| 54 system | thin and medium woven fabrics, denim shirts, poplin | 9 – 30 mm | hand press, lever press, motorised and automatic machines |
| 61 system | heavy fabrics, denim, wool, oilcloth, leather | 10.7 – 30 mm | hand press, lever press, motorised and automatic machines |
| Sew-on | all fabrics, including delicate and multi-layer ones | 8 – 30 mm | sewn on by hand or by machine |
| Special | heavy and technical materials | 10.5 – 30 mm | hand press, lever press, motorised and automatic machines |
Common mistakes with samples
- Trial attachment on the outer fabric only, when the garment has three layers.
- Approving a snap without the final finish – the tone looks different on a different fabric.
- A sample attached on one press and the run on another, without checking the setting.
- Combining parts from different systems – the 54 and 61 systems cannot be combined with each other.
- No test after washing when the product is washed often or at high temperatures.
Request a sample
Polkom is a manufacturer of snap buttons and metal accessories with over 30 years of experience. Send us fabric, a description and a logo via the contact page – we will suggest a style, carry out a trial attachment and make a sample with your logo. The full range is in the snap buttons category, and for coordinated metal accessories also see eyelets.
