Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Two systems are used for snap buttons on shirts, bodysuits and baby clothes: prong snaps (PR series), which do not pierce the fabric and are the gentlest on jersey, and the 54 system, which gives a soft but secure click on woven shirts and denim shirts. Cap sizes are usually from 7.5 to 12.5 mm, and the finish must be nickel free, because the snap is in direct contact with the skin.
Snap buttons for shirts and bodysuits: prongs or 54 system
The rule is simple: jersey and stretch fabrics – prongs; woven fabric – 54 system. Prongs pass between the loops without cutting them and distribute the strain around the ring. The post with a tube in the 54 system requires a more stable woven fabric, but gives a clearer click and a wider choice of caps for shirts. For shirts in heavier fabric and children’s clothes under greater strain there is also the mini 61 system.
Suitable models and sizes
| Code | Model | Sizes | Logo | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR-10 | Open ring | 6.8; 7.2; 7.8; 8.2; 9.5; 10.5; 11.5; 12.5; 15; 17; 21 mm | on the male part | shirts, workwear, bodysuits, jersey, denim shirts, baby and children’s clothing |
| PR-20 | Closed metal cap | 7.5; 8.5; 9; 10; 11.5; 12; 12.5; 16; 18; 22 mm | yes | shirts, bodysuits, jersey, children’s clothing, jackets |
| PR-30 | Flat cap (coin-style) | 10; 11.5 mm | yes | shirts, bodysuits, workwear, children’s clothing |
| PR-40 | Mother-of-pearl cap | 7.5; 8.5; 10; 10.5; 11.5; 12; 12.5; 15; 17; 21 mm | laser or print under a transparent cap | shirts, bodysuits, jersey, denim shirts, baby clothing |
| PR-50 | Marble polyester cap | 9.5; 10.5; 11.5 mm | laser | shirts, denim shirts, bodysuits, jersey |
| PR-70 | Coloured ring | 11.5 – 30 mm (on request) | yes | baby and children’s clothing, jersey, sportswear, shirts |
| S54-10 | 54 standard | 11.5; 12.5; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 25; 30 mm | yes | shirts, bodysuits, denim shirts, baby and children’s clothing |
| S54-20 | Mini 54 | 9; 10; 11; 12 mm | yes | shirts, bodysuits, baby clothing, fine fabrics |
| S54-30 | 54 with concealed cap | 10; 11; 12; 14; 16 mm | no | shirts, workwear, jackets, trench coats, knitwear |
| S54-35 | Mini 54 with concealed cap | 9 mm | no | fine shirts, bodysuits, knitwear |
| H61-30 | Mini 61 | 10.7; 10.8; 11.5 mm | yes | shirts, bodysuits, denim shirts, children’s clothing |
All models in the table are made of brass. With mother-of-pearl and marble caps, the decorative part is free of phthalates and PVC.
Baby clothes and bodysuits
A bodysuit is unfastened and fastened many times every day, often with one hand. So the snap must be light, with a soft closure and no sharp edges. Suitable options are PR-10 with an open ring, PR-40 with a mother-of-pearl cap and the coloured ring PR-70. For fine baby clothes in woven fabric – S54-20 (mini 54 in 9 – 12 mm).
What to pay attention to
- Nickel free. All models are nickel free in every finish – a requirement for children’s clothing and the EU market.
- Secure attachment. A snap is a small part; on children’s clothes it must not be possible to pull it off. That is why every production run is checked with a pull test – at least 90 N for the spring systems.
- Reinforcement. On thin jersey the area is reinforced with tape or interfacing, otherwise the prongs can pull out the loops.
- A smooth reverse side. The bottom ring must be fully closed, with no prongs sticking out towards the skin.
General safety requirements for children’s products in the EU are set by Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on general product safety, and restrictions on nickel and phthalates by the REACH regulation. The specific tests on the finished product are agreed between the brand and its laboratory.
Shirts and denim shirts
On shirts the snap is a visible detail, so the cap is part of the design. S54-10 is the standard for shirts and denim shirts, with twelve sizes from 11.5 to 30 mm and standard, flat and coin-style caps. For a clean look with no bump on top there is S54-30 with a concealed cap, and for the finest shirts S54-35 in 9 mm. The mother-of-pearl PR-40 and the marble PR-50 are popular on western shirts, and the flat PR-30 on work shirts with a logo.
Approximate sizes
- bodysuits and baby clothes – 7.5 – 10.5 mm;
- children’s shirts and blouses – 9 – 11.5 mm;
- women’s and men’s shirts – 10 – 12.5 mm;
- denim shirts and overshirts – 11.5 – 15 mm.
Washing and durability
Shirts and baby clothes are washed often and at higher temperatures. Brass is resistant to corrosion, and a good-quality finish protects the colour. Mother-of-pearl, marble and crystal caps are free of phthalates and PVC and withstand normal domestic washing. It is advisable to wash garments fastened or turned inside out, so that the caps do not knock against the drum. You will find the technical data for each size in the catalogue under the prong system and the 54 system.
Setting on thin fabrics
- Choose standard prongs for single jersey and long prongs for a double layer or tape.
- Do not set the snap on a seam – the difference in thickness bends the prongs.
- Hold the fabric taut during setting so it does not gather.
- Do a test setting and a pull test before starting the production run.
Logo and colour
Metal caps take an embossed logo, mother-of-pearl a laser logo or print under the transparent cap, marble a laser logo, and on the open ring the logo goes on the male part. Models with a concealed cap come without a logo. Mother-of-pearl is cast in a colour of your choice, and the coloured ring is available in fashion colours. More about the techniques on the branding page. For baby and children’s collections, see also sew-on snap fasteners and ribbons and tapes.
Inquiry and sample
Polkom, as a manufacturer, offers all models for shirts, bodysuits and baby clothes nickel free in every finish and with your logo to order. Send us the fabric and the type of product via the contact form – we will suggest a model and a sample. The full range is in the snap buttons category.
