Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Plastic buttons for clothing are not one material but several different polymers: polyester, ABS, nylon (polyamide), acrylic and urea. The most common in garment production are polyester buttons because of their colour and effects; ABS is used for metallised models, nylon for strong sportswear and workwear, and urea when the button must withstand high temperatures. The choice depends on the garment, its processing and its care.
Why "plastic buttons" is too general a term
When a sewing workshop orders "plastic buttons", the supplier will almost always ask: what material, what effect and for what fabric. Different plastics behave differently in washing, ironing, dyeing and under load. A button that looks perfect on the sample may lose its sheen after industrial pressing or turn yellow after bleaching. That is why it is useful to know the main types and their limits.
Main types of plastic buttons
Polyester buttons
They are cast from polyester resin and then turned on a lathe. They offer the widest choice of colours and effects – pearlescent sheen, imitation horn and marble, multicoloured veining, matt and gloss. They are light, can be dyed to match the fabric tone exactly and are well suited to shirts, blouses, trousers, coats and children's clothing. Limitation: they do not like direct contact with a very hot iron. There are more models in the polyester buttons category.
ABS buttons
ABS is a thermoplastic that is injection-moulded. Its main advantage is that it metallises well – through electroplating the button takes on the look of gold, silver, nickel or antique. That is why many "metal-looking" buttons for blouses and dresses are actually plated ABS. They are much lighter than real metal, but the plating can wear off with aggressive washing.
Nylon (polyamide) buttons
Nylon is tough and flexible, hard to break and withstands repeated washing. It is injection-moulded, so it suits buttons with a relief design, a logo in the mould itself and complex profiles. It is used for workwear, sportswear and children's clothing. Nylon can be dyed together with the finished garment, which is an advantage in garment-dye processes.
Acrylic buttons
Acrylic (PMMA) is transparent and very shiny. It is used to make crystal, clear and tinted transparent buttons for womenswear and eveningwear. It is more brittle than nylon, so it is not the best choice for garments under heavy load.
Urea buttons
Urea is a thermosetting resin that becomes hard and heat-resistant after moulding. Urea buttons withstand high-temperature ironing and dry cleaning, have a dense matt look and are used for workwear, uniforms and garments that go through a press. See urea buttons.
Comparison table
| Material | Technology | Strength | Caution with | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester | Casting and turning | Colours, effects, imitations | Very hot iron | Shirts, blouses, coats, children's clothing |
| ABS | Injection moulding | Metallised plating | Abrasion of the plating | Blouses, dresses, decorative models |
| Nylon | Injection moulding | Toughness, dyeing with the garment | Limited sheen | Workwear and sportswear |
| Acrylic | Injection moulding or cutting | Transparency, sheen | Impact and load | Women's and evening fashion |
| Urea | Compression moulding | Heat resistance | Narrower choice of effects | Uniforms, pressed garments |
How to choose the material
Start from the conditions the garment will go through, not from its appearance. A good sequence is as follows:
- Processing of the finished product. If the garment is stone-washed, bleached or dyed after sewing, test the button in the same process or choose nylon.
- Ironing. With industrial pressing at high temperature, prefer urea or check the polyester model with a trial.
- Load. Outerwear, workwear and children's clothing require thicker and tougher buttons.
- Look. For pearlescent sheen and imitation of natural materials – polyester; for a metal look without the weight – ABS; for transparency – acrylic.
- Budget and run size. Injection-moulded models require a mould, which makes sense for larger runs; turned polyester buttons allow flexibility with smaller batches.
Common mistakes when choosing
- Choosing from a photo alone, without a sample on the real fabric.
- Putting an electroplated ABS button on a garment that will be industrially washed with abrasives.
- A button that is too thin for thick wool – it bends and the holes tear.
- Skipping the ironing test on shirts that go through a press.
- Different suppliers for the same model in one collection – this leads to differences in tone.
Plastic buttons or snap buttons?
Sometimes by "plastic buttons" people mean plastic snap buttons – two-part fasteners attached with a press or pliers, without sewing. They are a separate category and are used mostly for baby clothes, raincoats and bags. If you are looking for this type of fastening, take a look at snap buttons.
How to test plastic buttons before the run
A simple test saves costly complaints. Sew several buttons onto a piece of the real fabric and put them through the same washing, ironing and drying that the finished garment will go through. Then check whether the colour and sheen have changed, whether there are cracks around the holes and whether the plating (with ABS) has stayed intact. For garments dyed after sewing, also test the dye uptake – some materials take the colour, others stay in their original colour.
Plastic buttons from Polkom
Polkom supplies wholesale plastic buttons for clothing – polyester models from stock and to order in the colour of your fabric, with a logo and your own profile, as well as other materials according to the needs of the collection. We help choose the material according to how the garment is processed and provide samples quickly. We deliver throughout the EU. Send us an inquiry with a photo, size and quantity, and we will confirm the minimum quantities for the article.
