Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
A corozo button is a button made from the hard nut of the tagua palm – a material also known as vegetable ivory. It is one of the most valued natural buttons in fashion: strong, pleasant to the touch, easy to dye and entirely plant-based. If you are choosing buttons for shirts, suits or coats and are looking for a natural alternative to plastic, corozo is one of the first options worth considering.
Corozo button: where the material comes from
The tagua palm (genus Phytelephas) grows in the humid tropical forests of South America, mainly in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. Its fruits contain walnut-sized seeds. While young they are liquid, but as they ripen and dry they harden into a dense white mass that resembles ivory in appearance and in the way it is worked. Hence the nickname “vegetable ivory”.
The nuts are collected after the fruits fall naturally from the tree. This means the raw material is harvested without cutting down the palms – an important argument for brands building a sustainable profile.
How a corozo button is made
The journey from nut to finished button involves several successive stages:
- Drying – the nuts are dried for a long time until they reach the required hardness and stability.
- Peeling and slicing – the brown skin is removed and the nut is cut into thin slices.
- Cutting blanks – round or shaped blanks are cut from the slices.
- Turning – the profile, rim and holes (usually 2 or 4) are formed.
- Dyeing – thanks to its light natural colour, corozo takes almost any shade.
- Polishing and finishing – the buttons are polished to a delicate sheen or left matte.
Because every nut has a slightly different structure, fine natural variations in tone appear when dyed. This is not a defect but a characteristic feature that reveals the natural origin.
Benefits of corozo buttons
A natural and biodegradable material
Corozo is entirely plant-based and degrades naturally. For brands replacing plastic details in their collections, it is a logical choice.
Strength and durability
The dried nut is dense and hard. Properly processed corozo buttons withstand daily buttoning, washing and ironing at moderate temperatures.
Excellent colour uptake
The light base allows dyeing in a wide palette – from neutral beige and brown tones to saturated fashion colours, including matching to the fabric.
A premium feel
Corozo has a warm touch and a fine texture that differs from synthetic materials. It is precisely this feel that makes it the preferred choice for high-end suits and shirts.
Which garments they suit
Corozo buttons are used in a wide range of products:
- men’s shirts and suits;
- women’s jackets and blazers;
- coats and outerwear;
- knitwear and cardigans;
- trousers and skirts;
- collections from brands that focus on natural materials.
Smaller sizes are usually chosen for shirts, and larger, thicker models for coats. If you are looking for other natural alternatives, see our horn buttons, and for more budget-friendly solutions with a similar look – polyester buttons.
Corozo button sizes
Button size is given in lignes (L) or in millimetres, where 1L = 0.635 mm. Polkom offers corozo buttons in sizes from 9 to 28 mm. As a guide:
- 9–12 mm (about 14L–18L) – shirts, blouses, cuffs;
- 15–20 mm (about 24L–32L) – jackets, cardigans, trousers;
- 23–28 mm (about 36L–44L) – coats and outerwear.
Models with 2 or 4 holes are available, in various profiles and thicknesses.
Corozo compared with other button materials
When choosing a button, brands usually compare corozo with several alternatives. Here is a short comparison to help with the decision:
- Corozo vs polyester – polyester is cheaper and completely uniform, but it is synthetic. Corozo has a natural texture, a warmer touch and a stronger sustainability story.
- Corozo vs horn – horn has natural dark markings and is heavier, while corozo is lighter in colour and can be dyed in almost any shade.
- Corozo vs mother-of-pearl – mother-of-pearl has a characteristic pearly lustre and is a classic on shirts; corozo is more matte and more versatile in colour.
- Corozo vs wood – wood is lighter with visible grain, while corozo is denser and smoother after polishing.
In practice, many brands combine materials: corozo for shirts and knitwear, horn for jackets and coats, metal for denim and sports styles. This way each line gets a button that matches its character without losing the overall style of the collection.
Customisation with a logo
Corozo takes laser work and engraving well, so it is suitable for branding. Options include:
- a laser-engraved logo or lettering;
- embossed marking;
- dyeing in the brand colour;
- a custom shape to the customer’s design.
An engraved logo on a natural material looks refined and elegant and needs no additional coatings. Details of our services can be found on the Services page.
Caring for garments with corozo buttons
Corozo buttons do not need special care, but a few simple rules extend their life:
- avoid prolonged soaking in hot water;
- when ironing, do not press the iron directly on the button;
- for dry cleaning, follow the instructions on the garment label;
- for very valuable garments, consider buttoning up and turning inside out for washing.
Corozo and sustainability
Corozo is a renewable resource: the palms bear fruit for many years, and the raw material is collected without felling. Combined with its natural origin, the material helps brands build a more consistent sustainability story – from the fabric to the last detail.
Corozo buttons from Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer from Sofia with over 30 years of experience in producing accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags. For corozo buttons we offer:
- sizes from 9 to 28 mm;
- models with 2 or 4 holes;
- a rich colour palette and matching to fabric;
- engraving of logos and lettering;
- materials certified to Oeko-Tex;
- fast sampling and delivery across the EU.
Browse the range in the corozo buttons category or send an inquiry to info@polkom.com. Minimum quantities depend on the article – write to us and you will receive a specific quote.
