Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
White buttons often appear yellowish or bluish next to fabric because “white” covers a range of tones, and most white shirting fabrics are treated with optical brighteners that reflect a bluish tint under daylight. If the button is natural or warm white, it will look yellowish beside such fabric. The solution is to select the white button directly on the actual fabric, under several light sources, paying attention to both transparency and gloss.
Types of White in Buttons
| Tone | Appearance | Suitable Fabric |
|---|---|---|
| Optical White | Bright, cool, with a slight bluish sheen | Poplin and Oxford shirts with optical brightening |
| Pure White | Neutral, without a distinct tint | Most white and light fabrics |
| Natural White (off-white) | Slightly warm, milky | Linen, cotton without optical brighteners, knits |
| Ivory | Warm, creamy | Cream, beige and pastel fabrics, evening blouses |
| Mother-of-Pearl White | White with iridescent sheen | Higher-end shirts and blouses, satin, silk |
Why White Buttons Look Different Next to Fabric
Optical Brighteners
Shirting fabrics are often treated with substances that absorb ultraviolet light and emit it as bluish visible light. This makes the fabric appear “whiter than white.” Most buttons lack this treatment, so even a neutral white button looks slightly yellow next to optically brightened fabric. Under lighting with little ultraviolet emission, the difference may disappear, while under daylight it becomes more pronounced.
Metamerism
Two materials can look the same under one light source and different under another. A button approved under office lighting may appear different in a shop window or outdoors. Therefore, colour should be checked at least under daylight and store lighting.
Transparency
Polyester buttons can be fully opaque or slightly translucent. A translucent white button “takes on” the colour of the fabric beneath it and looks softer and more premium, but it may appear greyish over dark lining or visible stitching.
Gloss
Glossy buttons reflect light and appear lighter, while matte buttons look darker and warmer. Two buttons with the same pigment but different gloss levels can look like different tones on a shirt.
How to Choose White Buttons for Shirts
- Work with the actual fabric. Not a swatch or photo, but a piece from the production batch.
- Compare three tones. Place optical white, pure white and natural white side by side on the fabric.
- Check under different lighting. Daylight by a window, office lighting, and if possible, ultraviolet lamp.
- See with the thread. Sewing thread also has a tone; optical white thread on an ivory button stands out.
- Approve a standard. Keep the approved button with a fabric piece as a reference for future batches.
Shirting Buttons: Mother-of-Pearl Effect or Solid White
Classic shirting buttons are flat, four-hole, about 14–18L in size. For formal shirts, the mother-of-pearl effect is often chosen – polyester with pearlescent pigments that mimic natural mother-of-pearl’s sheen. Solid white suits everyday, work and uniform shirts where a clean and even look is desired. Natural mother-of-pearl remains a choice for high-end shirts – see mother-of-pearl buttons.
For women’s blouses, white buttons often have a shank, a domed face or a fine edge, while ivory is preferred for cream and powder tones.
Durability: Washing, Ironing and Bleach
- High temperature. White shirts are washed hotter and ironed often. Polyester buttons withstand washing but dislike direct contact with very hot irons. For shirts that are heavily ironed, consider urea buttons.
- Bleach and detergents. Aggressive bleaching agents can alter the tone of some plastic buttons over time. Test samples with actual detergents if shirts are for hospitals, hotels or restaurants.
- Sunlight. Prolonged exposure to strong light can change the shade of cheaper materials. Quality polyester retains its tone significantly longer.
Consistent White in Production
Small differences between batches are more noticeable in white than any other colour. If a shirt is made with buttons from two different deliveries, the customer may notice the top button is slightly more bluish than the bottom one. To avoid this:
- Order buttons for the entire model at once or at least for the whole fabric batch;
- Keep an approved standard and compare each new delivery to it, not the previous one;
- Do not mix leftover buttons from old batches with new ones in the workshop;
- When reordering, send a piece of the new fabric as it may differ from the previous batch.
This discipline prevents complaints, especially for uniforms and corporate shirts ordered repeatedly over years.
White Buttons for Other Garments
Besides shirts, white buttons are used for summer dresses, children’s clothing, pajamas, white jackets and nautical style. For white jackets, buttons are often larger and can be in contrasting tones – white on dark blue fabric or dark on white. White plastic buttons are also convenient for uniforms requiring uniform appearance across thousands of items.
You will find a wide selection of models and tones in the polyester buttons category, and classic men’s styles in men’s buttons.
Polkom – Manufacturer of Shirt Buttons
Polkom is a manufacturer of accessories for fashion, footwear and bags, perfumes and cosmetics, packaging and furniture accessories, based in Sofia with over 30 years of experience. We colour polyester buttons to match fabric samples, including various shades of white, and produce samples for approval. All products are OEKO-TEX® certified. Send us a fabric piece via the contact form and we will suggest several white tones.
