Manufacturer · Fashion Accessories
The YKK colour card is the catalogue of actual zip tape samples, each with a numeric colour code. To use it, find the shade in the card that is closest to the fabric, comparing in daylight, and note the number. When ordering, you state this number together with the zip model and size – that way the colour is unambiguous and is repeated with every subsequent delivery.
What the YKK colour card contains
The card is a booklet or folder with pieces of dyed tape attached. Unlike printed palettes, here you see the actual material the zip is made of – with its texture, sheen and density. The card usually contains:
- tape samples arranged by colour group – whites and lights, yellows and oranges, reds, pinks, purples, blues, greens, browns and beiges, greys and blacks;
- a colour number below or next to each sample;
- application information – which lines or materials the card applies to;
- sometimes separate samples for the finishes of metal teeth and sliders.
How the card is arranged
The colours run in groups and within each group from light to dark. This lets you quickly get to the right area and then compare neighbouring samples. The numbers do not necessarily follow visual logic: two shades that look adjacent may have distant numbers. So search by colour and simply record the number.
Different cards for different materials
YKK tapes are made mainly of polyester, but tapes of other materials also exist. The same colour number may look slightly different on different tapes, because the dye is absorbed differently. If you work with a specific line – for example Vislon moulded zips or Conceal invisible zips – make sure the card you use is suitable for it, or at least confirm availability when you inquire.
How to choose a number – step by step
- Prepare a fabric sample – large enough to cover the tape sample.
- Work in daylight or in a light booth with a standard light source. Artificial light in the factory distorts shades.
- Find the colour group and pick out 2–3 candidates.
- Place the tape on the fabric, not next to it – this way you see how the zip will look in the seam.
- Look up close and at arm's length, as the customer will.
- If in doubt, choose the darker of the two shades.
- Record the number in the product's tech pack together with the zip model and size.
Table: what to record for each colour
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Colour number from the card | Unambiguous identification of the shade |
| Zip line and size | One number may look different in different lines |
| Fabric colour (internal code) | Link between the zip and the material |
| Slider/teeth finish | A separate parameter for metal and moulded zips |
| Approval date | Helps with disputes and repeat orders |
Teamwork: design, technical and purchasing
In larger companies, several departments work with the card, and this is where most information gets lost. The designer chooses the colour, the garment technologist enters it in the tech pack and purchasing places the order. If along the way the number is copied incorrectly or replaced "by eye" with a similar one, the delivery arrives in a different shade. Good practice is:
- one "master" card against which all colours are approved, instead of several cards of different ages;
- the number should be copied, not retyped by hand, into the order sheet;
- the approved zip sample should be attached to the fabric swatch board for each style;
- every colour change should be recorded in the tech pack with a date.
How to keep the card accurate
The colour card is a measuring tool and, like any tool, it wears out. Samples fade from light, get dirty from fingers and dust and lose their accuracy over time. A few rules:
- store the card closed, away from direct sunlight;
- do not touch the samples with greasy or dusty hands;
- do not cut samples out of the card to send them – send the number instead;
- after a few years of active use, compare the card with a newer one; if there are visible differences, replace it.
Common mistakes
- Choosing from a photo of the card. A photo loses everything the card exists for.
- Comparing under the factory lamp. Under cold fluorescent light, beige looks grey and navy looks black.
- Comparing with the fabric alongside. Colour is perceived differently when the two samples do not touch.
- Unspecified line. The number is given, but it is not clear which zip it is for – and the delivery arrives in a different line with a slightly different look.
If you do not have a YKK colour card
Not every factory or brand has an up-to-date card, especially if they order YKK zips rarely. In that case, send us a physical fabric sample and we will select the closest standard colour. If necessary, a zip sample can also be approved before the production order. You will find more about the brand's whole system in our YKK zips category.
One card for all lines
The YKK colour system applies to the main lines – metal, moulded, invisible and nylon coil zips. This is convenient for brands that use several types of zip in one collection: one number can link a jacket with a metal zip and trousers with a coil zip. Availability of a specific number for a specific line and size is confirmed on inquiry.
Working with Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of garment accessories and a supplier of original YKK zips to brands and garment factories throughout Europe. Take a look at our YKK zip colour card page and send an inquiry with the numbers or with fabric samples – we will confirm the colours, offer a sample and send a quote.
