Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
YKK Metal Zips – Standard, YZiP®, EVERBRIGHT® and EXCELLA®
Original YKK metal zips for denim, leather jackets, bags and luxury goods – from the standard line to polished EXCELLA®, with the finish and tape colour of your choice.
YKK Metal Zips – examples from our production
A small selection of the models we produce and supply. Send an inquiry for samples and the full catalogue.
YKK metal zips: the oldest and most recognisable type
YKK metal zips have individual metal teeth fixed to the tape and are the oldest type of zip of all. YKK makes them from brass alloys, aluminium and nickel alloy, and their look is part of the character of jeans, leather jackets and bags. Polkom offers original YKK metal zips to brands and manufacturers in Bulgaria and the EU. We are not the manufacturer of YKK – we help you select the line, size, finish and slider so that the zip matches the other metal accessories of the product.
YKK metal zip lines
| Line | Feature | Sizes | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard metal | Classic teeth, the widest choice of finishes | No. 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 | Jackets, bags, workwear |
| YZiP® | Thicker teeth than standard, withstands washing and denim processing | No. 3, 4, 5 | Jeans and trousers |
| EVERBRIGHT® | High-gloss polished, smooth teeth with higher corrosion resistance | No. 3 – 10 | Products where shine and less tarnishing are wanted |
| EXCELLA® | YKK's top-class metal zip – every tooth is polished and plated individually | No. 2, 3, 5, 8 | Luxury apparel, leather goods, handbags |
| EXCELLA® Light | EXCELLA® variant with aluminium alloy teeth, lightweight, in bright colours | No. 3, 5 | Fashion items with a colour accent |
| PROSEAL® | Water- and airtight zip with tightly pressed nickel alloy teeth | on request | Special and protective equipment |
YKK also offers metal zips with cotton, grosgrain or satin tape, with organic cotton, with flame-retardant tape and with decorative bottom stops. Availability of each combination is confirmed on enquiry.
Sizes and available types
| Size | Width class | Closed-end | Open-end | Two-way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 3 | light | yes | yes | – |
| No. 4 | light | yes | yes | – |
| No. 5 | medium | yes | yes | yes |
| No. 7 | medium | yes | yes | – |
| No. 8 | medium-heavy | yes | yes | yes |
| No. 10 | heavy | yes | yes | yes |
The table applies to the standard metal line. For EXCELLA®, a two-way version is possible with the double tooth type in sizes No. 3, 5 and 8.
Teeth finishes
| Finish | Look | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Brass (golden brass) | warm golden tone | the classic for denim |
| Antique gold and antique brass | patinated, muted gold | vintage and workwear collections |
| Antique silver and antique copper | aged silver or copper tone | leather, outdoor look |
| Black oxide | dark, almost black metal | dark fabrics |
| Nickel and matt silver | cool silver tone | for a nickel-free version – N-ANTI |
| Aluminium | light, silvery | nickel-free; YZiP® Aluminum is not wash-resistant |
EXCELLA® extends the palette with options such as rose gold, luxury gold, black silver, white bronze, shiny black and matt nickel. Metal finishes are not chosen from the colour card – it applies to the tape colour.
How length is measured
When ordering to size, it is important that everyone measures the same way. YKK measures a closed-end zip from the top of the slider to the end of the bottom stop, and an open-end zip from the top of the slider to the end of the separating parts, always with the zip fully closed. The tape above the top stop and below the bottom stop is specified separately as top and bottom tape ends. For lengths up to 300 mm the permitted tolerance under the standard is up to ±5 mm, and for longer zips the tolerance increases.
Sliders for metal zips
For jeans, YKK uses a special denim slider with a semi-automatic lock, which stays in place when the pull tab is down. For jackets and bags an auto-lock slider is most often chosen, and for two-way zips – two sliders. The slider can come in a finish that matches the teeth or contrasts with them.
Care and material compatibility
Teeth made of copper alloys react with acids, alkalis, oxidising agents and sulphur compounds. According to YKK, tarnishing is more likely with warm and humid storage – for example when the product is packed in a bag immediately after steam pressing. Tanning residues in leather, bleaching of wool knitwear and some reactive or sulphur dyes can also change the colour of the metal. We therefore recommend:
- use well-washed and neutralised fabrics and leathers and carry out a preliminary test;
- let the product cool and dry after pressing before packing it;
- for light and absorbent materials consider EVERBRIGHT®, which is more resistant to discolouration;
- for products in contact with the skin, ask for the nickel-free N-ANTI version.
YKK or a standard metal zip?
If the zip brand is not a requirement, also take a look at our metal zips, which we can make with a logo slider – you will find more about customisation on the Branding page. If your buyers ask for YKK, send us the line, size, type, length, finish, tape colour and quantity. All lines are gathered in the YKK zips section.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between YKK EXCELLA® and a standard metal zip?
Which YKK zip is suitable for jeans?
Why can a metal zip tarnish?
Are there nickel-free YKK metal zips?
Can I order a YKK metal zip in a non-standard length?
Send us an inquiry with a description or photo – you will receive an offer, samples and a production lead time.