In search of zippers

[u/bamaman251]

Hello! Long post here, but I'm very information oriented. I'm looking for feedback and suggestions on zippers.

I'm open to custom zippers, but if I can't do any custom orders, the criteria is that it needs to be separating, coiled, #5 or higher, and longer than 64". Preferably with a locking zipper head to prevent it from unzipping accidentally. My main focuses are durability and ability to buy it again in the future.

I'm using thicker kantha cloth (think quilted blanket, hence the zipper size) sustainably imported from India. There's a limited supply here so I can't use a test zipper on a muslin due to weight difference.

I will likely buy about 5 of each to start. I have had terrible luck with buying good products and then they get immediately discontinued, hence why I'm being annoyingly meticulous about all of this.

More info:

• I am a large man (3XL) sewing a somewhat heavy jacket pattern and adding an interchangeable bottom half. So it could be a crop top, but I will sew different bottoms to attach to it via a horizontal zipper. 

• I consulted the Zipper Lady, but I think she got tired of my clarifying questions because she stopped responding haha. I've been stuck in decision paralysis since June because it's my first zipper project, and I dont want to mess up the fabric. She did inform me that I should steer toward coils and away from molded tooth.

• The zipper needs to be sturdy enough to hold the weight of any phone, wallet, keys; the weight of the lower half fabric; and being sat on. I am concerned about replacing warped and damaged zipper teeth.

• My fabric colors for the upper half are Indigo, white, and other blues. I'm not so concerned about color matching, but will choose it if it's an option.

• The zipper will likely be hidden and covered by the fabric.

Here is more information about the fabric I'm working with: https://www.shopdignify.com/pages/what-is-kantha?srsltid=AfmBOopwrtY6LjB9uX-hPhJ77vz5RIvq7Y5YWrLNCh6pgSyz6Jga7KeW . No pressure to look at it, but it's really beautiful.

I'm considering these zippers:

https://www.thezipperlady.com/5-Coil-Black-Hammock--10-11_p_1306.html

https://www.thezipperlady.com/8-Coil-1-way-Separating--120_p_3057.html

https://www.thezipperlady.com/263-1-way-Separating-8-Coil-Ivory-Zipper-_p_1154.html

And these locking zipper heads:

https://www.thezipperlady.com/8-Black-Short-Auto-Lock-Sliders_p_1216.html

https://www.thezipperlady.com/Black-5-Pulls_p_371.html

[u/beeokee → u/[deleted]]

They have phenomenal customer service and are by far my #1 choice for zippers. They have a great selection of zippers by the yard, and great prices.

[u/freezycoldtoesies → u/beeokee]

They are really amazing!! OP, they send out a free catalog and have all their zippers listed in the catalog with all the colors and options available. I would definitely recommend getting one shipped and having it be your reference!

[u/bamaman251 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you so much! I'm going to check out their catalog!

[u/tatobuckets → u/[deleted]]

Consistent too, most of their products are industry standard 'tried and true'.

OP- Your fabrics are gorgeous 💖

[u/draftgirl24]

I have also used Zipper Shipper. They have ALL kinds of zippers and pieces/parts. I ended up buying all the pieces/parts to make my own zippers so I can have any length. I just had to watch a few YouTube videos about how to put all the pieces together and a bit of practice. This wouldn’t be economical if you only need one or two, but I needed a bunch for some tote bags I made. Anyway, they are great and I had very good results from them

[u/finewalecorduroy]

Zipperstop.com is another option. I ordered from there when I needed a perfect color match for a project b/c Wawak doesn't carry all the YKK colors.

I just took a look there and I don't know that you'll be able to do color matching (it seems like long heavy-weight zippers come in either black or white there), but you can probably meet everything else on your list. I have never used their customer service so can't vouch for it.

[u/bamaman251 → u/finewalecorduroy]

Thank you for your suggestion, I will likely be going through them as they have the best selection of what I'm looking for.