Talking about the art of buttons 1: button knowledge points

Guide: "Buttons, as an indispensable part of clothing, carry an important mission. They can not only reflect the artistry of design, the high-level sense of materials, but also the functionality of clothing. But people are not familiar with the history of buttons and the related materials. Introductions are rare, but the choice of details often shows the dignity and good aesthetic taste."
All kinds of buttons may seem inconspicuous today, but they undoubtedly have a good side. With the development and transformation of buttons, the history of buttons seems to tell people's pursuit of fit and comfortable clothes, which is long and subtle. Buttons of various materials and styles are applied to the design of clothing, and designers make the production and production of buttons perfect. Today, the art of buttons can refer to the quality of clothing and the display of dressing taste. Of course, all of this starts with the cognition of button materials, colors, and designs.
Every item has its own history, even a button, an everyday object so common that it can be ignored, also has its own little history. The invention of buttons dates back to the 13th century, probably during the Southern Song Dynasty. In fact, before buttons, there were already items with similar functions, such as: belts, belts, brooches, etc., which we can collectively call fastening products (Fastening), which is nothing more than allowing two parts of the clothes to be smoothly combined and more Easy to put on and take off. Interestingly, the twin brother of the button is the buttonhole, and the birth time may even be slightly earlier than the button. Rare things are precious, and the buttons of the 13th century are definitely a luxury comparable to Rolls-Royce. Some regions even introduced laws to restrict their use.
In the 14th century, buttons (fruit buttons) made of wood and wood were gradually popularized by common people, but some buttons made of precious materials were still symbols of status and wealth: gold buttons, silver buttons, ivory buttons, copper buttons or copper alloy buttons etc. Some metal craftsmen inlaid ivory, tortoise shell, jewelry, etc. on copper or copper alloy buttons ingeniously, and then produced composite material buttons. For example, there is a record in France that King Louis XIV made a royal robe with 13,000 precious buttons.
(Real costumes from the period of Louis XIV in France are restored, this is the costume of the French drama Versailles)
The industrial revolution in the 18th century promoted the progress of industry and technology, and buttons entered the era of mechanized production. Buttons are not only more diversified in materials, such as cowhide buttons, shell buttons, ceramic buttons, glass, crystal buttons, etc., but also have improved the production technology of metal buttons. Boulton adopted the steel polishing process, and the French invented the hollowing process and so on.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the metal plating process was gradually adopted, and buttons with embroidered patterns shined brightly on clothing with design concepts. Tin alloy buttons have replaced other products and become buttons used by the public. Copper buttons are used in military uniforms. The decoration on the top makes the beautiful uniform shine even more. Inexpensive die-cast steel buttons with open holes replaced the former. In 1830, machine-made cloth buttons replaced hand-made cloth buttons. At the same time, a button that was heated and reshaped with animal horns and hooves, and dyed also entered the popular stage.
Entering the 20th century, it is the era of compound dominance, and various chemical synthetic material buckles emerge in endlessly: resin buckles, nylon, urea buckles and so on. However, the widespread use of zippers has made buttons no longer flashy, and the field of fastening has turned from prosperity to decline, and the decorative function has finally given way to the practical function.
2) Commonly used materials for buttons