Wholesale Buttons a Historical Perspective

Sep 27
11:01

2015

Sanjana Antony

Sanjana Antony

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Seasoned crafters and button collectors usually buy wholesale buttons. Sewing and craft buttons are similar things, and they can be used interchangeably for any project.

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Buttons are not a modern day invention. It did not start with some esoteric sect or maverick designer using buttons to decorate the garment. Buttons were in vogue for millenniums in the garment fastening job world over. It is so widespread now that these are available at scores of online portals selling wholesale buttons.

Buttons were in use in old civilizations like Indus valley,Wholesale Buttons a Historical Perspective Articles Egyptian, Chinese, Sumerians, and Romans. They made use of buttons in many ways. It was used for decoration and later for fastening the fabric of garments.

The buttons became so important in the Middle Ages that a button trade guild was formed in France by the 13th century. The aim of the guild was to keep the trade in   wholesale buttons being sold to wealthy and mighty in control for prices.  

Uses of Buttons

The buttons were initially used for decoration on the garments. Its use as fastener became popular because of its ability to hold the garment easily especially with high echelon of society in the middle Ages. The fashion conscious ladies wanted to wear body hugging dresses but still with a lot of fabric. Buttons helped in tightening the curves and lines of the body.

Advertisement buttons came into vogue with the inauguration of George Washington as president.

Smuggler’s used buttons to keep contraband in the hollow of buttons. Even drug smugglers were caught using them in America.

Keepsakes also came into vogue in middle-ages when things like a strand of hair were kept as remembrance in the buttons.

The garment industry uses a lot of decorative buttons. Hobbyists use them for craft work.

Types of buttons

Buttons are classified according to the way they are attached to the fabric. Shank buttons have a hollow back with holes. The face of these buttons is plain so it is used for all kinds of paintings, etchings and dying on the surface. Flat buttons have holes to pass the thread to attach on fabric. These are mostly in vogue today. Pressure buttons or studs are joined by pressing two parts over each other. Fabric buttons are covered with cloth to look in sync with the fabric. Dorset buttons are embroidered pieces with stitches made over a metal disc.

 

Material used For Production

The variety of material used for buttons is astounding. It was shells, bones and wood in the beginning that later changed to metals. The same now ranges from the shells and wood of old to acrylic, metal, coconut-shell, rhinestone, paper and above all the plastic. Most of these things are available with online-sellers of Wholesale Buttons today. This raw material produces a variety of shapes, colours and designs of buttons.

Buttons are produces in many ways. Craftsmen produce handmade designer buttons called studios. These are produced in small factories using manual labour. The large scale production of the buttons for mass usage is done in big industries using modern machinery. The sellers of wholesale buttons provide access to all types on their websites.

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