The zipper is getting its first major upgrade in 100 years

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

What’s actually new

  • Core change: the traditional woven tape on either side of the teeth is removed; teeth are mounted on a cord (“string”) instead.
  • This makes the zipper lighter, more flexible, and visually sleeker, especially for thin, technical fabrics.
  • Teeth and production process were redesigned, and a dedicated sewing machine was created to stitch the cord to the garment, with many tiny stitches between each tooth.

Attachment, durability, and use cases

  • Several people struggled to understand from the article how it attaches; linked PDFs and images clarify the cord-and-stitch design.
  • Spec sheet warns against use on loose, shaggy, thick, or low-friction fabrics, suggesting a focus on athleisure and technical sportswear, not heavy outerwear.
  • Some worry the lack of a stiff tape could reduce alignment and robustness or increase snags; others see it as “different, not worse,” optimized for flexibility and sleekness.

Repairability and right-to-repair

  • Major concern: installation requires a proprietary machine; most home sewists and small alteration shops won’t have it.
  • Some argue it can still be hand-sewn, just more fiddly and time-consuming; others think practical repair will be expensive or deferred.
  • A common workaround proposed: cut off the failed AiryString and sew in a standard tape zipper, sacrificing some flexibility.
  • Debate over how common zipper replacement is: some say “almost nobody” repairs; others, especially in lower-cost countries, report frequent zipper replacements as normal and cost-effective.

Environmental and fast-fashion angles

  • Many are skeptical of the environmental framing; they see the claimed emission savings as negligible compared to textile choice and fast-fashion overproduction.
  • Some note the irony that a supposedly greener zipper depends on proprietary machinery and may hinder long-term repair.

YKK strategy and article critique

  • Several view this as a strategic, patentable differentiator against improving Chinese competitors.
  • The dedicated machine and leasing model are seen by some as Apple-like lock‑in.
  • Multiple commenters call the article a PR puff piece that glosses over repairability, durability, and snagging, and dispute the “first major upgrade in 100 years” framing given prior innovations like water-resistant and self-healing zippers.