clothing closure

zippers. we need them, all have them, and they seem slightly more superior within the fastening clan consisting of buttons & the more elementary, velcro. the lasting legacy of zippers (although slightly younger in history than the button) seems to have stood the test of time. as there are continuous advancements in technology, it seems that fasteners of this kind have remained as they were conceived. it seems amazing that a reliable device such as the zipper, has yet to be praised as a technological marvel, out-lasting most 19th century inventions, and maintaining its stalwart design.

in a hierarchical scale of fasteners, i deem the button to be the more liberal of the group. if attributed to a certain group of people, i see them as liberal types, that make their own bread & cater to serve each other within a self-contained community, although, not denying the help of technological advancements, and adding a slight bit of "flair" to their otherwise plain exterior. they are the older, wiser generation which have a love for organic design.

zipper-people, seem to be much more stream-lined. the embrace of the industrial and machine age, with a more precise manner in its operation. take the long stretch of chain, exact & uniform until reaching the eminent chain stops. they must be aligned in order for the fastening mechanism to work, there's no such thing as "winging it". it is contained, it is controlled.

velcro. the "clowns" of the fastener group. the off-kilter group which maintain a sunny outlook and don't mind telling the world that they embrace all things with a loud shriek. the easiest of all fasteners, are quarantined to sport/adventure clothing and medical garments. it is not the first choice for a garment which is supposed to be taken seriously.

i'm thankful for these fasteners, i'm thankful that they keep me together, that i'm not required to sew myself into my clothes everyday & seam-rip them at night. they hold me in, hug me, contain me in clothes that supposedly "express who i am". i am confident in their stability. but what if, one day, they no longer exist, will that ever happen?

x x

jeff