Zippers, the commonplace closure, have been striped of their hidden functionality and thrust into the spotlight, proving they can double as innovative solutions as well as decorative patterns.  The results are striking, and slightly quirky.  Part of the zipper’s appeal, perhaps, when compared to its closure counterparts such as buttons, hooks, and snaps, is the fluidity of movement.  This is evident in Ji Woong’s Zip Up Tangles, a creative solution to the wiry mess we all experience when reaching for our ear buds.  Stepping it up a few notches, Van Cleef & Arpels has recently dove into it’s archival library to revive it’s 1950′s Zip Necklace.  While today’s version may be toned down, it’s no less elegant, and a primary example of how innovation can have timeless appeal.

In a French design studio not far from Van Cleep & Arpels’ headquarters, Julien Rivoire, an Art Director and Graphic Designer, has applied his own zipper technique to Sixpack’s infamous t-shirt collection. Revealing striped down beauty in the most simplistic of logos, the Z and the P are solidified by the I in this seamless application of the object’s functionality.  Continuing with the theme of black and white, this patterned skirt playfully mimics the sex appeal zippers posess when applied to women’s clothing.

Zoe Cotlenko, a French jewelry designer and zipper connoisseur, is the mastermind behind this line of candy-colored necklaces and bracelets.  Using his illustration skills, Eric Elm’s zipper and button bag made its debut at Colette a year ago this month.  Elm’s work has been equally influential in New York, as proven by this remarkable 3D installation at the Nike 255 space in NYC for the Make Something Project, which was held in collaboration with Aaron Rose & Beautiful Losers Show.

Additional Contributions by Emily Gup.