KCC

Apparel & Footwear / Leather Garments & Goods

Zippers for leather garments, leather goods and motorcycle garments
must withstand years of opening and closing and acid released by leather

On leather jackets, motorcycle garments and leather goods, the zipper is both a style signature and a load-bearing structural component. This page covers size and surface finish recommendations for each subcategory, the key points of corrosion protection in contact with leather, the tests worth writing into the specification sheet for acceptance, and the specifications of the KCC #8 vintage-teeth metal zipper, the KCC Polished & Plated Metal Zipper and the KCC MF series metal zipper.

ImageClose-up of the metal zipper on a motorcycle leather jacketlt-hero · 16:9
Spec summary | Recommended on this pageKCC · METAL
Size range
#3 – #12
#8 vintage teeth, chain width
11.2 mmTooth thickness 3.3 mm, total width 40 mm
End types
Close end · open end · 2-way open end
Common plating colors
Nickel silver · antique brass · imitation gold · bright silver · black nickel
Physical testing standard
BS EN 16732
Metal Zipper series Sliders & Pullers
Available specifications vary by product; see the recommended products below

Category profile

Appearance, durability and structural requirements for zippers on leather garments, leather goods and motorcycle garments

ImageAsymmetric front zipper on a motorcycle jacketlt-role-design · 4:3

Design language

The asymmetric front zipper of a motorcycle jacket, the small cuff zippers of a leather jacket and the metal zipper on the opening of a leather good are all style signatures of these categories. The zipper's material, color and tooth profile directly shape the first impression a product makes.

ImageZipper opening on a leather good or handbaglt-role-durability · 4:3

Functional durability

Leather goods are opened and closed many times a day and are expected to stay in use for many years. A smooth feel and long-term durability directly affect how consumers rate the brand.

ImageJacket-to-trouser connection zipper on motorcycle protective wearlt-role-safety · 4:3

Structural safety

On motorcycle protective garments, the main zipper and the jacket-to-trouser connection zipper are load-bearing parts. Motorcycle protective garments sold in Europe are class-tested to EN 17092, and the strength of the seams where the zipper is sewn in falls within the scope of testing.

Selection by subcategory

Zipper sizes and surface finishes for leather garments, motorcycle garments and leather goods

The table lists common configurations and suggested KCC products for each subcategory, and each product name links to its KCC product page. The actual size should still be adjusted to leather thickness, garment cut and brand specifications.

Category / positionCommon sizesMaterial and finishSuggested KCC products
Motorcycle garment, main zipper#8 / #10Copper-alloy teeth with weather-resistant plating; a large puller allows one-handed operation with gloves onMF8, MF10-Y, Sliders & Pullers
Motorcycle garment, pockets and vents#5Can take a 2-way slider for easy vent adjustmentMF5
Motorcycle garment, jacket-to-trouser connection#5Open end, abrasion-resistantMF5
Biker jacketFront #8 / #10
Pockets #5		Rugged look and high pull strength; brass or nickel tone#8 vintage teeth, MF8, MF10-Y
Bomber jacket#5 / #8Vintage styles mostly use brass or antique brass tones#8 vintage teeth, Polished & Plated Metal Zipper (one-way profile teeth)
Fashion leather jacketFront #5
Pockets #3		Refinement and smoothness come first; choose a Polished & Plated Metal Zipper or a Polished Metal Zipper to avoid scratching thin leatherPolished & Plated Metal Zipper (one-way profile teeth), Polished Metal Zipper (one-way profile teeth)
Long leather coat#5 / #82-way open end recommended for easier sitting and stridingPolished & Plated Metal Zipper (one-way profile teeth)
Leather goods (bags, wallets)#3 / #5 / #8Precision-polished for a smooth feel, with consistent color within a batchPolished & Plated Metal Zipper (one-way profile teeth), Polished & Plated Metal Zipper (symmetrical profile teeth)

Corrosion protection

Acid released by leather is the main cause of metal zipper discoloration

Chrome or vegetable tanning leaves acidic residues in the leather. In humid conditions these residues gradually attack metal teeth and sliders, causing discoloration, rust spots or verdigris. Discoloration caused by acid released from leather often appears only months after the finished goods enter the warehouse or reach the shelf, so it needs to be evaluated from the sampling stage. All metal zippers KCC supplies for leather garments and leather goods carry an anti-acid protective coating designed for leather.

  • Anti-acid clear coating
    A clear anti-acid coat over the plating keeps acidic gases from reaching the metal. All KCC metal zippers for leather applications have an anti-acid protective coating.
  • Electrophoretic coating
    An electric field deposits the paint film evenly over the teeth. The electrophoretic film is denser than a conventional spray-painted coat and resists corrosion better.
  • Migration-resistant tape
    Prevents leather dyes from spreading through the tape to the metal or other fabrics when damp.
  • Specified slider mouth height
    Specify the slider mouth height to suit the leather thickness so the slider does not catch the leather edge when pulled. See KCC Sliders & Pullers.
Protective layers of a metal zipper in contact with leather Leather: acidic residues Releases acid gas when humid Anti-acid coat / e-coat Plating: color and luster Copper-alloy tooth base Layer schematic, not to scale
From the inside out, a metal zipper consists of copper-alloy teeth, the plating and an anti-acid coating (or electrophoretic paint film). The plating determines the appearance, and the anti-acid coating blocks the acidic gases released by the leather. Both should be covered in the leather contact test.
ImageZipper before and after a leather contact testlt-leather-test · 16:9
Purchasing tip

State "Special finish for leather (Anti-acid)" in the purchase specification, and run the leather contact test on production leather at the sampling stage. Keeping the pH of the finished leather at 3.5–4.5 also reduces the effect on hardware at the source.

Acceptance tests

Tests to write into the specification sheet for leather garment and leather goods zippers

There is currently no globally unified certification for zippers as a component, and most brands have their own QC specifications. The table shows common industry reference conditions, not values measured by KCC; the brand's own specifications set the actual standard.

TestMethod or conditionsTypical requirementApplies to
Leather contact testZipper clamped against production leather and held at 60°C / 90% RH for 24–48 hoursNo visible discolorationLeather garments, leather goods
Salt spray testISO 9227 / ASTM B117Leather garments ≥ 24 h
Premium leather goods ≥ 72 h		Leather garments, leather goods, motorcycle garments
Reciprocating fatigueEN 16732 / ASTM D2061 reciprocating fatigue method≥ 5,000 cycles
without failure		Leather goods (high-end handbags often require more)
Operating forceSlider running resistance≤ 3 NLeather goods
Needle detectionGarment needle detectorZipper in non-ferromagnetic (non-ferrous) materialExport garments
Nickel releaseEN 1811Meets the EU nickel release limitSkin-contact areas, EU market

Recommended KCC products

KCC #8 vintage-teeth, Polished & Plated and MF series metal zippers

ImageClose-up of #8 vintage teethlt-p-vintage · 4:3
Metal Zipper series · Specialty product

KCC #8 vintage-teeth metal zipper

The KCC #8 vintage-teeth metal zipper has a vintage tooth profile with male-and-female shaped teeth and a chain width of 11.2 mm. Rugged in appearance with precise engagement, the #8 vintage-teeth zipper suits jackets and leather jackets where the hardware should stand out. The KCC product site has no individual page for the #8 vintage-teeth zipper yet; please enquire for specifications.

Size
#8, one-way close end
Dimensions
Chain width 11.2 mm · tooth thickness 3.3 mm · total width 40 mm
Biker jacketsBomber jacketsWorkwear and vintage jacketsMotorcycle garmentsWork pants
Metal zipper category page
ImagePlating color samples of the KCC Polished & Plated Metal Zipper (several colors side by side)lt-p-polished · 4:3
Metal Zipper series · Specialty product

KCC Polished & Plated Metal Zipper

The KCC Polished & Plated Metal Zipper comes with one-way profile teeth or symmetrical profile teeth. The teeth are precision-polished to remove burrs, giving a smooth, consistent pull; they do not easily come loose when pulled by external force, and they carry an anti-acid protective coating. The KCC Polished & Plated Metal Zipper is suited to leather goods and fashion leather jackets with high demands on feel and appearance.

Size
#3 / #5 / #8
End types
Close end, open end, 2-way open end
Tooth profile
One-way profile, symmetrical profile
Premium leather goodsFashion leather jacketsLong coatsFashion bags
Polished & Plated Metal Zipper (one-way profile teeth) Polished & Plated Metal Zipper (symmetrical profile teeth)
ImageMF5 / MF8 / MF10-Y side by sidelt-p-metal · 4:3
Metal Zipper series · Standard product

KCC MF series metal zipper

The KCC MF series metal zipper offers teeth in copper, aluminum, nickel and other materials, with a full size range that covers everything from small, delicate pockets to the main zipper of a motorcycle garment. Monthly capacity is about 2 million zippers, so KCC can take on high-volume orders.

ModelChain width mmLateral strength per inch NClass
MF55.80560E+
MF87.60780E+
MF10-Y8.65816E+

Lateral strength per inch is the crosswise force a closed zipper withstands per inch of width. Values from the KCC product site, converted at 1 kgf ≈ 10 N for convenience. Strength class per EN 16732, where E is the highest class; “E+” means above Class E.

End types
Open end, close end, 2-way open end
Monthly capacity
About 2 million zippers, up to 3 million
Standard
BS EN 16732
Motorcycle garmentsLeather jacketsLeather goods
Metal zipper category page

Plating colors

KCC has electroplating and baked-paint processes. Common plating colors include nickel silver, antique brass, imitation gold, bright silver and black nickel, and samples can be made to a brand's color card.

Batch color control

KCC checks color accuracy with a spectrophotometer and a color-matching light box so that hardware color stays consistent across the same order.

KCC company and quality systems

KCC (KEEN CHING) ZIPPER was founded in Taiwan in 1976 and is headquartered in Taipei. KCC operates zipper plants in Tongxiang, Zhejiang, China and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and has sales offices in locations including Europe, India and Hong Kong.

KCC's production system is certified to ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management) and the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), among other system certifications, and undergoes annual Worldly and BSCI assessments. KCC products also hold OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class I product certification. KCC's in-plant test equipment includes salt spray chambers, tensile testers and reciprocating cycle testers.

FAQ

Questions designers and buyers often ask

How can I keep the metal zipper on a leather jacket from discoloring or developing verdigris?

Specify an anti-acid surface finish in the specification sheet, and run the leather contact test on production leather at the sampling stage. The main cause of discoloration is acidic residue in the leather. All metal zippers KCC supplies for leather categories have an anti-acid protective coating, and KCC also recommends confirming the pH of the finished leather with the leather supplier.

Should the main zipper on a motorcycle garment be #8 or #10?

Choose #10 for high-protection or track styles; street, commuter and retro styles mostly use #8. KCC MF10-Y has a lateral strength per inch of 816 N and KCC MF8 has 780 N (both Class E+, per EN 16732). A large puller is recommended for both MF10-Y and MF8 so the zipper can be operated one-handed with gloves on. Compare the specifications of MF8 and MF10-Y.

Export garments must pass needle detection. Can metal zippers be used?

Yes, if the metal zipper uses non-ferromagnetic copper-alloy teeth. Please state the needle detection requirement when ordering so the material of the slider and other components can be confirmed at the same time.

How is hardware color kept consistent within one order?

KCC checks the plating color of every batch with a spectrophotometer and a color-matching light box, using the brand-approved color sample as the reference. When sampling, we recommend also supplying the fabric or leather so the color can be confirmed in the actual combination.

Tell us about your leather and brand specifications

Share the leather type and thickness, garment category, target market and brand QC specifications, and KCC will recommend a suitable size and surface finish and support sampling and testing.

Contact the KCC sales team

This page is a general selection reference. Test conditions and requirements are common industry reference values; the brand's QC specifications set the actual standard. For KCC product specifications, refer to the specification sheet and sample test results.

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