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Background

The earliest buttons date to prehistoric times, and in spite of millennia of change in fashion and manufacturing techniques, the button has endured as the most common fabric fastener. Though buttons were used for thousands of years, the buttonhole was not invented until sometime in the 13th century. The buttonhole is thought to have been brought to Europe from the Middle East by knights returning from the Crusades, and its advent led to a surge in button use. Buttons became a staple of men's fashion in the Renaissance, when jackets often featured rows of buttons from chin to waist, sleeves were tightly buttoned from elbow to wrist, and trousers too sported buttons at the waist, knee, or thigh. Guilds of buttonmakers were in existence in Paris in the 13th century, where buttons were made out of a variety of materials including wood, bone, brass, pewter, gold, and silver.

By the 18th century, the button industry flourished all across Europe, and artisans developed many different techniques for making them. The court of Louis XIV of France set the fashion for intricate buttons of precious metals and jewels and fabric buttons of embroidered cloth. English manufacturers invented steel buttons, and glass or glass and metal buttons were popular in France. Many artists famous in other trades also lent their skills to the button industry. The French painter Antoine Watteau made buttons, and some of the leading names in fine china such as Wedgwood, Limoges, and Staffordshire are also associated with fine buttons.

By the late 18th century, buttons began to be made in factories. Metal buttons were punched out by dies, and die-makers were prohibited from emigrating from England, so that they would not take their trade secrets abroad. Nevertheless, the technology spread, and buttons began to be mass-produced in metal, glass, and other materials. Extravagant buttons were still popular elements of 19th-century fashion. Diemakers turned out complex designs using scenes from plays, novels, and nursery rhymes, and Wagner operas and the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan were routinely commemorated with buttons depicting scenes and characters.

By the early 20th century, the prevailing style was much simpler, reflecting the more sedate look of the growing white-collar class. Inexpensive matched shirt buttons for men and women were available in five-and-dime stores around 1910. Plastic buttons became widely available in the 1930s, though most typical shirt buttons were still made of sea shells or other natural materials. World War II brought many advances in plastic technology. Acrylic buttons were actually made from material left over from the manufacture of bomber gun turrets. The button industry converted almost entirely to plastic after the war. Plastic buttons could be made by a variety of methods. They could be mold cast, where plastic slugs cut from a long rod are placed in a two-part mold. The mold is closed, and heat and pressure applied to finish the button. Another process is injection molding. In this method, melted plastic is forced into a mold with a button-shaped cavity. Outlined below is the most common process for making plastic buttons: die cutting from cylinder-cast polyester.

Raw Materials

Buttons are still made from natural products, but these require more work by hand than do plastic buttons, and some formerly common button materials are no longer widely available. For instance whale ivory, elephant ivory, or tortoiseshell buttons cannot be made in the U.S. because of laws enacted to protect endangered animals. Horn buttons are made from cow and buffalo hooves and horns, but button aficionados claim that modern horn is of poor quality and color because the animals graze on low-quality grass. Antique horn buttons are often streaked and come in a variety of colors, whereas modern horn is a duller light or dark brown. Horn buttons are still an element of the best quality men's fashion, but they cost as much as a dollar a piece, compared to the half a cent price of a standard button. Mother-of-pearl buttons, derived from sea shells, are still prized for their luster. But after World War II, the divers in the South Pacific islands who provided most of the mother-of-pearls began to charge much more for their dangerous labor, and the price of the material rose drastically. Glass buttons, which were widely imported from Germany in the middle of this century, are now much less common as well. The glass buttons were factory made, but they required a lot of hand work under unpleasantly hot conditions, and this industry too dwindled after World War II.

The common material for buttons is polyester, which is a special kind of plastic with properties that make it suitable for buttons. A variety of chemical dyes are added to the polyester to make different colors. To make buttons with the pearlescent sheen of shell buttons, red carbonate is added to the polyester. Black buttons are made with the addition of carbon black, and white buttons are made with titanium. The button making process also requires a chemical catalyst that hardens the polyester, and wax.

The Manufacturing
Process

Mixing the polyester

• Polyester arrives at a button factory in liquid form. At the start of the manufacturing process, polyester is drained from its storage tank and measured into a stainless steel kettle. Then dye is added, if the buttons are to be any color other than the natural translucence of the polyester. After the dye is mixed in, the liquid polyester is poured into a 3-gallon (11 l) metal beaker. The catalyst and liquid wax are added.

Pouring into the cylinder

• The mixture of polyester, catalyst, and wax is then poured into a large rotating metal cylinder. The cylinders are made of steel and lined with chrome, and are typically 2 feet (61 cm) long and 4 feet (122 cm) in diameter. The cylinders lie on their sides on rollers which rotate the drums at 250 rpm. The polyester solution is slowly poured into the rotating interior of the cylinder, and the centrifugal force of the rotation causes the solution to spread, lining the drum with an even sheet. A greater amount of polyester is used for thicker buttons, and less for thinner ones. A 2-inch (5 cm) lip around the ends of the cylinder prevents the polyester from leaking out.

Hardening the sheet

• As the polyester rotates in the cylinder, it begins to interact with the chemical catalyst and harden. The wax rises to the top of the sheet, and also sinks to the bottom, so that the hardening polyester is eventually held between two layers of wax. This process is completed after 20 minutes of rotation. The resulting polyester sheet has changed from its liquid state to a crumbly solid likened to the consistency of stale cheese.

Cutting the sheet

• When the sheet has reached the proper hardness, the drum is stopped and the sheet is cut. Then it is rolled out of the cylinder onto a wooden tube. The wax makes it easy to remove from the drum, but the material is still very delicate. The top layer of wax is then peeled off, and the sheet is transferred to a blanking machine.

Cutting the blanks

• The blanking machine moves the polyester sheet along on a conveyor belt. As the sheet passes along the belt, circular steel cutting dies descend and punch out button-sized circles, called blanks. Buttons come in standard sizes, and different diameter dies can be loaded into the blanking machine, depending on the size needed. After the blanks are cut, they fall into a chute, and the punched out sheet of polyester rolls beneath the chute. Cutting the blanks from the sheet takes from two to four minutes, depending on the size of the buttons being made.

Cooling the blanks

• The blanks at this stage are hot, because the polyester is still reacting with the catalyst, releasing heat. So at this point the blanks are removed from the chute and poured into a nylon bag. The bag is then lowered into a tank of salt water, which is heated to 230°F (110°C). The blanks float in the salt water for 15 minutes. The water slowly cools, and the polyester blanks harden. Next, the nylon bag is transferred to a cold water tank, and the blanks reach their final state of hardness. After the hot and cold baths, the blanks are dried in a centrifugal drying machine, which spins them in a wire mesh basket.

Styling the blanks

• The blanks are now ready to be cut into their finished button shape. The exact design of the button can be specified by a clothing manufacturer, and the button maker must make a steel cutting tool according to the design he is given. A different cutting tool is needed, for example, to make a beveled edge or a flat one, or to make a slightly concave button. When the appropriate cutting tool is in place, the buttons are poured into a hopper at the top of the cutting machine. The blanks fall into a holder where they are clamped tightly and moved toward the cutting tool. The spinning blade advances and cuts the button, then retracts. Next, the button moves beneath a set of drills, which create the holes. Like the cutting tool, the drills must be designed to conform to the clothing manufacturer's specifications. The design specifies not only two holes or four holes, but the diameter of the holes and the distance between them as well. After the buttons pass beneath the drill, they are sucked by vacuum out of the holder and into a box beneath the machine. Hundreds of buttons a minute can be made this way, though the number varies according to the size of the button and the complexity of the design.

Finishing the buttons

• After the buttons are cut and drilled, they have rough or sharp edges, scratches, and tool marks. They are placed into hexagonal tumbling drums, which contain water, an abrasive material, and a foaming agent. The drums spin for up to 24 hours. The buttons bounce around in the drum until they are smooth and shiny. After tumbling, the buttons are washed and dried.

Quality Control

After the buttons are completely finished, they are placed on a conveyor belt and visually inspected for defects. The inspector must check each button for flaws and remove any cracked or mis-cut ones. The buttons are now ready for packaging and sale.

The Future

The 20th century has seen entirely new clothing fasteners such as the zipper and velcro, and we can now manufacture stretchy fabrics that require no fasteners at all. Nevertheless, the button does not seem in danger of fading away. It is both utilitarian and fashionable, and will likely long be with us. However, button technology is not entirely staid. One recent development is a button of superior strength, a ceramic button made of zirconium oxide. Beer magnate Joseph Coors Jr. decided in 1989 that there was a need for an indestructible button, and he used a ceramics research unit at the Adolph Coors Company to develop this new product. The resulting Diamond Z button debuted in 1993. It is said to be harder than steel, with 2.5 times steel's flexing strength. These men's shirt buttons are fired at 3200°F (1760°C), then polished and coated with an ivory-like finish. The proof of the Diamond Z's indestructibility is a "drop test" where a heavy pointed rod falls down a long tube onto the button. The button can withstand this rigorous ordeal as well as the everyday wear and tear of repeated washing and ironing. The Diamond Z button is, however, quite expensive to make compared to the ordinary polyester button, and for that reason it is not likely to displace the existing technology.

Where To Learn More

Books

Epstein, Diana and Millicent Safro. Buttons. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991.

Fink, Nancy and Maryalice Ditzler. Buttons: The Collector's Guide to Selecting, Restoring and Enjoying New and Vintage Buttons. Running Press, 1993.

Periodicals

Berendt, John. "The Button." Esquire, September 1989, p. 72.

Coy, Peter. "Coors: From Beer to Superstrong Buttons." Business Week, July 12, 1993, p. 149.

[Article by: Angela Woodward]

(1) A knob, such as on a printer or a mouse, which is pushed with the finger to activate a function.

(2) A simulated button on screen that is "pushed" by clicking it with the mouse.

On-screen Button

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your PC, iPhone or Android.

Idioms beginning with button:
buttonhole someone
button one's lip

See also cute as a button; have all one's buttons; on the button; push (press) someone's buttons; push the panic button.

1. A small projecting member such as a piece of wood or metal; used to fasten the frame of a door or window.
2. A turn button.

When woods with large medullary rays are quarter sawn, the harder, shinier rays are more fully exhibited and show up as "snowflakes" or buttons on a straight-grained background. Some veneer species, such as white oak, lacewood and American sycamore, are more attractive when sliced to reveal this button figure.

Buttons as fasteners (as opposed to campaign buttons) are closely related to the symbolism of clothing. Clothing frequently represents the outer self or persona. Thus, tight buttons (tight clothing) may indicate the feeling of being bound by our social roles, and the act of unbuttoning the opening of the self to others (or, in some instances, sexual opening).

1. a knoblike elevation or structure.
2. an appliance used in surgical anastomosis of the intestine (Murphy's button).

• b. tumor — see histiocytoma.
• b. ulcer — craterous mucosal defects, the edges of which are raised above the surrounding mucosa. The original necrotic center of the lesion is shed leaving a deep ulcer. They are characteristic lesions in the cecum and colon of pigs with subacute salmonellosis. The lesions are usually few in number, small and deep.

The excess metal remaining from the casting and sprue; located at the end of the sprue, opposite the casting.

• Building and Machine Parts - button: small, pressable control knob
• mushroom
• Fasteners - button: small knob or disk attached to garment, passed through loop or buttonhole to connect two parts
• Drug Names and Forms - button: Slang. peyote or mescal top

For other uses, see button (disambiguation) and buttons (disambiguation).

Wedgwood button with Boulton cut steels, depicting a mermaid & family, England, circa 1760. Actual diameter: just over 32mm (1 1/4")

Modern buttons made from vegetable ivory

In modern clothing and fashion design, a button is a small fastener, most commonly made of plastic, but also frequently of seashell, which secures two pieces of fabric together. In archaeology, a button can be a significant artifact. In the applied arts and in craft, a button can be an example of folk art, studio craft, or even a miniature work of art.

Buttons are most often attached to articles of clothing but can also be used on containers such as wallets and bags. However, buttons may be sewn onto garments and similar items exclusively for purposes of ornamentation. Buttons serving as fasteners work by slipping through a fabric or thread loop, or by sliding through a buttonhole.

Contents 1 Buttons in museums and galleries 2 Early button history 3 Materials and manufacture 4 Decoration and coating techniques 5 Styles of attachment 6 Types of fabric buttons 7 Button sizes 8 Buttons as containers 9 Buttons in politics 10 See also 11 References 12 Bibliography 13 External links

Buttons in museums and galleries

17th century Spanish metal button

Some museums and art galleries hold culturally, historically, politically, and/or artistically significant buttons in their collections. The Victoria & Albert Museum has many buttons, particularly in its jewellery collection, as does the Smithsonian Institution.^[1][2][3][4]

Hammond Turner & Sons, a button-making company in Birmingham, hosts an online museum with an image gallery and historical button-related articles, including an 1852 article on button-making by Charles Dickens. In the USA, large button collections are on public display at The Waterbury Button Museum of Waterbury, Connecticut, the Keep Homestead Museum of Monson, Massachusetts, which also hosts an extensive online button archive and in Gurnee, Illinois at The Button Room.

Early button history

Clam shell used for making buttons

Hand-painted Satsuma ware self-shank button

Buttons and button-like objects used as ornaments or seals rather than fasteners have been discovered in the Indus Valley Civilization during its Kot Diji phase (circa 2800-2600 BCE)^[5] as well as Bronze Age sites in China (circa 2000-1500 BCE), and Ancient Rome.

Buttons made from seashell were used in the Indus Valley Civilization for ornamental purposes by 2000 BCE.^[6] Some buttons were carved into geometric shapes and had holes pierced into them so that they could be attached to clothing with thread.^[6] Ian McNeil (1990) holds that: "The button, in fact, was originally used more as an ornament than as a fastening, the earliest known being found at Mohenjo-daro in the Indus Valley. It is made of a curved shell and about 5000 years old."^[7]

Functional buttons with buttonholes for fastening or closing clothes appeared first in Germany in the 13th century.^[8] They soon became widespread with the rise of snug-fitting garments in 13th- and 14th-century Europe.

Materials and manufacture

See also: List of raw materials used in button-making

Because buttons have been manufactured from almost every possible material, both natural and synthetic, and combinations of both, the history of the material composition of buttons reflects the timeline of materials technology.

Buttons can be individually crafted by artisans, craftspeople or artists from raw materials or found objects (for example fossils), or a combination of both. Alternatively, they can be the product of low-tech cottage industry or can be mass-produced in high-tech factories. Buttons made by artists are art objects, known to button collectors as "studio buttons" (or simply "studios", from studio craft)The most famous button artist is known as Renarldo Galvies.He was born in 1958 in France and he is known for crafting some of the worlds finest buttons to some button collectors.^[9]

Nowadays, hard plastic, seashell and wood are the most common materials used in button-making; the others tending to be used only in premium or antique apparel, or found in collections.

Decoration and coating techniques

Historically, fashions in buttons have also reflected trends in applied aesthetics and the applied visual arts, with buttonmakers using techniques from jewellery making, ceramics, sculpture, painting, printmaking, metalworking, weaving and others. The following are just a few of the construction and decoration techniques that have been used in button-making:

• Arita porcelain
• Cloisonné
• Daguerreotype^[10]
• Electroplating
• Embroidery^[11]
• Filigree^[12]
• Intaglio^[13]
• Lacquerware
• Lithography^[14]
• Metallizing
• Metal openwork^[15]
• Opus interassile
• Passementerie^[16]
• Portrait miniatures
• Satsuma ware
• Vitreous enamel

Styles of attachment

• Shank buttons have a hollow protrusion on the back through which thread is sewn to attach the button.^[17] Button shanks may be made from a separate piece of the same or a different substance as the button itself, and added to the back of the button, or be carved or moulded directly onto the back of the button, in which latter case the button is referred to by collectors as having a 'self-shank'.
• Flat or sew-through buttons have holes through which thread is sewn to attach the button. Flat buttons may be attached by sewing machine rather than by hand, and may be used with heavy fabrics by working a thread shank to extend the height of the button above the fabric.

Three plastic sew-through buttons (left) and one shank, fabric-covered button (right).

• Stud buttons (also pressure buttons, press studs or snap fasteners) are metal (usually brass) round discs pinched through the fabric. They are often found on clothing, in particular on denim pieces such as pants and jackets. They are more securely fastened to the material. As they rely on a metal rivet attached securely to the fabric, stud buttons are difficult to remove without compromising the fabric's integrity. They are made of two couple: the male stud couple and the female stud couple. Each couple has one front (or top) and rear (or bottom) side (the fabric goes in the middle).

Types of fabric buttons

• Covered buttons are fabric-covered forms with a separate back piece that secures the fabric over the knob.
• Mandarin buttons or Frogs are knobs made of intricately knotted strings. Mandarin buttons are a key element in Mandarin dress (Qi Pao and cheongsam in Chinese), where they are closed with loops. Pairs of mandarin buttons worn as cuff links are called silk knots.
• Worked or cloth buttons are created by embroidering or crocheting tight stitches (usually with linen thread) over a knob or ring called a form.

Button sizes

The size of the button depends on its use. Shirt buttons are generally small, and spaced close together, whereas coat buttons are larger and spaced further apart. Buttons are commonly measured in lignes (also called lines and abbreviated L), with 40 lignes equal to 1 inch. For example, some standard sizes of buttons are 16 lignes (10.16 mm, standard button of men's shirts) and 32 lignes (20.32 mm, typical button on suit jackets).
The American National Button Society (NBS)^[18] has its own button sizing system which divides button sizes into 'small', 'medium' and 'large'.

Buttons as containers

Since at least the seventeenth century, when box-like metal buttons were constructed especially for the purpose,^[19] buttons have been one of the items in which drug smugglers have attempted to hide and transport illegal substances. At least one modern smuggler has tried to use this method.^[20]

Also making use of the storage possibilities of metal buttons, during the World Wars, British and U.S. military locket buttons were made, containing miniature working compasses.^[21]

Buttons in politics

Historically, buttons are a very important part of Western and Near-Eastern culture. They were valued by many European groups for practical and lucrative reasons. Buttons can range from crude buttons made at home out of wood to modern, cheaply made plastic buttons to highly decorative and ornate buttons of precious materials. They are so revered in certain parts of the world that there are some countries where it is illegal to destroy a button.

The mainly American tradition of politically significant clothing buttons appears to have begun with the first presidential inauguration of George Washington in 1789. Known to collectors as 'Washington Inaugurals',^[22] they were made of copper, brass or Sheffield plate, in large sizes for coats and smaller sizes for breeches.^[23] Made in twenty-two patterns and hand-stamped, they are of course now extremely valuable cultural artifacts.

Between about 1840 and 1916, clothing buttons were used in American political campaigns, and still exist in collections today. Initially, these buttons were predominantly made of brass (though horn and rubber buttons with stamped or moulded designs also exist) and had loop shanks. Around 1860 the badge or pin-back style of construction, which replaced the shanks with long pins, probably for use on lapels and ties, began to appear.^[24]

One common practice that survived until recent times on campaign buttons and badges was to include the image of George Washington with that of the candidate in question.

Some of the most famous campaign buttons are those made for Abraham Lincoln. Memorial buttons commemorating Lincoln's inaugurations and other life events, including his birth and death, were also made, and are also considered highly collectable.^[25]

See also

• Button collecting
• Campaign button
• Snap fastener
• Zipper

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Buttons (clothing)

References

1. ^ American Indian Buttons made with ivory, whalebone and ink at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
2. ^ Domestic button collection, circa 1935, from Washington, D.C., at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
3. ^ Uniform buttons of the United States Postal Service at 'Arago', the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
4. ^ Silver buttons held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery
5. ^ Khan, Omar (1999). "Fired steatite button". The Indus Civilization. San Francisco, USA: harrapa.com. http://www.harappa.com/indus2/128.html. Retrieved 11 March 2010. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Hesse, Rayner W. & Hesse (Jr.), Rayner W. (2007). Jewelrymaking Through History: An Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. 35. ISBN 0-313-33507-9.
7. ^ McNeil, Ian (1990). An encyclopaedia of the history of technology. Taylor & Francis. 852. ISBN 0-415-01306-2.
8. ^ Lynn White: "The Act of Invention: Causes, Contexts, Continuities and Consequences", Technology and Culture, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Autumn, 1962), pp. 486-500 (497f. & 500)
9. ^ Peach State Button Club (2010). "Studios (Section 23-11)". Button Country. Georgia, USA: Peach State Button Club. http://buttoncountry.com/studios.htm. Retrieved 11 June 2002. 
10. ^ (Luscomb 2003, p. 53)
11. ^ Victoria & Albert museum. "Man's suit, Coat and breeches". London, UK: V&A Images. http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O127202/mans-suit-coat/. Retrieved 10 March 2010. 
12. ^ Victoria and Albert Museum. "Elements of a German filigree button, made ca 1880". V&A Jewellery collection. London, UK: V&A Images. http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O140427/elements-of-a/. Retrieved 10 March 2010. 
13. ^ (Luscomb 2003, p. 104)
14. ^ (Luscomb 2003, pp. 123–124)
15. ^ Victoria & Albert museum. "Jacket from bridegroom's outfit". V&A Jewellery collection. London, UK: V&A Images. http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O22588/jacket-from-bridegrooms/. Retrieved 10 March 2010. 
16. ^ "Coat - Victoria & Albert museum". London, UK: V&A Images. http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O127140/coat/. Retrieved 10 March 2010. 
17. ^ Button Country (2010). "Back Types/Shanks (23-3)". GA, USA: Peach State Button Club. http://buttoncountry.com/shanks.htm. Retrieved 11 March 2010. 
18. ^ "Home". Nationalbuttonsociety.org. http://www.nationalbuttonsociety.org/Home.html. Retrieved 2011-12-25. 
19. ^ Dahl, Liz (June 5, 2008). "For a collector hooked on history, every button tells a story". The Oregonian: Homes & Gardens. Oregon, USA: Oregon Live LLC. http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2008/06/marv_bondarowicz_the_oregonian_3.html. Retrieved 11 March 2010. 
20. ^ Australian Government (12 November 2009). "heroin concealed in dress buttons". Australia: Customs and Border Protection Communication and Media. http://www.customs.gov.au/site/Heroinconcealedindressbuttons.asp. Retrieved 11 March 2010. 
21. ^ (Luscomb 2003, p. 126)
22. ^ Cobb, J. Harold; Kirk Mitchell (Feb. 2, 2005). "J. Harold Cobb's George Washington Inaugural Button Collection". J. Harold Cobb's George Washington Inaugural Button Collection. USA: Kirk Mitchell. http://kirkmitchell.tripod.com/CobbGW/index.html. Retrieved 13 March 2010. 
23. ^ (Luscomb 2003, pp. 214–218)
24. ^ (Luscomb 2003, pp. 33–34)
25. ^ (Luscomb 2003, pp. 119–120)

Bibliography

• Bunch, Bryan (2004). The History of Science and Technology. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. p. 784. ISBN 978-0-618-22123-3. http://www.amazon.com/History-Science-Technology-Discoveries-Inventions/dp/0618221239/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268403791&sr=1-1. 
• Kohler, Carl (1963). A History of Costume. USA: Dover. p. 464. ISBN 978-0-486-21030-8. http://store.doverpublications.com/0486210308.html. 
• Luscomb, Sally C. (2003). The Collector's Encyclopedia of Buttons (5th ed.). Atglen, PA: Schiffer. ISBN 0-7643-1815-2. http://lccn.loc.gov/2003101645. 
• Osborne, Peggy A. (1997). Button, button : identification and price guide. Atglen, PA: Schiffer. p. 167. ISBN 0-7643-0082-2. http://lccn.loc.gov/92063104. 
• Peacock, Primrose (1978). Discovering old buttons. Discovering series ; no. 213. Rosemary Godsell (illus.). Aylesbury, UK: Shire Publications. p. 76. ISBN 0-85263-445-5. http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9101082. 
• Wisniewski, Debra J. (1997). Antique & collectible buttons : identification & values. Charley Lynch. Paducah, KY: Collector Books. p. 168. ISBN 0-89145-711-9. http://lccn.loc.gov/97122120. 

External links

• Button-making in Birmingham, England in the 1800s
• Scans of original 1830-1940 US patents for buttons & related tools & machinery
• Online collection of historical buttons at the Button Museum

v t e Clothing Materials Cotton Fur Leather Linen Nylon Polyester Rayon Silk Spandex Wool Tops Blouse Crop top Dress shirt Halterneck Henley shirt Hoodie Jersey Guernsey Poet shirt Polo shirt Shirt Sleeveless shirt Sleeveless sweater Sweater T-shirt Tube top Turtleneck Twinset Trousers or pants Bell-bottoms Bermuda shorts Bondage pants Capri pants Cargo pants Culottes Cycling shorts Dress pants Jeans Jodhpurs Overall Parachute pants Phat pants Shorts Sweatpants Windpants Skirts A-line skirt Ballerina skirt Fustanella Hobble skirt Jean skirt Job skirt Leather skirt Kilt Men's skirts Microskirt Miniskirt Pencil skirt Poodle skirt Prairie skirt Rah-rah skirt Sarong Skort Slip Train Wrap Dresses Ball gown Cocktail dress Débutante dress Evening gown Gown Jumper dress Little black dress Petticoat Sari Sundress Tea gown Wedding dress Wrap dress Suits and uniforms Academic dress Afrocentric suit Black tie Buddhist monastic robe Clerical clothing Court dress Gymslip Jumpsuit Lab coat Lounge suit Mao suit Morning dress Pantsuit Red Sea rig Scrubs Stroller Tangzhuang Tuxedo White tie Outerwear Abaya Academic gown Anorak Apron Blazer Cagoule Cloak Coat Duffle coat Duster Frock coat Jacket Greatcoat Leather jacket Goggle jacket Hoodie Opera coat Overcoat Pea coat Poncho Raincoat Redingote Robe Shawl Shrug Ski suit Sleeved blanket Sports coat Top coat Trench coat Vest Waistcoat Windbreaker Underwear Boxer briefs Boxer shorts Brassiere Briefs Bustle Compression sportswear Corselet Corset Diaper Dickey Lingerie Loincloth Long underwear Open drawers Panties Teddy Temple garment Trunks Undershirt Izaar Accessories Ascot tie Belly chain Belt Bolo tie Bow tie Chaps Coin purse Cufflink Pocket watch Earring Gaiters Gloves Hairpin Handbag Leg warmer Leggings Muff (handwarmer) Necklace Necktie Scarf Shoe buckle Stocking Sunglasses Suspenders Tights Footwear Athletic shoe Balgha Boot Court shoe Dress shoe Flip-flops Hosiery Sandal Shoe Slipper Sock Headwear Balaclava Beret Bonnet Cap Crown Deely bobber Fascinator Fillet Hairnet Hat Headband Headscarf Helmet Hood Kerchief Mask Snood Tiara Turban Ushanka Veil Visor Wig Nightwear Babydoll Blanket sleeper Negligee Nightcap Nightgown Nightshirt Peignoir Pajamas Swimwear Bikini Boardshorts One-piece Square leg suit Swim briefs Swim cap Swim diaper Swim trunks Wetsuit Clothing parts Back closure Buckle Bustline Button Buttonhole Collar Cuff Elastic Fly Hemline Hook-and-eye Lapel Neckline Pocket Revers Shoulder pad Shoulder strap Sleeve Snap Strap Velcro Waistline Zipper National costume Albanian dress Abaya Aboyne dress Áo bà ba Áo dài Áo tứ thân Batik Baro't saya & Barong Tagalog Bunad Þjóðbúningurinn Cheongsam (Qípáo) Dashiki Deel Dhoti Dirndl Djellaba Fustanella Gákti Gho & Kira Han Chinese clothing Hanbok Highland dress Jellabiya Jilbāb Kebaya Kente cloth Kilt Kimono Lederhosen Sampot Sarafan Sari Sarong Shalwar kameez Sherwani Thawb Historical garments Banyan Bedgown Bodice Braccae Breeches Breeching Brunswick Caraco Chemise Cravat Chiton Chlamys Close-bodied gown Doublet Exomis Farthingale Frock Himation Hose Houppelande Jerkin Justacorps Knickerbockers Palla Peplos Polonaise Sack-back gown Smock-frock Stola Toga Tunic History and surveys Africa Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Ancient world Anglo-Saxon Byzantine Early Medieval Europe Han Chinese History of clothing and textiles History of Western fashion series (1100s–2000s) Sumptuary law Timeline of clothing and textiles technology Vietnam Women wearing pants See also Adaptive clothing Clothing terminology Costume Dress code Fashion Formal wear Ironing Laundry Locking clothing Maternity clothing Reversible garment

v t e Sewing Techniques Basting Cut Darning Embellishment Fabric tube turning Facing Floating canvas Gather Godet Gore Gusset Hem Heirloom sewing Lining Pleat Ruffle Shirring Style line Stitches Backstitch Bar tack Blanket Buttonhole Chain stitch Cross-stitch Embroidery stitch Hemstitch List of sewing stitches Lockstitch Overlock Pad stitch Running Sashiko Tack Topstitch Zigzag Seams Armscye Seam allowance Notions and trims Bias tape Elastomer (Elastic) Eyelet Grommet Interfacing Notions Passementerie Piping Rickrack Self-fabric Soutache Trim Twill tape Wrights Closures Buckle Button Buttonhole Fly Frog Hook-and-eye Placket Shank Snap Velcro Zipper Materials Bias Yarn / Thread Selvage Textiles / Fabrics Tools Bobbin Dress form Needle threader Pin Pincushion Pinking shears Scissors Seam ripper Sewing needle Stitching awl Tailor's ham Tape measure Thimble Tracing paper Tracing wheel Trades and suppliers Cloth merchant Draper Dressmaker Haberdasher Mercer / Mercery Sewing occupations Tailor Sewing machine manufacturers Barthélemy Thimonnier Bernina Brother Industries Elias Howe Janome Jones Sewing Machine Company Merrow New Home Pfaff Sewmor Singer Tapemaster Viking / Husqvarna White Patterns Butterick Clothkits McCall's Simplicity Glossary of sewing terms

v t e Decorative arts, handicrafts, arts and crafts Textile Banner-making Canvas work Cross-stitch Crocheting Curve stitching Embroidery Felting Friendship bracelet Knitting Lace-making Lucet Macrame Millinery Needlepoint Needlework Patchwork Quilting Ribbon embroidery Rug hooking Rug making Sewing Shoemaking Spinning (textiles) String art Tapestry Tatting Tie-dye Weaving Paper Bookbinding Calligraphy Cardmaking Card Modelling Collage Decoupage Embossing Iris folding Marbling Origami Kirigami Paper toys Papercraft Papier-mâché Scrapbooking Stamping Wallpaper Wood Cabinet making Carpentry Chip carving Ébéniste Fretwork Intarsia Marquetry Wood burning Wood carving Woodturning Ceramic Azulejo Bone china Cameo glass Earthenware Glassware Porcelain Pottery Stained glass Stoneware Terracotta Metal Jewellery Silversmithing Other Assemblage Beadwork Bone carving Doll making Dollhouse Egg decorating Engraved gems Hardstone carving Lathart Lapidary Leatherworking Miniatures Micromosaic Mosaic Pietra dura Pressed flower craft Scrimshaw Straw marquetry, Wall decals

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - knap
v. tr. - knappe, tilknappe
v. intr. - knappes, tilknappes

idioms:

• button mushroom    lille fast champignon
• button up    knappe op, opknappe
• buttoned up    knappet op, åbenstående, opknappet
• on the button    på slaget, præcis

Nederlands (Dutch)
knop, knoop, speldje, insigne, toets, persoon met bepaalde eigenschap, dichtknopen, vastknopen, knopen aanzetten met één druk op de knop voor elkaar weten te krijgen

Français (French)
n. - (Bot) bouton, groom, chasseur, (US) pointe de menton, (Comput) icône (hypertexte)
v. tr. - boutonner
v. intr. - se boutonner

idioms:

• button mushroom    du type champignon de Paris
• button up    boutonner
• on the button    être absolument exact

Deutsch (German)
n. - Knopf, Plakette
v. - zuknöpfen, knöpfen

idioms:

• button mushroom    junger, ungeöffneter Champignon
• button up    zuknöpfen, (ugs.) erledigen
• on the button    exakt

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - κουμπί, μπουτόν
v. - κουμπώνω/-ομαι, θηλυκώνω/-ομαι

idioms:

• button mushroom    μανιταράκι
• button up    κουμπώνω, ολοκληρώνω, κανονίζω
• buttoned up    κουμπωμένος, επιφυλακτικός
• on the button    ακριβώς

Italiano (Italian)
abbottonare, pulsante, bottone, insegna

idioms:

• a hot button    una controversia acuta
• at the touch of a button    istantaneamente
• button mushroom    tipo di fungo
• button up    ammutolirsi, abbottonarsi
• buttoned up    riservato, abbottonato
• on the button    puntualmente
• press the right button    intraprendere l'azione adatta

Português (Portuguese)
n. - botão (m)
v. - abotoar

idioms:

• a hot button    assunto polêmico
• at the touch of a button    de maneira simples
• button mushroom    espécie de cogumelo pequeno
• button up    calar a boca (gír.)
• buttoned up    calado
• on the button    exatamente
• press the right button    fazer a coisa certa, apertar o botão certo

Русский (Russian)
застегивать, пуговица, кнопка, значок

idioms:

• a hot button    кнопка для важной цели
• at the touch of a button    достаточно нажать на кнопку
• button mushroom    мелкий гриб
• button up    застегнуться, молчи
• buttoned up    в шляпе, зажатый
• on the button    точно
• press the right button    знать все ходы и выходы

Español (Spanish)
n. - botón, pulsador, insignia, distintivo, función GUI, ícono o figura de hipertexto
v. tr. - abotonar, abrochar
v. intr. - abotonarse, abrocharse

idioms:

• button mushroom    hongo cerrado
• button up    abotonar, abrochar
• on the button    perfecto, en punto

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - knapp, knopp, dörrhandtag, plakett
v. - förse med knappar, knäppas

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
钮扣, 按钮, 钉钮扣于, 扣紧, 扣住

idioms:

• button mushroom    小蘑菇
• button up    扣住, 守口如瓶
• buttoned up    扣扣子, 闭嘴
• on the button    准时地

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鈕扣, 按鈕
v. tr. - 釘鈕扣於, 扣緊
v. intr. - 扣住

idioms:

• button mushroom    小蘑菇
• button up    扣住, 守口如瓶
• buttoned up    扣釦子, 閉嘴
• on the button    準時地

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 단추, 싹, 턱, (컴퓨터의) GUI기능, (컴퓨터의) 하이퍼 텍스트 아이콘
v. tr. - ~에 단추를 채우다, ~을 칼 끝으로 찌르다
v. intr. - 단추가 채워지다

idioms:

• button up    ~을 단추로 꽉 잠그다, 입을 다물다, 실시하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ボタン, 押しボタン, 芽, つぼみ
v. - ボタンをかける

idioms:

• button mushroom    若くてまだ開いていないキノコ
• button up    完全に仕上げる
• buttoned up    無口な, 内気な
• on the button    時宜を得て, ちょうど

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) اشارة أو علامه داله في بعض استعمالات الكومبيوتر, زر (فعل) أقفل, زرر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮כפתור, מתג, לחיץ, פטריה צעירה‬
v. tr. - ‮כיפתר, רכס‬
v. intr. - ‮כופתר, נרכס‬

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