My custom dress zipper blew out right before a wedding in Chicago.

I was putting on a gown I made for a friend's wedding last Saturday. The invisible zipper just ripped apart at the seam. Had to safety pin her into it. Used about twelve pins. The fabric was a heavy silk duchess satin. Has anyone found a super strong invisible zipper brand for thick materials?

4 comments

4 Comments

diana5123mo ago

Man, that's rough. I wonder if the problem is actually the seam allowance around the zipper, not just the zipper itself. With thick fabric, you might need a bigger seam to hold the stress.

davis.noah1mo ago

Heavy silk duchess satin is no joke, that stuff has almost zero give. I don't think the zipper is the real issue here though. Most invisible zippers from a decent fabric store can handle the weight if you're using the right technique. The problem is almost always the seam allowance being too narrow or the fabric not being properly stabilized with interfacing or a stay tape before you install the zipper. Lol I've had that same panic with a bridesmaid dress and a paperclip fix, but looking back it was my prep work that failed me, not the zipper.

mark4363mo ago

That's the worst, especially with satin. Feels like modern zippers are just getting flimsier, right?

rose_reed3mo ago

Ugh, totally! It's not just the zippers, it's the tiny teeth and the cheap slider. I had a nice dress where the pull tab just snapped off in my hand. Now you're stuck trying to hook a paperclip in there. It feels like they're making them to fail so you buy a new item faster.