The zipper on my favorite vintage jacket finally gave out after 12 years

I was wearing my old denim jacket from a thrift store in Portland to a casual meetup last Saturday and the zipper just split right down the middle. No warning, just a loud pop and I was stuck with it half open. Took it to a local tailor near 3rd Street and he quoted me $35 to replace it with a YKK steel zipper. Has anyone else had luck restoring a favorite piece that broke on them?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_wesley1d ago

That YKK steel zipper for $35 sounds like a solid deal honestly. It's funny how something as simple as a zipper failing can make you stop and think about how much we rely on these tiny metal teeth to hold our whole life together. I've been noticing this pattern lately where all the stuff I bought ten or fifteen years ago is finally wearing out at the same time, like my boots, my backpack, even my favorite coffee mug has a crack now. We treat these things like they'll last forever, but nothing does, not even the good stuff. Makes you wonder if we're just bad at taking care of things or if everything is made with a built-in failure date these days.

thomas_scott2d ago

Wait bringing it to a tailor on 3rd Street is what I would do. $35 for a YKK steel zipper is actually a fair price in most cities, but make sure that's installed and not just the cost of the zipper itself. Some tailors charge extra for the labor on vintage jackets because the fabric can be delicate or the old stitching needs picked out carefully. I had a similar Levi's trucker jacket with a busted zipper a few years back and the same price got me a solid replacement that's held up through three winters now. Just double check the zipper pull matches the original style if that matters to you.

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