|
|
|
Nature of Shell Buttons and ways to protect them Last Updated: 2017-03-16 |
|
Shell buttons have been available since the ancient time before our ancestors were able to craft buttons from synthetic materials. Shell Buttons come from nature, have a feel of elegant with their attractive lustrous rainbow-like play of color and iridescence, they are always associated with jewels and gems and have their according value to enthusiasts, so when they are sewn on garments, they boost the value of the the clothing and give the wearers a sense of accomplishment and positive feeling. Most high end clothing enhance their value with shell buttons because of the unique features of this 'treasure' from the sea. There are plenty of shell types in the world with many natural resources, but there are only a handful of species which are suitable for making shell buttons, this is because the quality required is demanding in the shell buttons industry; only high grade materials are selected for production. Under stringent quality control, only those with attractive colors, hard, dense with high resilient strength are chosen. Also, they need to be within easy reach for economic harvesting. Common shell selected for buttons are mainly from Trocas Shell, Whitelip, Blacklip, River Shell, Tamagai Shell and other Mother of Pearl Shell. Good shell buttons are gentle and pearl-like, not as shiny as some man-made polyester buttons, they are weighty, with higher relative density compare wtih than polyester buttons.Besides, they need to be firm and solid and with high rate of heat transfer - that's why we feel cool when we touch the shell buttons on our face or hand. They are resistant to organic solvent and are not harmful to human or environment and of course bio-degradable - totally GREEN material to use for buttons application. There are however drawbacks of using shell buttons, they tend to be brittle and not as resistance as polyester buttons, they are easily oxidized by oxidizing agent, cannot resist corrosion from acids and the shell structure will break down when react with them - so when clothes with shell buttons go to laundry, make sure NOT TO use oxidizing chemicals in the washing process, use buttons cover to protect the buttons to avoid direct contact with the washing fluid, one way to protect the buttons is to wrap the buttons with aluminium foil before going for the wash. This will help to preserve the iridescence of the buttons. To further protect the buttons from brute force in the washing, it helps to cover the buttons with cotton under the aluminium foil wrapping. |