The zip on your bag has broken and it won't zip!
You've tried replacing it with a couple of safety pins, but frankly, it just doesn't look right any more.
Tilli explains how to easily repair the zip on your beloved bag or in the worst case scenario, how to change it!
In most cases, a little maintenance is required.
Zippers, in the same way as leather or stainless steel, need maintenance. Regularly, you can oil your zippers, just as you would oil the chain on an engine. Take a cotton bud and soak it in oil, glycerine or Marseille soap.
This will prevent your zipper from seizing up and eventually, jamming.
If you observe rust marks on your zip, it's a sign that it needs a little bath. Water and lemon will do but you can also use baking soda or white vinegar. Be careful not to submerge your bag in this bath, as this may alter its color.
Finally, check that the teeth of your clasp aren't broken or twisted. If so, you can try to realign them with long-nose darts.
If the slider on your fastener is broken, you can repair it individually without having to change the whole fastener.
You'll find sliders online or in haberdashery. Be careful, however, to take a slider with the right diameter and of the same type as the previous one.
To replace the slider, nothing could be simpler: you'll insert the slide into the slider, looping through the bottom of course, and pull it up a few centimeters. This will then allow you to replace the start and end stops.
If none of the tips above has worked, you'll need to think about changing your fastener!
It may sound frightening, but don't worry, it can be done.
If in doubt and if your bag is really precious to you, don't hesitate to contact us. A Tillist will come straight to your home to assess the situation and repair your fastener to perfection.
If you'd like to give it a go, you'll start by dissecting the old zip using a quick-dissector.
You'll then place the new zip on your bag, in the exact position of the previous one, and pin it in place.
All that's left to do is sew the first tab and then the second.