How the button changed fashion | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series

Name: How the button changed fashion | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series
Uploaded: 2018-11-03T16:35:54.000Z
Duration: 4 min 21 s
Description: How the simple button changed the world, according to fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi. Small Thing Big Idea, a TED original series, celebrates the lasting genius of everyday objects so perfectly designed that they changed the world around them. Check out more here: https://go.ted.com/STBI Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/TED

The Enduring Design of Buttons

The Origin and Evolution of Buttons

The button's history is uncertain, possibly dating back to 2000 BCE as a decorative element before the invention of the buttonhole around 3000 years later, which made buttons functional.

The design of buttons has remained largely unchanged since the Middle Ages, highlighting their status as one of history's most enduring designs.

Functionality and Fashion

Prior to buttons, clothing was looser and more amorphous; the introduction of buttons allowed fashion to fit closer to the body.

Buttons are praised for their reliability compared to other fasteners like zippers or Velcro. If a button falls off, it can easily be sewn back on, making it a long-lasting solution.

Personal Connection to Buttons

Channel: TED

Video description

How the simple button changed the world, according to fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi. Small Thing Big Idea, a TED original series, celebrates the lasting genius of everyday objects so perfectly designed that they changed the world around them. Check out more here: https://go.ted.com/STBI Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/TED