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What is a Separating Zipper?

Mary McMahon
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 26,255
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A separating zipper is a zipper designed to separate completely, allowing two parts of a garment, sleeping bag, or pack to come completely apart, rather than being bound at one end by the base of the zipper. It is common on jackets, sleeping bags, and garments designed to convert, such as pants that turn into shorts. This type of zipper is extremely versatile, making it a good choice for many applications.

A separating zipper is designed much like a conventional zipper, with two strips of sturdy fabric studded with small metal or plastic teeth that can be joined together to make a seal. Zippers use a manually operated slider to open and close – depending upon the direction of movement, the y-shaped channel inside the slider either separates or joins the individual zipper teeth. Zippers are usually integral to the garments they appear in, and when the zipper becomes damaged or broken, the garment is often unusable until the zipper is repaired or replaced.

Zippers are used in a variety of applications. Sometimes a zipper is purely ornamental, and sometimes it is designed to allow access to a pocket or pack for secure storage. Zippers are also used like buttons, to allow the passage of larger objects, like waists and legs, through garments that can then be closed. Many jackets and sweatshirts make use of the separating zipper, as do some athletic pants, rather than the open-ended type, which is sealed at one end to prevent the slider from coming off.

In the case of a separating zipper, the base of the zipper is open, allowing the slider to completely disengage from the other side of the fabric. A small tab on the other side of the zipper can be reinserted into the slide to rejoin the two pieces. Two textiles with separating zippers can also be joined together to make, for example, a double-sized sleeping bag. This allows the user to separate and potentially reconfigure garments, sleeping bags, and backpacks. Many backpacking companies, for example, sell backpacks with zip-off daypacks that use a zipper that separates.

Installing of a separating zipper in a garment is slightly different than installing a conventional zipper, primarily because the sewer is presumably making use of this zipper's unique qualities. Rather than using the zipper to make a small opening in a skirt or jacket, for example, the creator would leave the areas above and below the separating zipper open, so that the two parts of the garment being joined could be pulled fully apart when upzipped. The separating zipper first appeared about fifty years after the initial invention of the zipper, and it greatly expanded the range of uses in which zippers appeared, making the simple device a common household name.

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Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a HomeQuestionsAnswered researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon56007 — On Dec 11, 2009

You need to put a stop on the top of the zipper on both sides. Since you cut off the zipper to shorten it you have removed both of the stops that were there.

Metal zippers have stops you can remove and replace, but plastic ones do not! You may be able to salvage your zipper by sewing across the tops(both of them) as close to the top as you can. Then you have created two thread stops.

Next time, remove the teeth above the length you want the zipper to be and put new stops on (you can buy them separately) then cut off the excess. --nary

By anon24527 — On Jan 13, 2009

I used a separating zipper on a fleece jacket. The pattern said to cut off top of zipper if is too long. I did this and now the zipper comes off at the top. any suggestions???? Thanks for any help.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

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