| When did buttons begin to be used? What was used | | | | non-functioning buttons sewn on the sleeves? Some |
| to secure clothing before them? Some history and | | | | say they are just for decoration, but there is also the |
| facts about the button: | | | | story that King Frederick The Great of Prussia started |
| - Button-like objects have been found in the Indus | | | | the practice in the 18th century. The rumor goes that |
| Valley of ancient Pakistan and date back to around | | | | after an inspection of his troops, he ordered that |
| 2000 B.C.E. These were not used for fasteners, but | | | | buttons be sewn on the sleeves of their coats to |
| for ornaments. Before they were used for fastening, | | | | discourage them from wiping their noses on them! |
| pins, leather lacing and belts were used to secure | | | | - The Scovill Manufacturing Company in America |
| clothing. | | | | made a set of gold buttons with the profile of George |
| - Before buttons could be used as fasteners, the | | | | Washington on them that were presented to Marquis |
| button hole had to be devised. Evidence dates the first | | | | de Lafayette during his U.S. visit in 1824. |
| button and button hole closure systems to the 13th | | | | - With the increased cost of ivory in the 19th century, |
| century in Germany. This may have been a solution to | | | | button manufacturers began to make them out of a |
| the problem of how to secure clothing that was | | | | nut from a specific kind of palm tree in South America. |
| becoming more and more form-fitting, without having | | | | This is called vegetable ivory, or corozo. When the nut |
| to resort to sharp pins. | | | | is dried, it is a very reasonable facsimile for genuine |
| - As with most anything that is new, they became a | | | | ivory, and is still used today. |
| fad. Buttons and button holes covered the clothing of | | | | - The first buttons made from celluloid, one of the first |
| the well to do. The number of them and what they | | | | types of plastics, were made in the 1860's. |
| were made out of became a status symbol. It has | | | | - Before World War One, most button manufacturing |
| been rumored that King Louis XIV of France spent | | | | was done in Europe, specifically England. After the |
| over $5 million on them in his lifetime. | | | | war, the United States became the center of button |
| - Ever wonder why men's suit coats have | | | | making until modern times. |