We use zippers all the time: whether on clothes, shoes, bags, tents… the list goes on. Zippers keep our belongings secure, they keep us warm, they help keep out the elements, and they make it easier to get dressed. This hour is all about the zipper. We’ll learn about its history and significance, plus the role of zippers in fashion, and why so many zippers say “YKK.”

GUESTS:
Robert Friedel: Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Maryland and author of Zipper: An Exploration in Novelty, among other books. 
Emma McClendon: Fashion historian, curator, and author. 
Jim Reed: President of YKK Corporation of America. 

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate. 

We use zippers all the time: whether on clothes, shoes, bags, tents&hellip; the list goes on. Zippers keep our belongings secure, they keep us warm, they help keep out the elements, and they make it easier to get dressed. This hour is all about the zipper. We&rsquo;ll learn about its history and significance, plus the role of zippers in fashion, and why so many zippers say &ldquo;YKK.&rdquo;
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Robert Friedel: Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Maryland and author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Zipper-Exploration-Robert-D-Friedel/dp/0393313654">Zipper: An Exploration in Novelty</a>, among other books.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Emma McClendon:&nbsp;Fashion historian, curator, and author.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Jim Reed: President of YKK Corporation of America.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Join the conversation on<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://twitter.com/wnprcolin">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://twitter.com/wnprcolin">Twitter</a>.
Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/donate">ctpublic.org/donate</a>.&nbsp;

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.