Ji-Horng Plastic Co., Ltd. Plastic Buckle: What is Buckle? Who Invented Buckle?
Buckle, also known as clasp, refer to various types of hardware for fixing ropes or belts. They are tools used to connect the two ends of an object and are often used with straps, webbings, and cords. Buckles on clothing can be used to fasten clothes, shoes, hats and other items. Before the invention of the zipper, buckles were indispensable for humans to fasten the two ends of items. In the early days, buckles were only practical, simple in appearance and had basic functionality. As time went by, the appearance of buckles has changed and the sizes have become more complete, and in response to fashion trends, the appearance began to focus on aesthetic, besides, people started to add different elements to improve performance, such as adding metal parts to strengthen the structure, inserting magnetic materials to make magnetic buckles, adding additional locking mechanisims to improve safety, making different colors and surfaces electroplating, adding laser/printing logo, etc.
In this article, we will explore the origin of the name and historical evolution of buckles.
Why Names Buckle?
The word "Buckle" comes from the Latin word "Buccula" and the Old French word "Boucle". There is no clear record of the inventor of the buckle. The earliest buckle in historical records can be traced back to the ancient Roman era. The buckle is mainly used for military equipment and is made of bronze, which is expensive. "Buccula" refers to the part of the soldier's helmet that covers the cheek (cheek-strap).
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The History of Buckle
A large number of bronze buckles have been excavated from Roman ruins. At that time, due to the high production cost of buckles and the fact that there was no need to use buckles on the loose and flowing clothing of civilians, we can infer that the ancient Romans mainly applied buckles in military affairs. Buckles are used to make military equipment such as armor, scabbards, straps, horse harnesses, etc. In addition, the two major nomadic peoples, the Scythians and the Sarmatians, carved animal patterns on the surface of the buckles. These animals often fought desperate battles with them, and after carving, each buckle is endowed preciousness. The animal patterns were later introduced by the Germanic peoples, so the remains of belt buckles decorated with animal patterns have been excavated in the tombs of the Franks and Burgundians.
In the second half of the 14th century, a large number of knightly orders were established in Europe. As people paid more attention to appearance, the knight belt buckles became quite gorgeous, due to their high prices, they were often only available to the rich; but as technology gradually improved, by the 15th century, buckles could be made with molds, mold-produced buckles make the cost decreased, thus buckle became widely used among the people and were no longer exclusive to the rich.
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In the 16th century, British sailors' trousers were easily soaked by sea water and rain. In order to prevent the trousers from slipping down due to the heavier trousers after soaking by moisture, they invented the belt buckle to tighten the trouser waist.
In the 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV (the Sun King) of France, women in the court began to show their feet under their long skirts and wear shoes decorated with gorgeous shoe buckles. In the late 17th century, the shoe buckles were exaggeratedly large, according to the fashion trend at that time, the bigger the shoe buckles, the more gorgeous they are, and the extremely huge show buckle may even hurt their feet. Buckles were very popular during the Victorian era in the 18th century. The gorgeous and expensive buckles were made of precious metals such as gold and silver, and were inlaid with gems or painted with enamel. They were indispensable accessories for well-dressed gentlemen and ladies.
...It clearly shows that since the Middle Ages, even after several centuries, buckles are still regarded as indicators of social status, and a gorgeously decorated buckle is not only a simple, practical element in clothing, but also shows the wearer's taste in dressing.
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Belt buckles used during the American Civil War (1861-1865) had a sense of identity - just like uniform, these buckles usually had quite large plates, and the front was usually decorated with patterns or initials to indicate the army to which the division of soldier belonged, or state of origin. They are very popular among modern collectors, especially the buckles from South which are relatively rare. The rarer belt buckles are worth up to $35,000, and even the most common and widely used Civil War belt buckles are worth $300. Their collection value is obvious, so in addition to the genuine products, there are also various replicas circulating in the market made by those who are interested in making a fortune.
In modern times, although the aesthetics and design of buckles are still one of the considerations for the occasion of use, those flashy buckles are no longer the first choice for users. Safety and practicality are also very important points in the selection guide. Buckles are often used in daily life, such as pet collar buckles, car seat belt buckles, cargo strap buckles, backpack buckles, outdoor sports safety buckles, etc., and the load-bearing and sturdiness of the buckles must be considered. Heavy-duty buckles with strong load-bearing capacity are produced to cope with high tensile force requirements.
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Where Can I Buy Plastic Buckles? Who is Buckle Manufacturer?
If you are looking for plastic buckles, Ji-Horng Plastic Co., Ltd. will be your best plastic buckle supplier. Located in central Taiwan, factory direct, high quality, and the prices are cost-effective, we provide side release buckles, cord stopper (drawstring buckle), webbing adjust buckles, and rings in differnet shapes, D-rings, triangular rings, O-rings, square loops, belt loop, etc.
Please refer to our e-catalog: https://www.ji-horng.com/catalog, or visit our product page directly to look up the buckle you need by category.
How are Plastic Buckles Produced? Production Method of Plastic Buckle
Plastic buckles are produced by "injection molding". The principle is to heat and melt the granular plastic raw materials into a liquid state, then pressurize and inject them into a metal mold, keep the pressure in the mold and cool it until it solidifies. The molded product is then ejected by the ejector mechanism. Different plastic raw materials require appropriate processing temperatures based on their physical properties. Some hygroscopic plastics also require additional drying before they can be used in the manufacturing process.
How Much are Plastic Buckles? What's the Price of Plastic Buckle?
The price of the buckle varies according to the style, size, complexity of the shape, material, cost of matching parts, etc. Discounts can be offered for large quantities. If the required style of buckle is not one of our existing products, Ji-Horng Plastic Co., Ltd. also provides injection molding development services. We have our own mold department, communication is timely and efficient, and we can provide the most professional suggestions based on your initial ideas. Welcome to contact the sales department to get the best quotation, or use the inquiry system for online consultation!
TEL: +886-4-8355057 / FAX: +886-4-8355059
E-mail: service@ji-horng.com.tw
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References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckle
https://fotoshoemagazine.com/history-buckle-fashion-costume-jewellery/