The need of fastening is almost as ancient as clothing. Of course, primarily this was done with knots, pins, hooks, loops, and anything else that can hold together two layers of fabric or leather. The first buttons appear during the Bronze Age. The oldest ones are found in the valley of Indus River, in what is now the land of India. They were made of any kind of material that was easy for processing.

The shell buttons and fashion:

Today fashion takes due account of the use of shell buttons. They lend colour to and decorate fine silk dresses, blouses and shirts. Developed in countless variants, they impart spirit and uniqueness to the garment, and even make jewelleries unnecessary.The thicker shell buttons that obviously have undergone serious treatment are used with equal success as the thinner ones, resembling a flake or a delicate piece of raw shell.
Fascinating examples since 18 century to the present days are preserved in the Button Museum in Italy. Periodically exhibitions are organized in the world’s largest museums, where you can see for yourself how the small shell buttons have excited man’s imagination for centuries.

Production:

Today Philippines and Japan are the main providers of shell, produced by molluscs.The technology for the production of shell buttons now differs very much from the old craft. The opportunities of the modern equipment have made them cheaper and more affordable. At the same time their beauty is natural, native and irresistible, thus meeting the requirements for maximum use of materials and fabrics of natural origin.
Usually the face side is lighter and the back side is darker and has displays the roughness of the shell. Mass models are dense, thick and durable. Modern shell buttons do not break easily and you will not have to change the style of your garment, because one or two of them have broken.The usual size is from 14 to 18, but if you have special requirements, they can be fabricated in any other size. Shell buttons can even be made with size 40.