In an award ceremony on September 25, 2018, YKK Corporation received the Prime Minister’s Award, the top prize in 12th Kids Design Award organized by the Kids Design Kids Design Association in Japan, for the QuickFree® zipper. QuickFree® was also recognized in the “design that contributes to the safety and security of children” category of the 12th Kids Design Award on August 24, 2018.
QuickFree®, which came to market in 2017, is a zipper that promotes safety, security, and a sense of independence and accomplishment in small children who can open and close clothing alone through the zipper’s improved operability and its release function. By improving the zipper’s visibility by changing the shape of the slider and widening the area into which the pin is inserted, YKK has reduced the possibility of the pin being inserted into the wrong part of the slider. Moreover, when a certain load is applied to the left or right of the zipper, the slider “snaps” off with a releasing function that allows the zipper to open without lowering the slider, thereby reducing the possibility of the clothing putting pressure on a child’s body*, such as when the child’s clothing get caught on playground equipment. (*Based on YKK’s lock strength test.)
The Kids Design Award aims to promote design that contributes to the safety and security of children, is creative and future-orientated, and makes it easier to raise children.
To learn more about QuickFree®, visit
