Riri Group, a leading manufacturer of zippers and buttons, has launched its latest Autumn/Winter 2018-2019 collection at Munich Fabric Start, Première Vision Paris and Lineapelle Milan, focusing on “feeling the colours, touch essential materials”, and “glide on endless landscapes”.

In the zip division, the company has been looking into both materials and technologies in order to offer cutting-edge products able to anticipate the market’s trends. “There is the ground-breaking implementation of new completely water-repellent zippers in plastic material,” the company explains.

The Group is also about to finalise a zip concept that has all metallic parts exclusively made of stainless steel, which is said to offer significant improvements in terms of oxidation resistance and strength and could make finishing treatment unnecessary.

On the aesthetic side of innovation, Riri Group is developing highly innovative technologies for the surface treatment of body sliders and teeth that will result in original finishes and effects impossible to achieve with standard technologies, according to the manufacturer.

To complete the picture, is the Me3H Project, which develops for the metal family a chain smaller than the actual 4mm, complementing the size range of the collection, and the research on metal zippers with tapes in leather rather than fabric, both for garments and leather goods.

Performance and resistance in b.Lock

“Born out of Riri Group and Cobrax engineering innovation applied to small components, b.Lock is the patented concept that continues to surprise. It can be applied to any field where the need for functionality meets aesthetic requirements, thanks to a revolutionary locking system that makes this snap extra resistant to lateral traction,” the company explains.

To share and prove the b.Lock snap’s strength, Riri Group chose ISPO Open Innovation platform, part of the renowned ISPO network. A selection of experienced “consumer experts” had the chance to receive a garment or piece with the insertion of Cobrax patented advanced technology in order to test them and discuss possible uses.

Innovation close to young talents

Riri Group has recently started some important collaborations and partnerships with renowned Fashion schools and institutes. One of these is the fruitful collaboration with Arsutoria, a leading school for fashion training focused on shoes and bags design. Riri Group will supply accessories for the bag pattern-making course. Over the next few months, interesting projects will also start with STA – Scuola Specializzata Superiore di Abbigliamento e Design della Moda – institution that is collaborating with the most important fashion players.

Another important initiative has been the Silver Dreams project, part of the school-to-work programme, in partnership with many schools from the Province of Sondrio. For this, two young students of the Fashion Course at Polo di Formazione Professionale (PFP Valtellina) and interns at Riri had the original idea of designing and creating bridal gowns and accessories made from the waste products of zip production.

An important collaboration aimed at fostering excellence is also the one between Riri Group and the third-year students from Polimoda’s Footwear and Accessories Design class. Known for its capacity to combine business and design across all departments, Polimoda is considered by The Business of Fashion’s Global Fashion School Rankings as the best fashion institute in Italy and amongst the top ten in the world.

www.riri.com