Those mysterious marking etched on the zippers of many of the clothing items you own are little more than the name of the top manufacturer of zippers. A quick search on " ykk zippers " took us right to the web site of the fastener giant.
The company got its start in Japan in 1934, and opened its first office in 1960 in New York City. It eventually grew to become the country's top supplier of zippers and other fastening devices such as snaps and buttons. Today, their plant in Macon, Georgia, produces 1,500 styles of zippers in 427 standard colors for use on clothing as well as other items, such as tents or boat covers. Besides notions, YKK also manufactures "entrances and window systems."
What does the "YKK" stand for? Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha, the name of the Japanese company. The letters were stamped onto products and eventually became the trademark and official name of the company.
Today, the company is so well-known for their zippers, there is even a market for counterfeit YKK zippers..