In the long river of history, clothing culture is like a brilliant galaxy, and buttons, as an indispensable embellishment, have a development journey filled with wonderful stories. Archaeological research confirms that before the Ming Dynasty, buttons were hardly seen on ancient people's clothing, which were all connected by "tie-style" "jie yi". In fact, the history of buttons can be traced back 1800 years, evolving from the initial primitive stone buttons, wooden buttons, and shell buttons to fabric buttons and knotted buttons. Knotted buttons are considered an important milestone in the history of clothing development, transforming from purely functional fasteners to highly attractive decorative elements. Chinese pankou, as a classic button form in traditional clothing, is made by carefully sewing fabric into thin strips and cleverly knotting them into various patterns, with a level of exquisiteness resembling ingenious works of art, standing uniquely in China's clothing culture. Chinese pankou not only has practical value but also excels in decorating and beautifying clothing, especially in ethnic costumes, with the delicate pankou on "Tang suits" showcasing its charm to the fullest. According to "Tianshui Bingshan Lu", at the end of the 16th century, clothing buttons began to be gradually used by people, mainly for formal attire during the late Ming Dynasty, rarely appearing in everyday clothing, and it wasn't until the Qing Dynasty that buttons truly entered ordinary households and became widely used.
Looking at the world, the story of buttons is equally fascinating. In the Middle Ages, noble dance partners began to adorn their clothing with gold, silver, and jeweled buttons, which were not only symbols of status but also passed down as inherited valuables from generation to generation. In the 14th century, button production reached an important turning point, laying the industrial foundation, and fashionable women's buttons also appeared on the stage of the Tsarist era. The 16th to 18th centuries can be considered the "button frenzy period," with Russian nobles's clothing featuring a wide variety of buttons, extremely luxurious; French King Louis XIV lavishly spent 3.6 million francs on buttons decorated with jewels, gems, and colored enamel; Charles V was even more innovative, ordering the creation of unique buttons resembling miniature watches with precious rims; Francis I purchased 13,600 buttons at once to decorate formal and daily wear, setting a record at that time. During the French Revolution, the king's button collection was confiscated by the state, and thereafter, ordinary metal buttons symbolizing equality became popular.
By the 20th century, the evolution of buttons became even more diverse and colorful. In the 1930s, the fashion world sparked a creative trend, with buttons shaped like colorful small basins, mermaids, and snakes being highly favored, and some buttons even marked with the owner's initials. During World War II, British naval officers's buttons had a hidden secret, each being a miniature compass, combining practicality with mystery. In the 1980s, American Terry Kelly's performance in Paris was astonishing, with her entire body covered in buttons, taking the decorative nature of buttons to the extreme. In the 1990s, standard buttons with slightly raised edges and four small holes became mainstream, and polished snail and shell buttons resembling pearls were also highly sought after.
In the details of clothing coordination, buttons also contain unique culture and etiquette. The buttonholes on men's suit lapels, though having no actual fastening function, have become a decorative spot for elegant gentlemen, with Germans favoring carnations and French people preferring orchids. The way of buttoning also has many considerations: when men wear suits, the bottom button is usually left unbuttoned; when wearing leather jackets, if there are 3 buttons, button the middle one, if there are 2 buttons, button the lower one; when wearing a shirt with a tie, the collar button must be buttoned, otherwise it will be seen as lacking etiquette. From the ancient East to the distant West, from practical function to aesthetic expression, the small button carries the weight of history and the flavor of culture, continuing to shine with unique brilliance in the refinement of time.
