YKK Snap Cap Wins Best Product Award
YKK's 3D printed snap cap and revived Vislon AquaGuard replacement elements were both recognized at ISPO Textrends in the accessories category.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Accessories
YKK received two recognitions in the accessories category of ISPO Textrends, with its 3D Printed Snap Cap named Best Product and its Revived Replacement Elements for Vislon AquaGuard zippers chosen as a selection. ISPO Textrends selects performance textiles, components and apparel twice a year in connection with the ISPO trade fair in Amsterdam.
Why it matters
The awards highlight efforts to reduce waste and rely on bio-based materials in performance components. The recognition comes as manufacturers look for ways to repair products rather than discard them.
The snap cap insert combines a bio-based wood composite from Sulapac with cotton fibres and thermoplastic polyurethane, and is produced using on-demand 3D printing without moulds or minimum order quantities. The snap is a concept product, and YKK has not yet decided whether it will be sold commercially.
The players
YKK
YKK is a Japanese manufacturer of zippers and fastening products known globally for its zipper components used across apparel and accessories.
ISPO Textrends
ISPO Textrends is a selection program that recognizes performance textiles, components and apparel twice a year in connection with the ISPO trade fair in Amsterdam.
The details
YKK's 3D Printed Snap Cap combines its snap manufacturing with the on-demand 3D printing system of Variloom. The Revived Replacement Elements allow only damaged or missing elements of a Vislon AquaGuard zipper to be replaced rather than the entire zipper.
Timeline
Last year: An earlier Vislon zipper version for standard zippers won an iF Design Award.
November 5, 2026: YKK's awards were announced at ISPO Textrends.
January 2027: Vislon AquaGuard replacement elements are scheduled to go on sale.
Culture Shift
The awards reflect a growing move in outdoor and performance apparel toward repairable components and on-demand production that avoids moulds and minimum order quantities. Variloom's on-demand 3D printing system is being applied to fastening hardware, extending a method that has so far been used mainly for prototyping.
Once available, the Vislon AquaGuard replacement elements will let owners swap only a damaged or missing zipper element rather than replacing the entire zipper. The snap cap is still a concept product, so buyers cannot yet purchase it.
The takeaway
Repairable components like replacement zipper elements can extend the life of outdoor gear and reduce waste. Checking whether a manufacturer offers individual part replacement before buying can help keep gear in use longer.
What happens next
The Vislon AquaGuard Revived Replacement Elements are scheduled to go on sale in January 2027.
Further reading
For more on fastening hardware and related product categories, see the Accessories section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FashionUnited.
