Zip repair

Zip repair covers boots, bags and jackets — replacing a broken zip, refitting a slider, or repairing the tape a zip is sewn into.

Often the slider, not the zip

A zip that separates behind the slider as you close it usually has a worn slider rather than damaged teeth. That is a small part and a quick fix, and much cheaper than replacing the whole zip.

Missing or bent teeth are a different matter — those mean a new zip, which on a boot involves unpicking and resewing the upper.

Do not force it

The most common way a repairable zip becomes an unrepairable one is being yanked when it sticks. If a zip is catching, stop pulling, and take it in. A cobbler with the right sliders can often fix it in minutes.

Only a couple of shops here list zip work, so ring first.