When shopping for outdoor clothing and customized bags, are you dazzled by terms such as "corns", "air eyes" and "shoe eyes"? In fact, clothing corns (also known as shoe eyelets, air eyelets) are commonly used accessories in clothing, footwear, bags and other products, essentially hollow fasteners made by stamping or injection molding process, mainly divided into two categories: metal eyelets and plastic eyelets.
From the perspective of function, the value of clothing corns is reflected in two points: one is practicality, which can reinforce the holes in the fabric and prevent damage caused by pulling, such as the connection of the strap of the backpack and the holes of the shoelaces; The second is decorativeness, through different shapes, colors and surface treatments, the design of the product can be enhanced, such as metal corns on cargo jackets and special-shaped corns on trendy clothing.
Real case: An outdoor brand once caused the fabric to tear when hiking with heavy weight due to the failure to use corns in the shoulder strap holes of the backpack, and the similar complaint rate dropped by 92% after upgrading to thickened copper corns. This fully shows that although the corn is small, it is a key accessory that affects the durability of the product.
2. Types and designs of clothing corns: how to choose the right style?
2.1 Classification by shape: from basic to personality choice
The shape of clothing corns directly affects the visual effect and adaptation of the product, and common types include:
- Round corns: The most versatile style, accounting for more than 70% of market sales, suitable for the vast majority of clothing, footwear and bags, with the advantage of easy installation and uniform force.
- Triangular eyelets: Mostly used for tooling and outdoor equipment, the angular design enhances the visual impact and prevents the webbing from slipping in specific scenarios.
- Special-shaped eyelets: including square, star-shaped, brand logo customization, etc., mainly used in trendy brand clothing, gift bags, etc., which can improve product recognition, but the customization cost is high, and the MOQ is usually not less than 5000 pieces.
2.2 Dimensional specifications: What do you think of the key parameters?
When choosing corns, focus on three core sizes (unit: mm):
Size type | definition | Common range | Adapt to the scenario |
Inner diameter | The diameter of the inner hole of the corn | 2-10 | Inner diameter 2-4mm is suitable for hat rope holes and accessories; 5-8mm is suitable for shoelace holes, backpack webbing holes; 9-10mm for heavy equipment |
Outside diameter | The diameter of the outer ring of the corn | 4-15 | It should be selected according to the thickness of the fabric, the thicker the fabric, the larger the outer diameter should be to avoid crushing the fabric |
length | Height of corns (including upper and lower parts) | 3-8 | Length = fabric thickness + 1-2mm, too short will lead to insecure installation, too long will affect the aesthetics |
2.3 Surface treatment: the balance between process and effect
The surface treatment of metal corns not only affects the appearance but also relates to corrosion resistance and service life, and common processes include:
- Electroplating: the most mainstream process, can be plated with nickel, gold, silver and other colors, low cost, suitable for daily clothing; Among them, nickel-plated corns have strong corrosion resistance, and the salt spray test can reach more than 48 hours.
- Spraying: Achieve matte and matte effects through powder spraying or painting, and color customization is flexible, but the wear resistance is poor, and it is not suitable for high-frequency friction areas.
- Aging: Create a retro texture through oxidation and polishing processes, mostly used for tooling and retro bellows, and the price is about 30% higher than ordinary plating.
Plastic corns are mostly dyeing processes, with bright colors but weak weather resistance, and are easy to fade due to long-term exposure to sunlight, making them more suitable for indoor use.
3. The material and process of clothing corns: the game between performance and cost
3.1 Comparison of common materials: each has its own advantages and disadvantages
Eyelets of different materials vary significantly in terms of performance, cost, and applicable scenarios, as follows:
Material type | Core features | Cost level | Applicable scenarios | Notes: |
Copper corns | High hardness, strong corrosion resistance, and good electrical conductivity | Middle and high | Outdoor equipment, tooling, high-end bags | It is heavier and not suitable for light fabrics |
Iron corns | Low price and moderate hardness | low | Disposable products, low-cost clothing | It is easy to rust and needs to be treated with electroplating |
Aluminum alloy corns | Lightweight and high strength | middle | Lightweight outdoor equipment and sports shoes | It is difficult to process and has a long customization cycle |
Plastic corns | Light weight, rich color, low cost | low | Children's clothing, hat ropes, low-cost bags | Poor temperature resistance, avoid use in high temperature environments |
Professional advice: If the product needs to be exposed to water or used outdoors, prefer copper or nickel-plated iron eyelets; It is recommended to use plastic corns without sharp angles for children's products to avoid scratches; For lightweight products, aluminum alloy eyelets can be considered.
3.2 Manufacturing process: the difference between stamping and injection molding
- Stamping process: Mainly used for metal eyelets, stamping and forming metal sheets through molds, the advantages are high production efficiency (50-100 pieces per minute), high precision, suitable for mass production; The disadvantage is that the mold cost is high, and small batch customization is not cost-effective.
- Injection molding process: mainly used for plastic eyelets, injecting plastic particles into mold molding, the advantage is low mold cost, flexible color customization, suitable for small batch production; The disadvantage is that the strength is low and it is not suitable for parts with greater stress.
4. Production and procurement of clothing corns: avoid these pitfalls!
4.1 Supplier Evaluation: How to Choose a Reliable Partner?
As a buyer, you need to focus on the following 5 points when choosing a corn supplier:
- Production qualification: Whether it has ISO9001 quality system certification, the metal eyelet supplier needs to provide material testing reports (such as copper content, plating thickness).
- Production equipment: Preferential selection of manufacturers with automatic stamping machines and electroplating production lines, with stronger production stability and a defective rate of less than 0.5%.
- Sample quality: Require the supplier to provide free samples to test its hardness (metal corns can be tested with pliers to see if they are easy to deform), plating adhesion (tear after sticking with tape, and observe whether it falls off).
- Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): The MOQ for regular models is usually 1000-5000 pieces, and for customized models, 5000-10000 pieces are required.
- Delivery time: The delivery time for regular products is 7-15 days, and the customized model is 15-30 days, with a 10% buffer period to avoid affecting the production schedule.
4.2 Procurement considerations: balance between cost, quality and delivery
- Cost control: The unit price of eyelets decreases with the increase of purchase, taking round nickel-plated copper eyelets as an example, the unit price of purchasing 1,000 pieces is about 0.2 yuan/piece, and the unit price of purchasing 100,000 pieces can be reduced to 0.08 yuan/piece. At the same time, choosing a nearby supplier can reduce transportation costs, which are usually 30%-50% lower than overseas.
- Quality control: Sampling and testing are required upon receipt, focusing on checking the dimensional deviation (allowable error ±0.1mm), coating uniformity, and installation firmness. It is recommended to sign a quality agreement with the supplier to clarify the compensation terms when the defective rate exceeds the standard.
- Delivery time management: If the product has seasonal demand (such as summer clothing and winter outdoor equipment), orders need to be placed 2-3 months in advance to avoid delays caused by insufficient production capacity of suppliers during peak seasons.
Industry data: According to statistics from the China Hardware Association, the domestic clothing corn market will reach 1.28 billion yuan in 2023, of which the top 10 suppliers account for 45% of the market share, and the defective rate of small and medium-sized suppliers is 3%-5% on average, while the leading suppliers can be controlled within 1%.
4.3 Customized Service: Which Situations Are Suitable for Customization?
When the regular style cannot meet the needs, you can choose to customize the eyelets, and common customization scenarios include:
- Brand logo customization: Embedding the brand logo on the surface of the eyelets to enhance brand exposure and suitable for mid-to-high-end products.
- Special size customization: For unconventional hole sizes, it is necessary to customize the eyelets corresponding to the inner diameter and outer diameter, such as the drawstring hole eyelets of large tents.
- Special material customization: such as environmentally friendly materials (degradable plastics, recycled metals) and functional materials (antibacterial, conductive), suitable for products with specific needs.
5. Application and installation of clothing corns: from theory to practice
5.1 End product application: selection skills for different scenarios
The application scenarios of clothing corns are wide, and the selection focus of different products is different:
- Shoe corns: Prefer round, 5-8mm inner diameter copper or aluminum alloy corns, the surface treatment should be wear-resistant and not easy to scratch, such as nickel-plated corns commonly used in sports shoes, and gold or silver electroplated cornlets in leather shoes.
- Jacket corns: Cargo jackets are suitable for triangular or special-shaped corns, casual coats can choose round or colored corns, and thicker coats need to be paired with corns with a length of 4-6mm.
- Tent corns: Choose thickened copper corns with an inner diameter of 8-10mm, and the surface should be treated with anti-rust treatment to ensure durability in the outdoor environment, and the installation position should avoid the tent stress concentration point.
- Luggage corns: High-strength copper eyelets should be used for shoulder strap holes and handle holes in backpacks, and lightweight plastic eyelets or small metal eyelets can be selected for small bags such as cosmetic bags and wallets.
- Cap Rope Hole Corns: Small round eyelets with an inner diameter of 2-4mm, the material can be selected from plastic or thin metal, focusing on lightness and aesthetics.
5.2 Installation method: manual vs. machine selection
The installation quality of eyelets directly affects the service life, and there are two common installation methods:
5.2.1 Manual Installation: Suitable for small batches or personal use
Tools needed: eyelet pliers, punches, pads
Steps:
- Mark the installation location on the fabric, punch holes (hole diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the corn).
- Thread the lower part of the corn (with boss) from the back of the fabric and the upper part (with holes) on top.
- Place the combined corns on the pad and squeeze them firmly with eyelet tongs until the upper and lower parts fit the fabric perfectly.
- Check the installation effect: pull the corns to ensure they are not loose; Observe the surface without significant deformation or fabric damage.
5.2.2 Machine Installation: Suitable for high-volume production
Common equipment: automatic eyelet machine, semi-automatic eyelet machine
Advantages: High production efficiency (fully automatic machine can install 30-50 pieces per minute), high installation accuracy, uniform force, suitable for factories with a daily output of more than 1000 pieces.
Precautions: Before the machine is installed, the mold needs to be debugged to ensure that the eyelet size matches the mold; Different fabrics need to adjust the pressure to avoid crushing the fabric or not installing it firmly.
Practical tips: When installing thick fabrics (such as canvas, leather), you can apply a small amount of glue to the holes first, and then install corns to enhance firmness; When installing light-colored fabrics, choose eyelets without scratches to avoid the plating peeling off and contaminating the fabric.
6. Industry trends of clothing corns: environmental protection and innovation
6.1 Environmentally friendly materials have become mainstream
With the improvement of global environmental awareness, the demand for eyelets made of environmentally friendly materials is increasing year by year:
- Degradable Plastic Corns: Made from biodegradable materials like PLA, they can be degraded in the natural environment after disposal, suitable for eco-friendly brands or disposable products.
- Recycled metal eyelets: Made from recycled copper, aluminum and other metals to reduce resource waste, the price is 10%-15% lower than that of virgin metal eyelets, and the current market share has reached 15%, which is expected to increase to 30% by 2025.
6.2 Innovative applications in smart wearable devices
In smart wearables, eyelets are no longer just ordinary accessories, but integrate functionality:
- Conductive eyelets: Use metal eyelets as conductive contacts for charging interfaces or sensor connections in smart clothing, such as fingertip corns in smart gloves to achieve touch functions.
- Waterproof eyelet: Designed with a sealed structure and a waterproof rubber ring, it can be used for waterproof interfaces of outdoor smart devices, with a waterproof rating of up to IP67.
6.3 Growing demand for personalized customization
The demand for personalized products among young consumers has driven the development of the corn customization market, and in addition to regular logo customization, the following trends have emerged:
- Color-changing corns: through temperature-sensitive or light-sensitive materials, the color changes with temperature or light, suitable for trendy clothing or children's products.
- 3D Printed Eyelets: Enables intricate styling designs with low MOQs (only 100 pieces) but higher production costs, suitable for niche or designer brands.
7. FAQ: FAQ
- Is there a difference between clothing corns and shoe eyelets and air eyes?
Answer: There is no difference in essence, just different scenarios are called differently. "Corns" is a general term, "eyelets" are mainly used in footwear, and "air eyes" are mostly used in bags, tents and other products that require breathability or ropes.
- How to judge the quality of corns?
Answer: It can be judged from three points: (1) Material: metal eyelet magnet test, copper and aluminum alloy do not absorb magnets, iron magnetics (need to confirm whether electroplating is anti-rust); (2) Plating: scratch with nails, no peeling, no scratches are high quality; (3) Size: Measured with calipers, the deviation does not exceed ±0.1mm is qualified.
- What should I do if the MOQ is too low when purchasing corns?
Answer: If the purchase volume is small (less than 1000 pieces), you can choose the mixed batch service of online wholesale platforms (such as 1688) or contact the supplier to purchase regular inventory payments; Customized models need to be negotiated with suppliers, and some manufacturers support small batch customization, but the unit price will be 30%-50% higher.
- Which is more durable plastic or metal corns?
A: Metal corns are more durable, especially copper corns, which can last up to 3-5 times longer than plastic corns; However, plastic corns are lightweight and low-cost, making them suitable for lightweight or disposable products.
- What should I do if the fabric wrinkles or breaks after installing corns?
Answer: wrinkling may be too short the length of the corn or too high the installation pressure, and it is necessary to replace the longer eyelet or adjust the installation pressure; The damage may be that the pore size is too small or the fabric is too thin, and the pore size needs to be enlarged or interlining is added to the back of the fabric before installation.