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MOP button paradox

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sartorial_1

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
A lot of forum members feel that a shirt must have MOP buttons in order to be considered a "quality" shirt.

However, 90% of all of the shirts that I've bought with MOP buttons have gotten chipped edges around the buttons while only 10% of the shirts that I've bought with plastic buttons have had any chipping....
 
#6 ·
I have to admit my better quality shirts such as Borelli and Zegna get chipped buttons whereas my Brooks Brothers do not. Also, the Brooks Brothers are machine washed and dried since they are no-iron and the higher quality shirts are professionally laundered. I don't seem to have any problems with my Paul Stuart shirts which are alse professionally laundered. The worst buttons in my experience seem to be Armani although overall I like the shirts.
 
#10 ·
It is surprising . . .

deanayer said:
My buttons only seem to get chipped at the dry cleaners. They dont seem to chip if I wash them at home.
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..... how many problems you just seem to not have if you cold wash at home, hang to dry, and steam iron. Once I got into that routine I have never looked back. Also, you will be surprised at how much longer your clothes will stay fresh and new-looking.
 
#11 · (Edited)
My brother is a dry cleaner . . .

We have had some pretty heated arguments over dry cleaning and the wear/tear it has on suits.

He purchased a "shirt presser" several years ago. Basically, you put a freshly starched shirt (that is, one that has been soaked in a solution of wet starch) onto a contraption that looks like a manequin. Once fitted on the manequin (AND buttoned, by the way), a very large blast of air/steam "opens" up the shirt so that it is fairly wrinkle free. It looks like a large, balloon shaped shirt. Next, a series of "pressers" iron the cloth. The breaking of the buttons usually occurs when one of the pressers pushes down hard on a button that may not be in just the right place.

See picture of one below. You can actually get up to 60 shirts per hour done in this manner.

I am NOT against cleaners or the manufacturer of this type of machine. I am just explaining how shirt buttons are often cracked while pressing.
 
#12 ·
sartorial_1 said:
A lot of forum members feel that a shirt must have MOP buttons in order to be considered a "quality" shirt.

However, 90% of all of the shirts that I've bought with MOP buttons have gotten chipped edges around the buttons while only 10% of the shirts that I've bought with plastic buttons have had any chipping....
Click to expand...
Yes, the endless discussions on AAAC about problems with MOP buttons chipping, getting crushed, etc., has convinced me that they are best avoided if one has the option. Part of the art of getting the most out of your AAAC membership is filtering the noise concerning what makes a "quality" garment.
 
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#13 ·
DownByTheRiverSide said:
..... how many problems you just seem to not have if you cold wash at home, hang to dry, and steam iron. Once I got into that routine I have never looked back. Also, you will be surprised at how much longer your clothes will stay fresh and new-looking.
Click to expand...
I 100% agree. I wash my finest shirts Turnbull & Asser and BB Golden Fleece this way and I have never chipped a MOP button. Washing in cold water also helps against fading colors as well as allowing them to hang. If your dry cleaner is using starch to prevent wrinkles in your shirts you are severely decreasing their life span. Starch damages the cotton fibers overtime and can lead to fraying in the collar and cuffs along with weak areas of the shirts where fibers have broken or frayed leading to a hole or tear. Excessive heat from a dryer can do that as well which is why it is best to hang-dry and you won't chip a button on the ceramic barrel of the machine. The biggest benefit of washing your fine shirts yourself is the huge savings in dry cleaning bills.
 
#14 ·
if you wash shirts with mops at home. just do this.
button all the buttons including the cuffs, then turn the whole thing inside out and wash.
you will reduce chipping by 99.9 %.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
Washing your own shirts at home may be the solution to the fluff and fold problem.

However, I barely have time in my schedule to drop off my laundry at the local fluff and fold so this is not a solution for me.

Given the fragility of MOP buttons along with the advances in polymers, it seems like there should be companies who produce high quality plastic buttons that have some of the desirable characteristics of MOP and trocas buttons but with the durability typically associated with plastic buttons.

Can anyone recommend such a company and some of their buttons that fit this bill?
 
#18 ·
I can't say I've had issues with shirt buttons, but I used to have my uniforms laundered until I saw they had succeeded in pressing through the pocket flap on some BDUs-and chipped/broke some of those tough plastic buttons. I don't know if you can have your shirts manually ironed, but I would ask the cleaners.

I didn't know until I got sent a flyer from myTailor that they have ceramic buttons. That can cover a lot of ground; from some super space-shuttle tile composition to just vitrified clay. I have another appointment with them in ten days-I think I will ask about the properties/durability/colors.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Mad Hatter said:
I didn't know until I got sent a flyer from myTailor that they have ceramic buttons. That can cover a lot of ground; from some super space-shuttle tile composition to just vitrified clay. I have another appointment with them in ten days-I think I will ask about the properties/durability/colors.
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I like the way you think :icon_smile:
 
#20 ·
Mad Hatter said:
I can't say I've had issues with shirt buttons, but I used to have my uniforms laundered until I saw they had succeeded in pressing through the pocket flap on some BDUs-and chipped/broke some of those tough plastic buttons. I don't know if you can have your shirts manually ironed, but I would ask the cleaners.

I didn't know until I got sent a flyer from myTailor that they have ceramic buttons. That can cover a lot of ground; from some super space-shuttle tile composition to just vitrified clay. I have another appointment with them in ten days-I think I will ask about the properties/durability/colors.
Click to expand...
the last ones I saw were too white and quite ugly.
 
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