The Ultimate Lampo Zipper Guide for Luxury Clothing Tech Packs (2026)
Lampo is Italy's most specified luxury zipper brand — used by Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Our Legacy, and Acne Studios. Learn what Lampo zippers are, how their sizing works, and how to spec them correctly in a clothing tech pack.
What is Lampo?
Lampo is the zipper brand of Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer founded in 1887 in Olgiate Comasco, near Como in northern Italy. It is one of the oldest zipper manufacturers in the world and widely regarded as the most prestigious — the hardware equivalent of what Loro Piana is to fabric.
The name Lampo means "lightning" in Italian, referencing the speed of the zip mechanism. The company has been producing zippers continuously for over 135 years, and today supplies hardware to a client list that includes Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Gucci, Our Legacy, and Acne Studios — spanning both heritage luxury houses and the contemporary brands defining how the next generation of considered fashion looks and feels.
What separates Lampo from the broader zipper market is not just quality — it is Italian craftsmanship applied to hardware that most brands treat as an afterthought. Each slider is produced on machinery designed and built in-house by Lanfranchi. The teeth on their top-line Super Lampo products are individually polished, and the plating range — gold, antique brass, gunmetal, nickel, palladium, and more — is broader and more refined than any other manufacturer in the market.
For an emerging brand positioning in the premium or luxury tier, specifying Lampo hardware is a meaningful signal. Unlike a standard YKK zipper, a Lampo pull is immediately identifiable to anyone with industry knowledge — and to discerning customers who know what to look for.
Lampo vs YKK vs RiRi: which do you choose?
Before going into the Lampo product range, it helps to understand where Lampo sits relative to the other hardware brands you will encounter in clothing manufacturing.
YKK is the global standard — reliable, consistent, available in every country, and relatively affordable. A #5 YKK metal zipper costs roughly €1–3 per unit at small volumes. YKK is the right choice for most garments at premium price points and below, and for technical performance applications where durability matters more than aesthetics. See our YKK zipper guide for a full breakdown of sizes, types, and how to spec them.
Lampo is the Italian luxury alternative — chosen for garments where the hardware is part of the design statement. Lampo zippers are significantly more expensive than YKK (typically €8–20 per unit depending on size and finish at small volumes), slower to source, and require longer lead times. They are the right choice for garments retailing above €300–400 where the per-unit hardware cost is proportional to the overall garment value.
RiRi is the Swiss competitor to Lampo — similarly positioned in the luxury segment, used by Maison Margiela, John Elliott, and Hermès among others. RiRi is known for extremely tight tolerances and a particularly smooth slider action. RiRi zippers are typically the most expensive of the three, often €15–30 per unit at small volumes. See our Riri zipper guide for a full breakdown.
In practical terms for a clothing brand: YKK Excella is the bridge product — it gives you a polished, luxury-adjacent look at a fraction of the cost of Lampo or RiRi, and is widely used by brands like Saint Laurent and Rick Owens. Lampo makes sense when you are building a garment where the hardware itself needs to communicate provenance and craftsmanship — brands like Our Legacy and Acne Studios use it precisely for this reason. Typically the right call for a leather jacket, a luxury outerwear piece, or an accessory retailing above €500.
The Lampo product range: Standard Lampo vs Super Lampo
The most important distinction in the Lampo catalogue is between Standard Lampo and Super Lampo.
Standard Lampo
Standard Lampo covers the main commercial range — metal, coil, and moulded zippers produced to high quality standards with a wide range of finishes and tape colours. This is still a premium product by industry standards, significantly above YKK's standard range in terms of plating quality and aesthetic refinement.
Standard Lampo metal zippers are suitable for premium jackets, trousers, bags, and accessories where the hardware quality is important but not the defining statement of the garment.
Super Lampo
Super Lampo is the top-of-the-line product and what most luxury brands are specifying when they reference "Lampo" in their BOMs. The key difference is in the teeth: each element on a Super Lampo zipper is individually polished by hand, producing a luster and uniformity that cannot be achieved by machine alone. The slider design on Super Lampo products is also more refined, with tighter tolerances and a heavier, more satisfying feel in hand.
Super Lampo comes in three main tooth constructions:
T3 (approximately 3mm) — the slimmest profile, used for delicate closures on dresses, fine leather goods, and lightweight garments where visibility of the zipper is minimal
T5 (approximately 5mm) — the most common specification, used for jacket front closures, pocket openings, and garments where a visible zipper is part of the design
T8 (approximately 8mm) — a heavier, more statement gauge used on oversized outerwear, leather jackets, and bags where the hardware is intended to be seen
The Super Lampo Satin variant adds an additional refinement — a matte satin finish on the teeth rather than a bright polish, used when a subtler, more understated hardware aesthetic is required.
Lampo zipper types: metal, coil, and moulded
Like YKK, Lampo produces zippers across three construction categories. Each has different applications and behaves differently in garment production.
Metal zippers
Metal Lampo zippers — available in brass, nickel, and aluminium alloy — are the most specified product for luxury clothing applications. The teeth are individually set onto the tape, polished, and plated to the chosen finish. Available finishes include bright gold, antique gold, gunmetal, antique brass, bright nickel, antique nickel, palladium, and black nickel among others.
Metal Lampo zippers are best suited to leather jackets, structured outerwear, denim, and any garment where the zipper is a visible design element. The weight and texture of a metal Lampo zipper against leather or heavy canvas is part of the garment's sensory experience.
Coil zippers (Spirali)
Lampo's coil range — designated as S4 (equivalent to T3 gauge) and S7 (equivalent to T5 gauge) in their catalogue — uses a continuous coiled synthetic element on the tape. The S4 with cotton-polyester ribbon is one of Lampo's signature products in this category.
Coil zippers are lighter, more flexible, and softer against skin than metal zippers. They are the right specification for lightweight outerwear, dresses, fine knitwear, and any application where the zipper needs to curve or flex with the garment. A coil zipper also lies flatter when closed, which matters for garments where the zipper is hidden under a placket or facing.
Moulded (Wing) zippers
Lampo's moulded range — designated as D0 Wing (T5), D1 Wing (T8), and D2 Wing (T3) — uses injected plastic teeth similar to YKK's Vislon range. These are lighter than metal, completely rustproof, and offer a cleaner, more geometric tooth profile than coil.
Moulded Lampo zippers are used in technical outerwear, sportswear with a luxury positioning, and applications where weight and weather resistance matter alongside aesthetics.
Lampo function types
As with all zippers, function type must be specified clearly in your tech pack BOM. Lampo produces the same primary function categories as other manufacturers:
Closed-end (non-separating) — the bottom of the zipper is permanently joined by a metal stop. Used for pocket openings, trouser flies, and quarter-zip pullovers. The zipper opens and closes but the two sides never fully separate.
Open-end (separating) — the zipper separates completely at the bottom via a box-and-pin mechanism, allowing the garment to open fully. Standard for jacket and coat front closures.
Two-way separating — features two sliders on the same track, allowing the garment to be unzipped from both the top and bottom simultaneously. Used on long coats, parkas, and oversized outerwear to prevent the garment bunching when the wearer sits or moves. This is worth specifying deliberately — it is not the default and must be called out in your BOM.
Reverse opening (TANK) — a Lampo-specific function where the slider operates in reverse, opening from the bottom rather than the top. This is a design-led specification, used on garments where the puller hangs at the base of the zipper when closed, changing the visual balance of the hardware. The Super Lampo T8 TANK is one of their most recognisable products in this category.
How to specify Lampo in your tech pack BOM
This is where most brands make mistakes. Writing "Lampo zipper" in your BOM is not a specification — it is a category. Your factory needs to know the exact product, gauge, finish, function, length, and tape colour to source correctly.
A complete BOM entry for a Lampo zipper on a leather jacket front closure should look like this:
Component type: Fastener / Zipper
Brand / Supplier: Lampo (Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A.)
Product line: Super Lampo
Construction: Metal (brass)
Gauge / Size: T5
Finish: Antique brass
Function: Open-end separating
Length: 62.0 cm (measured from top stop to bottom stop)
Tape material / colour: 100% polyester / DTM (Dye-to-Match body fabric — confirm with factory)
Puller style: Standard pull / confirm from Lampo catalogue with factory
A few things worth noting:
Lead times are longer than YKK. Lampo hardware is not stocked by most factories. Your manufacturer will typically need to order it from a specialist distributor, which adds 4–8 weeks to your production timeline. Flag this early — if you are sampling with a standard YKK and switching to Lampo for bulk, the change needs to go into the BOM before bulk order confirmation.
Puller selection matters more with Lampo. One of Lampo's differentiating strengths is the breadth of their puller (slider) range — there are dozens of options across shapes, finishes, and scales. It is worth going through the Lampo catalogue with your factory or a hardware distributor to select the right puller rather than defaulting to a standard option. The puller is what the customer sees and touches; on a €500+ garment it deserves deliberate selection.
Source through authorised distributors. Lampo does not sell directly to small brands. You will need to go through an authorised distributor — in Europe, companies like Botani Trim (US) and specialist Italian trimming agents handle the range. Your factory in Portugal or Italy will likely have an existing relationship with a local distributor; ask them to source on your behalf and add the cost to your BOM.
For a broader overview of all hardware types and how to specify them in a tech pack, see our complete zipper guide for clothing tech packs.
Common mistakes when specifying Lampo hardware
Specifying Lampo on garments where the cost is disproportionate. A Lampo T5 metal zipper at €12–18 per unit makes sense on a €600 leather jacket. It does not make sense on a €120 nylon jacket where the hardware cost alone represents 10–15% of the retail price. Match your hardware ambition to your price architecture.
Not confirming stock before sampling. Because Lampo is not a commodity product, specific finishes and gauge sizes can have lead times of 8–12 weeks or be temporarily out of stock. Confirm availability with your distributor before finalising your sampling timeline.
Switching from YKK to Lampo after the first sample. The zipper slot dimensions, tape width, and puller clearance can differ between brands. If you sample with a YKK #5 and switch to a Lampo T5 for bulk, your factory needs to re-check the placket width and slider clearance before cutting bulk fabric. Build the Lampo specification into your first sample if it is your intended bulk hardware.
Not specifying the puller separately. The standard puller that comes with a Lampo zipper is not always the right one for your garment. Always call out puller style explicitly in your BOM, referencing the Lampo catalogue code where possible.
Forgetting to specify tape colour. Lampo offers a broad tape colour range. If your tape is visible (for example on a contrast-tape detail or where the zipper lining shows at the top of a jacket), you need to specify the tape colour with a Lampo colour code or a DTM instruction. Leaving it unspecified means the factory chooses.
Frequently asked questions about Lampo zippers
What is a Lampo zipper? Lampo is the zipper brand of Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer founded in 1887. It is one of the most prestigious hardware brands in the fashion industry, used by luxury houses including Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga. Lampo zippers are known for their Italian craftsmanship, refined plating, and the individually polished teeth on their Super Lampo top-line range.
What is the difference between Lampo and YKK? YKK is the global standard zipper — reliable, widely available, and cost-effective. Lampo is an Italian luxury alternative specified when the hardware is part of the garment's design statement. Lampo zippers are significantly more expensive (€8–20+ per unit vs €1–3 for YKK at small volumes), have longer lead times, and require sourcing through specialist distributors. For garments retailing above €300–400 where craftsmanship is a brand value, Lampo is the considered choice.
What is the difference between Lampo and RiRi? Both Lampo and RiRi sit in the luxury hardware segment and are used by comparable client lists. RiRi is Swiss-made and known for exceptionally tight tolerances and a particularly smooth, heavy slider action. Lampo is Italian-made and known for the breadth of its plating range, the visual beauty of the Super Lampo teeth, and a broader customisation offering. RiRi tends to be the choice for leather goods and bags; Lampo is widely used in both clothing and accessories. Pricing is broadly comparable, with RiRi typically slightly higher at small volumes.
What is Super Lampo? Super Lampo is Lampo's top-of-the-line product range. The distinguishing feature is that each tooth element is individually hand-polished, producing a luster and uniformity not achievable by machine production. Super Lampo comes in T3, T5, and T8 gauges and is available in metal, coil (Spirali), and moulded (Wing) constructions, across a wide range of plating finishes.
What gauge Lampo zipper should I use? T3 (approximately 3mm) for delicate closures on dresses, fine leather goods, and applications where the zipper profile should be minimal. T5 (approximately 5mm) for jacket front closures, pocket openings, and most garment applications — this is the most commonly specified size. T8 (approximately 8mm) for heavyweight outerwear, leather jackets, and bags where the hardware is a visual statement.
Which luxury brands use Lampo zippers? Lampo hardware is used by Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Gucci among the heritage luxury houses, and by contemporary brands including Our Legacy and Acne Studios. The breadth of that client list — spanning both legacy maisons and the brands shaping contemporary fashion — reflects Lampo's position as the default hardware choice when craftsmanship and provenance matter.
Where can I buy Lampo zippers? Lampo does not sell directly to brands at small volumes. You need to source through an authorised distributor — your factory will typically have an existing relationship with a local hardware agent. In the US, Botani Trim carries the Super Lampo range. In Europe, Italian and Portuguese trimming agents with luxury client experience will be your best route. Ask your factory to source on your behalf and include the cost in your BOM.
How do I specify Lampo in a tech pack? Write a complete BOM entry specifying: brand (Lampo), product line (Super Lampo), construction (metal/coil/moulded), gauge (T3/T5/T8), finish (antique brass/gunmetal/etc.), function (open-end/closed-end/two-way), length in cm measured from stop to stop, tape colour, and puller style. Never write just "Lampo zipper" — your factory needs the full specification to source correctly.
Ready to manage your hardware specs without losing track?
Specifying luxury hardware like Lampo across multiple styles and colourways in spreadsheets is one of the most reliable ways to introduce production errors. One unupdated BOM row on a bulk order can mean €15-per-unit hardware arriving in the wrong finish across 200 units.
Specter OS keeps your BOM, hardware specifications, and factory communications in one centralised place — so every colourway of every style always has the current, correct specification. Request early access and build tech packs that factories can actually work from.
The Ultimate Lampo Zipper Guide for Luxury Clothing Tech Packs (2026)
Lampo is Italy's most specified luxury zipper brand — used by Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Our Legacy, and Acne Studios. Learn what Lampo zippers are, how their sizing works, and how to spec them correctly in a clothing tech pack.
What is Lampo?
Lampo is the zipper brand of Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer founded in 1887 in Olgiate Comasco, near Como in northern Italy. It is one of the oldest zipper manufacturers in the world and widely regarded as the most prestigious — the hardware equivalent of what Loro Piana is to fabric.
The name Lampo means "lightning" in Italian, referencing the speed of the zip mechanism. The company has been producing zippers continuously for over 135 years, and today supplies hardware to a client list that includes Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Gucci, Our Legacy, and Acne Studios — spanning both heritage luxury houses and the contemporary brands defining how the next generation of considered fashion looks and feels.
What separates Lampo from the broader zipper market is not just quality — it is Italian craftsmanship applied to hardware that most brands treat as an afterthought. Each slider is produced on machinery designed and built in-house by Lanfranchi. The teeth on their top-line Super Lampo products are individually polished, and the plating range — gold, antique brass, gunmetal, nickel, palladium, and more — is broader and more refined than any other manufacturer in the market.
For an emerging brand positioning in the premium or luxury tier, specifying Lampo hardware is a meaningful signal. Unlike a standard YKK zipper, a Lampo pull is immediately identifiable to anyone with industry knowledge — and to discerning customers who know what to look for.
Lampo vs YKK vs RiRi: which do you choose?
Before going into the Lampo product range, it helps to understand where Lampo sits relative to the other hardware brands you will encounter in clothing manufacturing.
YKK is the global standard — reliable, consistent, available in every country, and relatively affordable. A #5 YKK metal zipper costs roughly €1–3 per unit at small volumes. YKK is the right choice for most garments at premium price points and below, and for technical performance applications where durability matters more than aesthetics. See our YKK zipper guide for a full breakdown of sizes, types, and how to spec them.
Lampo is the Italian luxury alternative — chosen for garments where the hardware is part of the design statement. Lampo zippers are significantly more expensive than YKK (typically €8–20 per unit depending on size and finish at small volumes), slower to source, and require longer lead times. They are the right choice for garments retailing above €300–400 where the per-unit hardware cost is proportional to the overall garment value.
RiRi is the Swiss competitor to Lampo — similarly positioned in the luxury segment, used by Maison Margiela, John Elliott, and Hermès among others. RiRi is known for extremely tight tolerances and a particularly smooth slider action. RiRi zippers are typically the most expensive of the three, often €15–30 per unit at small volumes. See our Riri zipper guide for a full breakdown.
In practical terms for a clothing brand: YKK Excella is the bridge product — it gives you a polished, luxury-adjacent look at a fraction of the cost of Lampo or RiRi, and is widely used by brands like Saint Laurent and Rick Owens. Lampo makes sense when you are building a garment where the hardware itself needs to communicate provenance and craftsmanship — brands like Our Legacy and Acne Studios use it precisely for this reason. Typically the right call for a leather jacket, a luxury outerwear piece, or an accessory retailing above €500.
The Lampo product range: Standard Lampo vs Super Lampo
The most important distinction in the Lampo catalogue is between Standard Lampo and Super Lampo.
Standard Lampo
Standard Lampo covers the main commercial range — metal, coil, and moulded zippers produced to high quality standards with a wide range of finishes and tape colours. This is still a premium product by industry standards, significantly above YKK's standard range in terms of plating quality and aesthetic refinement.
Standard Lampo metal zippers are suitable for premium jackets, trousers, bags, and accessories where the hardware quality is important but not the defining statement of the garment.
Super Lampo
Super Lampo is the top-of-the-line product and what most luxury brands are specifying when they reference "Lampo" in their BOMs. The key difference is in the teeth: each element on a Super Lampo zipper is individually polished by hand, producing a luster and uniformity that cannot be achieved by machine alone. The slider design on Super Lampo products is also more refined, with tighter tolerances and a heavier, more satisfying feel in hand.
Super Lampo comes in three main tooth constructions:
T3 (approximately 3mm) — the slimmest profile, used for delicate closures on dresses, fine leather goods, and lightweight garments where visibility of the zipper is minimal
T5 (approximately 5mm) — the most common specification, used for jacket front closures, pocket openings, and garments where a visible zipper is part of the design
T8 (approximately 8mm) — a heavier, more statement gauge used on oversized outerwear, leather jackets, and bags where the hardware is intended to be seen
The Super Lampo Satin variant adds an additional refinement — a matte satin finish on the teeth rather than a bright polish, used when a subtler, more understated hardware aesthetic is required.
Lampo zipper types: metal, coil, and moulded
Like YKK, Lampo produces zippers across three construction categories. Each has different applications and behaves differently in garment production.
Metal zippers
Metal Lampo zippers — available in brass, nickel, and aluminium alloy — are the most specified product for luxury clothing applications. The teeth are individually set onto the tape, polished, and plated to the chosen finish. Available finishes include bright gold, antique gold, gunmetal, antique brass, bright nickel, antique nickel, palladium, and black nickel among others.
Metal Lampo zippers are best suited to leather jackets, structured outerwear, denim, and any garment where the zipper is a visible design element. The weight and texture of a metal Lampo zipper against leather or heavy canvas is part of the garment's sensory experience.
Coil zippers (Spirali)
Lampo's coil range — designated as S4 (equivalent to T3 gauge) and S7 (equivalent to T5 gauge) in their catalogue — uses a continuous coiled synthetic element on the tape. The S4 with cotton-polyester ribbon is one of Lampo's signature products in this category.
Coil zippers are lighter, more flexible, and softer against skin than metal zippers. They are the right specification for lightweight outerwear, dresses, fine knitwear, and any application where the zipper needs to curve or flex with the garment. A coil zipper also lies flatter when closed, which matters for garments where the zipper is hidden under a placket or facing.
Moulded (Wing) zippers
Lampo's moulded range — designated as D0 Wing (T5), D1 Wing (T8), and D2 Wing (T3) — uses injected plastic teeth similar to YKK's Vislon range. These are lighter than metal, completely rustproof, and offer a cleaner, more geometric tooth profile than coil.
Moulded Lampo zippers are used in technical outerwear, sportswear with a luxury positioning, and applications where weight and weather resistance matter alongside aesthetics.
Lampo function types
As with all zippers, function type must be specified clearly in your tech pack BOM. Lampo produces the same primary function categories as other manufacturers:
Closed-end (non-separating) — the bottom of the zipper is permanently joined by a metal stop. Used for pocket openings, trouser flies, and quarter-zip pullovers. The zipper opens and closes but the two sides never fully separate.
Open-end (separating) — the zipper separates completely at the bottom via a box-and-pin mechanism, allowing the garment to open fully. Standard for jacket and coat front closures.
Two-way separating — features two sliders on the same track, allowing the garment to be unzipped from both the top and bottom simultaneously. Used on long coats, parkas, and oversized outerwear to prevent the garment bunching when the wearer sits or moves. This is worth specifying deliberately — it is not the default and must be called out in your BOM.
Reverse opening (TANK) — a Lampo-specific function where the slider operates in reverse, opening from the bottom rather than the top. This is a design-led specification, used on garments where the puller hangs at the base of the zipper when closed, changing the visual balance of the hardware. The Super Lampo T8 TANK is one of their most recognisable products in this category.
How to specify Lampo in your tech pack BOM
This is where most brands make mistakes. Writing "Lampo zipper" in your BOM is not a specification — it is a category. Your factory needs to know the exact product, gauge, finish, function, length, and tape colour to source correctly.
A complete BOM entry for a Lampo zipper on a leather jacket front closure should look like this:
Component type: Fastener / Zipper
Brand / Supplier: Lampo (Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A.)
Product line: Super Lampo
Construction: Metal (brass)
Gauge / Size: T5
Finish: Antique brass
Function: Open-end separating
Length: 62.0 cm (measured from top stop to bottom stop)
Tape material / colour: 100% polyester / DTM (Dye-to-Match body fabric — confirm with factory)
Puller style: Standard pull / confirm from Lampo catalogue with factory
A few things worth noting:
Lead times are longer than YKK. Lampo hardware is not stocked by most factories. Your manufacturer will typically need to order it from a specialist distributor, which adds 4–8 weeks to your production timeline. Flag this early — if you are sampling with a standard YKK and switching to Lampo for bulk, the change needs to go into the BOM before bulk order confirmation.
Puller selection matters more with Lampo. One of Lampo's differentiating strengths is the breadth of their puller (slider) range — there are dozens of options across shapes, finishes, and scales. It is worth going through the Lampo catalogue with your factory or a hardware distributor to select the right puller rather than defaulting to a standard option. The puller is what the customer sees and touches; on a €500+ garment it deserves deliberate selection.
Source through authorised distributors. Lampo does not sell directly to small brands. You will need to go through an authorised distributor — in Europe, companies like Botani Trim (US) and specialist Italian trimming agents handle the range. Your factory in Portugal or Italy will likely have an existing relationship with a local distributor; ask them to source on your behalf and add the cost to your BOM.
For a broader overview of all hardware types and how to specify them in a tech pack, see our complete zipper guide for clothing tech packs.
Common mistakes when specifying Lampo hardware
Specifying Lampo on garments where the cost is disproportionate. A Lampo T5 metal zipper at €12–18 per unit makes sense on a €600 leather jacket. It does not make sense on a €120 nylon jacket where the hardware cost alone represents 10–15% of the retail price. Match your hardware ambition to your price architecture.
Not confirming stock before sampling. Because Lampo is not a commodity product, specific finishes and gauge sizes can have lead times of 8–12 weeks or be temporarily out of stock. Confirm availability with your distributor before finalising your sampling timeline.
Switching from YKK to Lampo after the first sample. The zipper slot dimensions, tape width, and puller clearance can differ between brands. If you sample with a YKK #5 and switch to a Lampo T5 for bulk, your factory needs to re-check the placket width and slider clearance before cutting bulk fabric. Build the Lampo specification into your first sample if it is your intended bulk hardware.
Not specifying the puller separately. The standard puller that comes with a Lampo zipper is not always the right one for your garment. Always call out puller style explicitly in your BOM, referencing the Lampo catalogue code where possible.
Forgetting to specify tape colour. Lampo offers a broad tape colour range. If your tape is visible (for example on a contrast-tape detail or where the zipper lining shows at the top of a jacket), you need to specify the tape colour with a Lampo colour code or a DTM instruction. Leaving it unspecified means the factory chooses.
Frequently asked questions about Lampo zippers
What is a Lampo zipper? Lampo is the zipper brand of Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer founded in 1887. It is one of the most prestigious hardware brands in the fashion industry, used by luxury houses including Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga. Lampo zippers are known for their Italian craftsmanship, refined plating, and the individually polished teeth on their Super Lampo top-line range.
What is the difference between Lampo and YKK? YKK is the global standard zipper — reliable, widely available, and cost-effective. Lampo is an Italian luxury alternative specified when the hardware is part of the garment's design statement. Lampo zippers are significantly more expensive (€8–20+ per unit vs €1–3 for YKK at small volumes), have longer lead times, and require sourcing through specialist distributors. For garments retailing above €300–400 where craftsmanship is a brand value, Lampo is the considered choice.
What is the difference between Lampo and RiRi? Both Lampo and RiRi sit in the luxury hardware segment and are used by comparable client lists. RiRi is Swiss-made and known for exceptionally tight tolerances and a particularly smooth, heavy slider action. Lampo is Italian-made and known for the breadth of its plating range, the visual beauty of the Super Lampo teeth, and a broader customisation offering. RiRi tends to be the choice for leather goods and bags; Lampo is widely used in both clothing and accessories. Pricing is broadly comparable, with RiRi typically slightly higher at small volumes.
What is Super Lampo? Super Lampo is Lampo's top-of-the-line product range. The distinguishing feature is that each tooth element is individually hand-polished, producing a luster and uniformity not achievable by machine production. Super Lampo comes in T3, T5, and T8 gauges and is available in metal, coil (Spirali), and moulded (Wing) constructions, across a wide range of plating finishes.
What gauge Lampo zipper should I use? T3 (approximately 3mm) for delicate closures on dresses, fine leather goods, and applications where the zipper profile should be minimal. T5 (approximately 5mm) for jacket front closures, pocket openings, and most garment applications — this is the most commonly specified size. T8 (approximately 8mm) for heavyweight outerwear, leather jackets, and bags where the hardware is a visual statement.
Which luxury brands use Lampo zippers? Lampo hardware is used by Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Gucci among the heritage luxury houses, and by contemporary brands including Our Legacy and Acne Studios. The breadth of that client list — spanning both legacy maisons and the brands shaping contemporary fashion — reflects Lampo's position as the default hardware choice when craftsmanship and provenance matter.
Where can I buy Lampo zippers? Lampo does not sell directly to brands at small volumes. You need to source through an authorised distributor — your factory will typically have an existing relationship with a local hardware agent. In the US, Botani Trim carries the Super Lampo range. In Europe, Italian and Portuguese trimming agents with luxury client experience will be your best route. Ask your factory to source on your behalf and include the cost in your BOM.
How do I specify Lampo in a tech pack? Write a complete BOM entry specifying: brand (Lampo), product line (Super Lampo), construction (metal/coil/moulded), gauge (T3/T5/T8), finish (antique brass/gunmetal/etc.), function (open-end/closed-end/two-way), length in cm measured from stop to stop, tape colour, and puller style. Never write just "Lampo zipper" — your factory needs the full specification to source correctly.
Ready to manage your hardware specs without losing track?
Specifying luxury hardware like Lampo across multiple styles and colourways in spreadsheets is one of the most reliable ways to introduce production errors. One unupdated BOM row on a bulk order can mean €15-per-unit hardware arriving in the wrong finish across 200 units.
Specter OS keeps your BOM, hardware specifications, and factory communications in one centralised place — so every colourway of every style always has the current, correct specification. Request early access and build tech packs that factories can actually work from.
The Ultimate Lampo Zipper Guide for Luxury Clothing Tech Packs (2026)
Lampo is Italy's most specified luxury zipper brand — used by Chanel, Prada, Balenciaga, Our Legacy, and Acne Studios. Learn what Lampo zippers are, how their sizing works, and how to spec them correctly in a clothing tech pack.
What is Lampo?
Lampo is the zipper brand of Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer founded in 1887 in Olgiate Comasco, near Como in northern Italy. It is one of the oldest zipper manufacturers in the world and widely regarded as the most prestigious — the hardware equivalent of what Loro Piana is to fabric.
The name Lampo means "lightning" in Italian, referencing the speed of the zip mechanism. The company has been producing zippers continuously for over 135 years, and today supplies hardware to a client list that includes Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Gucci, Our Legacy, and Acne Studios — spanning both heritage luxury houses and the contemporary brands defining how the next generation of considered fashion looks and feels.
What separates Lampo from the broader zipper market is not just quality — it is Italian craftsmanship applied to hardware that most brands treat as an afterthought. Each slider is produced on machinery designed and built in-house by Lanfranchi. The teeth on their top-line Super Lampo products are individually polished, and the plating range — gold, antique brass, gunmetal, nickel, palladium, and more — is broader and more refined than any other manufacturer in the market.
For an emerging brand positioning in the premium or luxury tier, specifying Lampo hardware is a meaningful signal. Unlike a standard YKK zipper, a Lampo pull is immediately identifiable to anyone with industry knowledge — and to discerning customers who know what to look for.
Lampo vs YKK vs RiRi: which do you choose?
Before going into the Lampo product range, it helps to understand where Lampo sits relative to the other hardware brands you will encounter in clothing manufacturing.
YKK is the global standard — reliable, consistent, available in every country, and relatively affordable. A #5 YKK metal zipper costs roughly €1–3 per unit at small volumes. YKK is the right choice for most garments at premium price points and below, and for technical performance applications where durability matters more than aesthetics. See our YKK zipper guide for a full breakdown of sizes, types, and how to spec them.
Lampo is the Italian luxury alternative — chosen for garments where the hardware is part of the design statement. Lampo zippers are significantly more expensive than YKK (typically €8–20 per unit depending on size and finish at small volumes), slower to source, and require longer lead times. They are the right choice for garments retailing above €300–400 where the per-unit hardware cost is proportional to the overall garment value.
RiRi is the Swiss competitor to Lampo — similarly positioned in the luxury segment, used by Maison Margiela, John Elliott, and Hermès among others. RiRi is known for extremely tight tolerances and a particularly smooth slider action. RiRi zippers are typically the most expensive of the three, often €15–30 per unit at small volumes. See our Riri zipper guide for a full breakdown.
In practical terms for a clothing brand: YKK Excella is the bridge product — it gives you a polished, luxury-adjacent look at a fraction of the cost of Lampo or RiRi, and is widely used by brands like Saint Laurent and Rick Owens. Lampo makes sense when you are building a garment where the hardware itself needs to communicate provenance and craftsmanship — brands like Our Legacy and Acne Studios use it precisely for this reason. Typically the right call for a leather jacket, a luxury outerwear piece, or an accessory retailing above €500.
The Lampo product range: Standard Lampo vs Super Lampo
The most important distinction in the Lampo catalogue is between Standard Lampo and Super Lampo.
Standard Lampo
Standard Lampo covers the main commercial range — metal, coil, and moulded zippers produced to high quality standards with a wide range of finishes and tape colours. This is still a premium product by industry standards, significantly above YKK's standard range in terms of plating quality and aesthetic refinement.
Standard Lampo metal zippers are suitable for premium jackets, trousers, bags, and accessories where the hardware quality is important but not the defining statement of the garment.
Super Lampo
Super Lampo is the top-of-the-line product and what most luxury brands are specifying when they reference "Lampo" in their BOMs. The key difference is in the teeth: each element on a Super Lampo zipper is individually polished by hand, producing a luster and uniformity that cannot be achieved by machine alone. The slider design on Super Lampo products is also more refined, with tighter tolerances and a heavier, more satisfying feel in hand.
Super Lampo comes in three main tooth constructions:
T3 (approximately 3mm) — the slimmest profile, used for delicate closures on dresses, fine leather goods, and lightweight garments where visibility of the zipper is minimal
T5 (approximately 5mm) — the most common specification, used for jacket front closures, pocket openings, and garments where a visible zipper is part of the design
T8 (approximately 8mm) — a heavier, more statement gauge used on oversized outerwear, leather jackets, and bags where the hardware is intended to be seen
The Super Lampo Satin variant adds an additional refinement — a matte satin finish on the teeth rather than a bright polish, used when a subtler, more understated hardware aesthetic is required.
Lampo zipper types: metal, coil, and moulded
Like YKK, Lampo produces zippers across three construction categories. Each has different applications and behaves differently in garment production.
Metal zippers
Metal Lampo zippers — available in brass, nickel, and aluminium alloy — are the most specified product for luxury clothing applications. The teeth are individually set onto the tape, polished, and plated to the chosen finish. Available finishes include bright gold, antique gold, gunmetal, antique brass, bright nickel, antique nickel, palladium, and black nickel among others.
Metal Lampo zippers are best suited to leather jackets, structured outerwear, denim, and any garment where the zipper is a visible design element. The weight and texture of a metal Lampo zipper against leather or heavy canvas is part of the garment's sensory experience.
Coil zippers (Spirali)
Lampo's coil range — designated as S4 (equivalent to T3 gauge) and S7 (equivalent to T5 gauge) in their catalogue — uses a continuous coiled synthetic element on the tape. The S4 with cotton-polyester ribbon is one of Lampo's signature products in this category.
Coil zippers are lighter, more flexible, and softer against skin than metal zippers. They are the right specification for lightweight outerwear, dresses, fine knitwear, and any application where the zipper needs to curve or flex with the garment. A coil zipper also lies flatter when closed, which matters for garments where the zipper is hidden under a placket or facing.
Moulded (Wing) zippers
Lampo's moulded range — designated as D0 Wing (T5), D1 Wing (T8), and D2 Wing (T3) — uses injected plastic teeth similar to YKK's Vislon range. These are lighter than metal, completely rustproof, and offer a cleaner, more geometric tooth profile than coil.
Moulded Lampo zippers are used in technical outerwear, sportswear with a luxury positioning, and applications where weight and weather resistance matter alongside aesthetics.
Lampo function types
As with all zippers, function type must be specified clearly in your tech pack BOM. Lampo produces the same primary function categories as other manufacturers:
Closed-end (non-separating) — the bottom of the zipper is permanently joined by a metal stop. Used for pocket openings, trouser flies, and quarter-zip pullovers. The zipper opens and closes but the two sides never fully separate.
Open-end (separating) — the zipper separates completely at the bottom via a box-and-pin mechanism, allowing the garment to open fully. Standard for jacket and coat front closures.
Two-way separating — features two sliders on the same track, allowing the garment to be unzipped from both the top and bottom simultaneously. Used on long coats, parkas, and oversized outerwear to prevent the garment bunching when the wearer sits or moves. This is worth specifying deliberately — it is not the default and must be called out in your BOM.
Reverse opening (TANK) — a Lampo-specific function where the slider operates in reverse, opening from the bottom rather than the top. This is a design-led specification, used on garments where the puller hangs at the base of the zipper when closed, changing the visual balance of the hardware. The Super Lampo T8 TANK is one of their most recognisable products in this category.
How to specify Lampo in your tech pack BOM
This is where most brands make mistakes. Writing "Lampo zipper" in your BOM is not a specification — it is a category. Your factory needs to know the exact product, gauge, finish, function, length, and tape colour to source correctly.
A complete BOM entry for a Lampo zipper on a leather jacket front closure should look like this:
Component type: Fastener / Zipper
Brand / Supplier: Lampo (Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A.)
Product line: Super Lampo
Construction: Metal (brass)
Gauge / Size: T5
Finish: Antique brass
Function: Open-end separating
Length: 62.0 cm (measured from top stop to bottom stop)
Tape material / colour: 100% polyester / DTM (Dye-to-Match body fabric — confirm with factory)
Puller style: Standard pull / confirm from Lampo catalogue with factory
A few things worth noting:
Lead times are longer than YKK. Lampo hardware is not stocked by most factories. Your manufacturer will typically need to order it from a specialist distributor, which adds 4–8 weeks to your production timeline. Flag this early — if you are sampling with a standard YKK and switching to Lampo for bulk, the change needs to go into the BOM before bulk order confirmation.
Puller selection matters more with Lampo. One of Lampo's differentiating strengths is the breadth of their puller (slider) range — there are dozens of options across shapes, finishes, and scales. It is worth going through the Lampo catalogue with your factory or a hardware distributor to select the right puller rather than defaulting to a standard option. The puller is what the customer sees and touches; on a €500+ garment it deserves deliberate selection.
Source through authorised distributors. Lampo does not sell directly to small brands. You will need to go through an authorised distributor — in Europe, companies like Botani Trim (US) and specialist Italian trimming agents handle the range. Your factory in Portugal or Italy will likely have an existing relationship with a local distributor; ask them to source on your behalf and add the cost to your BOM.
For a broader overview of all hardware types and how to specify them in a tech pack, see our complete zipper guide for clothing tech packs.
Common mistakes when specifying Lampo hardware
Specifying Lampo on garments where the cost is disproportionate. A Lampo T5 metal zipper at €12–18 per unit makes sense on a €600 leather jacket. It does not make sense on a €120 nylon jacket where the hardware cost alone represents 10–15% of the retail price. Match your hardware ambition to your price architecture.
Not confirming stock before sampling. Because Lampo is not a commodity product, specific finishes and gauge sizes can have lead times of 8–12 weeks or be temporarily out of stock. Confirm availability with your distributor before finalising your sampling timeline.
Switching from YKK to Lampo after the first sample. The zipper slot dimensions, tape width, and puller clearance can differ between brands. If you sample with a YKK #5 and switch to a Lampo T5 for bulk, your factory needs to re-check the placket width and slider clearance before cutting bulk fabric. Build the Lampo specification into your first sample if it is your intended bulk hardware.
Not specifying the puller separately. The standard puller that comes with a Lampo zipper is not always the right one for your garment. Always call out puller style explicitly in your BOM, referencing the Lampo catalogue code where possible.
Forgetting to specify tape colour. Lampo offers a broad tape colour range. If your tape is visible (for example on a contrast-tape detail or where the zipper lining shows at the top of a jacket), you need to specify the tape colour with a Lampo colour code or a DTM instruction. Leaving it unspecified means the factory chooses.
Frequently asked questions about Lampo zippers
What is a Lampo zipper? Lampo is the zipper brand of Giovanni Lanfranchi S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer founded in 1887. It is one of the most prestigious hardware brands in the fashion industry, used by luxury houses including Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga. Lampo zippers are known for their Italian craftsmanship, refined plating, and the individually polished teeth on their Super Lampo top-line range.
What is the difference between Lampo and YKK? YKK is the global standard zipper — reliable, widely available, and cost-effective. Lampo is an Italian luxury alternative specified when the hardware is part of the garment's design statement. Lampo zippers are significantly more expensive (€8–20+ per unit vs €1–3 for YKK at small volumes), have longer lead times, and require sourcing through specialist distributors. For garments retailing above €300–400 where craftsmanship is a brand value, Lampo is the considered choice.
What is the difference between Lampo and RiRi? Both Lampo and RiRi sit in the luxury hardware segment and are used by comparable client lists. RiRi is Swiss-made and known for exceptionally tight tolerances and a particularly smooth, heavy slider action. Lampo is Italian-made and known for the breadth of its plating range, the visual beauty of the Super Lampo teeth, and a broader customisation offering. RiRi tends to be the choice for leather goods and bags; Lampo is widely used in both clothing and accessories. Pricing is broadly comparable, with RiRi typically slightly higher at small volumes.
What is Super Lampo? Super Lampo is Lampo's top-of-the-line product range. The distinguishing feature is that each tooth element is individually hand-polished, producing a luster and uniformity not achievable by machine production. Super Lampo comes in T3, T5, and T8 gauges and is available in metal, coil (Spirali), and moulded (Wing) constructions, across a wide range of plating finishes.
What gauge Lampo zipper should I use? T3 (approximately 3mm) for delicate closures on dresses, fine leather goods, and applications where the zipper profile should be minimal. T5 (approximately 5mm) for jacket front closures, pocket openings, and most garment applications — this is the most commonly specified size. T8 (approximately 8mm) for heavyweight outerwear, leather jackets, and bags where the hardware is a visual statement.
Which luxury brands use Lampo zippers? Lampo hardware is used by Chanel, Prada, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Gucci among the heritage luxury houses, and by contemporary brands including Our Legacy and Acne Studios. The breadth of that client list — spanning both legacy maisons and the brands shaping contemporary fashion — reflects Lampo's position as the default hardware choice when craftsmanship and provenance matter.
Where can I buy Lampo zippers? Lampo does not sell directly to brands at small volumes. You need to source through an authorised distributor — your factory will typically have an existing relationship with a local hardware agent. In the US, Botani Trim carries the Super Lampo range. In Europe, Italian and Portuguese trimming agents with luxury client experience will be your best route. Ask your factory to source on your behalf and include the cost in your BOM.
How do I specify Lampo in a tech pack? Write a complete BOM entry specifying: brand (Lampo), product line (Super Lampo), construction (metal/coil/moulded), gauge (T3/T5/T8), finish (antique brass/gunmetal/etc.), function (open-end/closed-end/two-way), length in cm measured from stop to stop, tape colour, and puller style. Never write just "Lampo zipper" — your factory needs the full specification to source correctly.
Ready to manage your hardware specs without losing track?
Specifying luxury hardware like Lampo across multiple styles and colourways in spreadsheets is one of the most reliable ways to introduce production errors. One unupdated BOM row on a bulk order can mean €15-per-unit hardware arriving in the wrong finish across 200 units.
Specter OS keeps your BOM, hardware specifications, and factory communications in one centralised place — so every colourway of every style always has the current, correct specification. Request early access and build tech packs that factories can actually work from.