I made two versions of a wrap skirt, one with a hidden zipper and one with a tie closure
The first one had a side zipper that kept catching the fabric. The second one used a simple tie closure made from the same cotton blend. After wearing each for a month, the tie version held up better and was easier to adjust. I spent about $15 less on materials for the tie version because I skipped the zipper and extra notions. The hidden zipper just added a point of failure without much benefit for this style. Has anyone else moved away from zippers for certain casual pieces?
My gym shorts from 2012 are still going strong with just a simple drawstring, @logansullivan. I swear some brands just slap a zipper on there to charge an extra twenty bucks. It feels like they're solving a problem that doesn't exist for most casual wear. I end up avoiding those pants anyway because a metal zipper just feels like over-engineering for a lazy Sunday.
Honestly, why do we need a metal zipper on sweatpants you only wear to the grocery store? I had a pair with a zipper pocket that broke after two washes, but my drawstring shorts from years ago are still perfect. It feels like they're just adding bulk for no reason.