The importance of a button: a reflection on slow, handmade clothing
For me, the button is the beginning and the end of a garment. It’s how you enter and leave it. The fastening and unfastening of oneself into cloth. Slowly, hastily, on one’s own or with someone else. A quiet ritual at the start of the day, and a gentle act of undoing at its end.
Here at An Acre of Land, we want all our slowly-made pieces to echo the care and love that go into the stitching. We want our pieces to be a part of your life for years, not just a single season. That’s why we always finish our garments with a button.
Fastenings and the art of intention
The zip, though convenient, has always felt harsh to me. It’s too mechanical, too anonymous somehow. Although it’s oftentimes invisible, its presence is still there. In my experience, zips cannot be relied upon. They break, they stick, they catch.
A button, by contrast, asks for a moment of pause. A little lingering attention that turns the act of dressing into a small, meaningful ceremony. It slows you down, if only for a second, so you can notice the texture, the thread, and the maker’s mark upon the garment.
Buttons as memory keepers
There’s something inherently nostalgic about buttons. The spare ones kept in old tins and biscuit boxes on our grandmother’s tables, jumbled up with bits of fluff, lengths of thread, and the soft patina of time. Tiny humble objects, yes, but weighted with memory.
Each one carries a story: a reason it was chosen, a garment it once belonged to. Held between fingers over the years, passed between generations, they remind us of a slower pace — of mending, saving, and re-wearing. Of choosing well and choosing once.
That’s the heart of slow fashion: creating clothes that hold memory, meaning, and space for the stories still to come.
How we choose our buttons
Choosing the right button is part of the making process. It’s a quiet, final decision that shapes the whole. These are some of the things we consider when choosing a button:
How does it feel?
Does it sit well with its hole?
Does it do what it’s meant to — offer closure, structure, shaping?
How does it look?
Does it belong, or does it distract?
Does it offer quiet contrast or gently disappear into the linen weave?
Some buttons are chosen to make a statement. Others are there simply to complete the form. Either way, these small, precious details matter.
Celebrating British-made buttons
We’re proud to use Courtney & Co. buttons, made in the last remaining button factory in the UK. Tucked away in the Gloucestershire countryside, their workshop produces beautiful buttons from natural materials using heritage techniques.
Each button is made from Codelite®, a sustainable material derived from milk casein. Strong, smooth, and biodegradable, it’s a natural alternative to plastic and a joy to work with. This is British manufacturing at its most thoughtful: small-batch, slow, and sustainable.
Courtney & Co. believed in this little brand when it was just an idea. Their support meant everything — and still does. We are committed to growing alongside them without ever compromising on what matters most.
A note on dressing slowly
Like all small beginnings, we’re building gently. We’re in what I like to call an ‘Elves and the Shoemaker’ phase as we operate with limited stock, made in careful batches.
If you find yourself on a waiting list, know it’s part of our rhythm. We make garments that honour the body and the land. Made to live with you, shift with you, and button you in through seasons and stories.
Our hope is that these clothes become part of your own ritual, from the way you button up in the morning to the way you take it off at night.
Thank you for choosing a different pace. Thank you for supporting artisan fashion and the small brands trying to do things a little better.
With love,
Julia