"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." So next time your zipper acts up, don’t panic, and don’t automatically assume you need to toss your item.

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — It happens to all of us at one time or another. You're on your way out the door, you grab your coat, and the zipper is stuck or broken.

Traditional zippers rely on a piece of fabric surrounding the teeth, which is sewn into garments. This is called a tape, and ...