Functional elements
Hardware is 15 percent of a GradeThread score and close to 100 percent of what a buyer touches in the first ten seconds. These articles cover zips, closures and elastic, and how to check them before listing.
Does Replacing a Button Lower Vintage Clothing Grade? The Match-and-Disclose Standard
A replaced button doesn't automatically cap a grade — but a mismatched or undisclosed one does. Here's the match test resellers should run first.
Understanding Wash Care Tags on Vintage Garments: What Grade Changes When Instructions Are Missing or Illegible
A missing wash care tag doesn't always hurt a grade — but a cut-out one does. Here's how to tell the difference before you list.
Vintage Elastic Band Degradation: How to Grade Waistbands, Hems, and Cuffs That Have Lost Recovery
Dead elastic caps a grade even on spotless fabric. Here's the stretch-and-recovery test that separates Good, Fair, and Poor on waistbands, hems, and cuffs.
Vintage Dress Zipper Tracks and Slider Teeth: When to Grade Functional, Fair, or Pass
Missing teeth, spread sliders, and separated tracks fail differently. Here's how to grade damaged zipper teeth on vintage dresses correctly.
Zipper Functionality and Cosmetic Wear: How to Grade Sliders Without Killing the Sale
A stuck zipper and a scratched slider aren't the same defect. Here's how to grade each correctly — and disclose replacements without tanking the sale.
Drawstring and Cord Damage: How to Grade Missing or Damaged Cords on Vintage Outerwear
A missing hood drawstring isn't a cosmetic ding — it's a Functional Elements failure. Here's how to grade it, disclose repairs, and price it right.
Button and Hardware Replacement: When Grading Changes and When It Doesn't
A replaced button doesn't automatically tank a grade — but a mismatched one at the collar can drop resale value 20-25%. Here's exactly how to call it.