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Orange Corozo Button

 COROZO BUTTONS

Sustainable Natural Clothing Buttons

Welcome to Corozo Buttons, the global frontrunner in the production of bespoke, natural corozo (tagua) fashion buttons. With an impressive legacy spanning over four decades, we have been a trusted partner to the fashion industry, having sold hundreds of millions of custom buttons. Our unrivaled commitment to quality, dependability, and adaptability has solidified our position as the preferred choice worldwide.

At Corozo Buttons, we cater to a diverse clientele that ranges from renowned multinational corporations and wholesalers to small design studios and boutiques. We take pride in serving customers of all scales, providing them with the same exceptional standards that have made us an industry leader. Our extensive experience and expertise allow us to meet the unique requirements and preferences of each client with precision and finesse.

Quality lies at the heart of our craftsmanship. Every button we produce is meticulously crafted using the finest corozo, ensuring a natural and distinctive appeal that enhances any garment or accessory. Our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of excellence has earned us a reputation for unmatched reliability and durability in the industry.

Flexibility is another cornerstone of our business philosophy. We understand that every client has specific visions and needs, which is why we offer a comprehensive range of customization options. From a wide array of shapes, sizes, and finishes to personalized engravings and designs, our team works closely with you to bring your unique button concepts to life. Your imagination is the only limit, and we take pride in transforming your ideas into tangible, stunning realities.

Join our esteemed clientele and experience the unparalleled quality and service that Corozo Buttons is renowned for. Whether you represent a multinational brand or a boutique fashion studio, we are here to deliver exceptional buttons that elevate your creations to new heights. Discover the artistry and expertise that have made us a trusted partner in the industry, and let us exceed your expectations with every button we create.

Signature image

1700+

Styles

40+

Years In Business

1000+

Happy Customers

100,000+

Orders Shipped

Community Impact

While our commitment is first and foremost to our clients, we at Corozo Buttons understand that our social responsibility extends far beyond that of our business relationships. Some aspects of this commitment are readily apparent through our interactions with local clients and suppliers; providing them with new skillsets and access to what is often an entirely different source of income. Less apparent, but perhaps more important and far-reaching, is the effect that Corozo Buttons has on the rest of the local community.

Corozo Raw Material 

Corozo, or tagua its indigenous name – grows most commonly in remote areas of higher elevation. The process required to gather and transform these seeds from their original form into raw material is relatively simple, however it involves many steps that require low-skill labor. These steps include gathering, preparing, drying, peeling, cutting, turning, selecting and transporting at the most basic level. All of these separate steps have an extensive multiplier effect as one job leads into another and then another, creating a domino type effect. Over five hundred thousand pounds of seeds are required every month for our process; such required volume generates over one thousand full time and part time low-skill labor jobs in depressed and impoverished communities, jobs which help the community prosper and grow economically as well as to increase the average quality of life. 

Manufacturing Process

In contrast to the raw material production process, manufacturing introduces an entirely different spectrum of skillsets and occupations for the community. Our manufacturing process requires dramatically more specialized jobs and professionals. Equipment ranges from mechanical turns to delicate, computer-controlled laser engraving machines. The plant boasts an integrated production system as well as WiFi communications throughout the facility. Our manufacturing facility employs around 100 workers, many of whom are required to have a higher degree of education due to the more complex demands of their positions. Corozo Buttons provides career opportunities to young professionals as well as an important infusion of technology that helps drive progress within the local community.

Research & Development

Few things remain constant in the fast paced world of fashion. To be successful one must understand the importance of innovation and the ability to adapt to a never-changing environment. We at Corozo Buttons not only understand change, we embrace it to the point where it has become an integral part of our core business. Whether it is to meet one of our clients’ demands or to create an entirely new style, our research department is constantly working to remain ahead of the curve. The result is a product that can be customized in an infinite number of ways and that is flexible enough to satisfy virtually any client demand. We at Corozo Buttons take pride in having one of the most technologically advanced button production facilities in the world; we use several state-of-the-art laser engraving machines as well as automatic turning machines. Technology gives us the ability to produce unique button faces and intricate laser designs that you will not find anywhere else. Most of our designs and colors are custom, made to order combinations that have been specifically requested by our clients. In view of the flexibility of working with corozo and the expertise we have gathered over several decades, we are also developing new lines of corozo products. Accessories such as buckles, zipper pullers, jewelry and cuff links are just a start. We are currently looking to work alongside other companies to produce entirely different products for different industries. Please make any inquiries in our contact page. We will contact you as soon as possible. R&D Focus: Custom color development Button style development Experimental laser designs New special effects and finishes Cutting edge equipment updates

Our Story

The history of corozo dates back to the mid 1800’s and the explosive growth of trade routes between Europe and South America. Sailboats carrying many types of South American exports skipped down the pacific coast line, jumping from port to port, as they collected supplies and passengers.

At the time, it was common practice to add or remove sand as ballast to stabilize ships in rough seas;  Sand would be added to empty ships and then removed as the ships collected goods. Unfortunately there was a fatal flaw with this strategy and it was that wooden ships would often corrode and rot around the hull allowing water to filter in. The sand would retain all this water and the weight of the resulting mixture could easily sink the ship. Sailors began looking for another form of ballast that wouldn’t absorb water like sand did and was readily available in their shipping routes. They found that something in corozo nuts. Corozo nuts were heavy, plentiful and most importantly they did not soak up water. Ships would often come back to port in Europe with big loads of corozo seeds still stored in their holds.

One of these ships ended up in Hamburg, Germany where an artist saw them and took a few home to see what they were and if anything could be made from them. He noticed he was able to carve the nut into different shapes and that the material was well suited for this type of work. He commercialized his creations and they were a success. Pretty soon German businessmen noticed the potential profit they could make from the seeds and began paying to have them imported back to Germany on purpose.

As the tagua trade grew, the first German tagua trading post was built in Manta, Ecuador, where they found the main source of these nuts. It was called the “Tagua Handelsgesellschaft M.B.H.” or Tagua Trading Company by the Hellwig family and, when settled in 1895, it marked the beginning of the Tagua Industry. As the tagua business grew, German businessmen began to export the nuts to Italy, where they would be carved and then returned to the Germans for commercialization.

The Italians then became interested in finding the source of these nuts, which had been kept a secret by the Germans, and they did years later in Ecuador. In 1910 Italian traders built the “Casa Tagua” or Tagua house in Manta, leaving the Zanchi family in charge. They settled near the German Tagua Trading Company that had settled there years before. 

While the tagua industry thrived and grew very quickly in the early 1900’s, unfortunately tagua demand suffered in the years leading up to the war with the advent of plastics. The German Tagua Trading Company was forced to close its doors and the Casa Tagua barely survived under the leadership of its original owners. It wasn’t until the 1960’s and 70’s, after decades of dwindling interest that natural materials made their way back into public interest and Tagua would become popular again.

Many years later, through an incredible coincidence, the two grandchildren of the original Hellwig and Zanchi families happened to meet while on holiday in the then budding town of Manta, Ecuador. Only years later after they married would they come to find out one another's family history. The original families were now united into one.

In 1982 they retook the tagua business, eventually becoming Corozo Buttons as we know it today.

PEOPLE LOVE US

Impressive is not the word. I had a absolutely amazing experience from start to finish dealing with Raul and the staff at Corozo Buttons. I will be purchasing more products in the near future. Raul, thank you again for …

Royalty By Grant

Wow! Very impressed, you guys do some nice work, and will be my button people from here on out.

The Ocean Networks

Despite the distance, we have found Corozo Buttons to be very helpful and reliable, delivering quality products when promised. We are very happy all round and will definitely use again without hesitation.

Gina-B Silkworks

Our History

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