Knappare

Knappare is a term used in some Scandinavian languages to denote a person who makes or specializes in the production of buttons. The word derives from the word for button (knapp) with the agent suffix, reflecting its function as a maker or supplier within the textile trades. In historical contexts, knappare were small-scale craftspeople or workshop operators who produced buttons for garments, often working in urban centers alongside tailors, seamstresses, and other artisans.

Historically, button making emerged as a distinct craft in Europe as clothing closures and decoration became more varied. Materials used by knappare included bone, horn, wood, shell (such as mother-of-pearl), metal, and, later, plastics. Button production could be artisanal, with individual craftsmen hand-cutting blanks, drilling holes, shaping edges, and applying finishes or decorations, or semi-industrial, with small workshops handling batches for local markets. In some periods, buttons were also categorized by their back type (two or four holes, or a shank) and by decorative technique, including engraving, inlay, or painting.

In the modern era, the traditional knappare role often evolved into specialized button shops, broader garment-accessory studios, or integrated factories within the textile and apparel industries. While mass-produced buttons reduced the share of purely artisanal knappare activity, the craft persists in high-end fashion and restoration work where traditional materials and techniques are valued.

See also: Button manufacturing, Garment closures, Textile crafts.