c) Gideon Sundback

Gideon Sundback, a Swedish-American engineer, is credited with crafting the first practical zipper in 1913. Sundback’s design, known as the “Separable Fastener,” improved upon previous versions of the zipper and made it much more reliable and functional. His innovation involved increasing the number of fastening elements and designing the manufacturing machine to produce it. The zipper was initially used for boots and tobacco pouches and later became ubiquitous in clothing, luggage, and countless other products. Sundback’s invention revolutionized clothing design and manufacturing, making it easier to fasten garments and accessories. The zipper, a simple yet transformative invention, exemplifies how engineering ingenuity can have a lasting impact on everyday life.