Est. 1939 · Three Generations
A Family Button Company Since 1939
Sterling Buttons began in 1939 as a manufacturer and importer of buttons, buckles and ornaments. Three generations later, that family trade has grown into the world’s largest online archive of vintage clothing buttons — 1,600+ listed styles, with thousands more still in the drawers.
- Family-run since 1939
- 1,600+ listed styles
- 4.9★ from 9,500+ buyers
- Ships worldwide
Our Story
Sterling Buttons was established in 1939 and remains a third-generation family business, specializing in button manufacturing and importing. Over more than eight decades we’ve amassed an extensive inventory of buttons, brooches, toggles and ornaments — vintage and modern, in thousands of styles and sizes you won’t find anywhere else.
Much of our collection is deadstock: overstock and unused inventory from button makers and mills that have long since closed. When a button is discontinued everywhere else, it’s usually still here in the archive. That’s why sewists, tailors, costume designers and vintage restorers around the world come to us to match a lost button or complete a set no shelf still carries.
Every listing is photographed up close and sized in millimetres, so what arrives is exactly what you saw on screen. And if you can’t find it online, just ask — thousands of styles haven’t been photographed yet.
Explore the Archive
Wholesale & Custom Orders
We’ve dealt in wholesale and custom button orders since the beginning. Bulk pricing is available on 10+ of any style, and if there’s something you can’t find in the catalogue, we can often source or make it.
Can’t Find It? We Probably Have It.
Thousands of styles in the archive aren’t listed online yet. Send a photo and rough size to our Button Finding Service and we’ll check the drawers for you.
Questions, Answered
How long has Sterling Buttons been in business?
Since 1939. We're a third-generation family business that began in button manufacturing and importing, and we've been collecting and selling vintage and modern buttons ever since.
Where do your vintage buttons come from?
Much of the archive is deadstock — unused overstock from button makers and mills that have since closed. Every piece is genuine vintage stock, most of it from the 1970s–90s, held in finite quantity.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. We ship worldwide with tracking, and offer free shipping over $65 to the USA, Canada and UK. Rates for other destinations are shown at checkout.
What if I can't find the button I need?
Thousands of styles aren't listed online yet. Email a photo and rough size to our Button Finding Service at sterlingbutton@bellnet.ca and we'll check the archive for you.
