An apron clasp is a two-part metal fastener that holds the apron ribbon together at the front and replaces the bow. The key thing to check when buying is the bar width, because the ribbon runs through the bar on the back.
Here you'll learn which sizes are common, how to attach the clasp, and what's behind the rule “bow on the left, bow on the right.” We are the Kube family from Bad Endorf, and under the name Trachtenschmuck Stephan we have been making traditional jewelry, buttons, and clasps since 1949.
The essentials at a glance
- Bar width: usually 25 to 35 mm (1 to 1.4 in), most often 30 mm (1.18 in).
- Attachment: each of the two parts has a bar on the back. The ribbon is threaded through and sewn in place.
- Bow rule: left for single, right for taken is a popular custom but not historically documented. It has spread since about the 1980s.
- Versatile: wear an apron clasp on your dirndl apron, or on a ribbon as a traditional belt.
What sizes do apron clasps come in?
Every clasp lists three measurements: the total width of both parts together, the height, and the bar width. Width and height matter for the look, but only the bar matters for the fit. It has to match the width of your apron ribbon.
Bars of 25 to 35 mm (1 to 1.4 in) are common, with 30 mm (1.18 in) the most frequent. Our range goes from 20 mm (0.79 in) on small, filigree clasps to 60 mm (2.36 in) on the large clasp “41.” Most models are between 25 and 35 mm (1 and 1.4 in).
| Model | Total width | Height | Bar width | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apron clasp “4” | 42 mm (1.65 in) | 37 mm (1.46 in) | 25 mm (0.98 in) | €15.90 |
| Apron clasp “13” | 66 mm (2.60 in) | 35 mm (1.38 in) | 30 mm (1.18 in) | €16.90 |
| Apron clasp “22” | 66 mm (2.60 in) | 40 mm (1.57 in) | 30 mm (1.18 in) | €22.90 |
| Apron clasp “12” | 82 mm (3.23 in) | 41 mm (1.61 in) | 35 mm (1.38 in) | €22.90 |
| Apron clasp “2” | 78 mm (3.07 in) | 51 mm (2.01 in) | 40 mm (1.57 in) | €22.90 |
| Apron clasp “41” | 76 mm (2.99 in) | 67 mm (2.64 in) | 60 mm (2.36 in) | €23.90 |
Measuring tip: lay a measuring tape across your apron ribbon and measure its width. Then look for a clasp with a matching bar.
How do you attach an apron clasp?
Each of the two parts has a bar on the back. Thread the left end of the ribbon through the bar of one part and the right end through the bar of the other. Then fold the ribbon over and sew it down with a few stitches so the clasp doesn't slip. At the front, hook both parts together, and you're done.
Some models have a sturdy loop instead of a bar, which the ribbon is sewn onto, such as the round apron clasp “36”. On several models, we solder the bars and loops on by hand in our workshop.
“On the back, each part has a bar for attaching the ribbon.”
Sebastian Kube, Trachtenschmuck-Manufaktur
The thing about the bow
Anyone who ties a dirndl apron knows the question: where does the bow go? The rule you'll usually hear goes like this:
- Left: single, so still available.
- Right: taken, engaged, or married.
- Center: virgin.
- Back: widowed, or for waitstaff simply practical.
It sounds like an old tradition, but it isn't. Experts in traditional dress classify the bow code as a young custom that has spread since about the 1980s. Tobias Appl, the district heritage officer (Bezirksheimatpfleger) of the Upper Palatinate, calls it a relatively new story. Originally, the bow was simply there to tie the apron. So feel free to share the rule and play along, but it's not a must.
With an apron clasp, the question doesn't come up anyway, because it sits at the center front.
“Not sure whether the bow on your dirndl apron goes on the left or the right? With our apron clasps, you won't have to think about it anymore.”
P.S. “Just because you wear your apron clasp in the middle doesn't make you a virgin, unless you're already a Virgo.”
Sebastian Kube
Apron clasp as a traditional belt
Many of our clasps also work as the closure for a traditional belt. Just sew the two parts onto a ribbon of matching width, such as velvet or grosgrain ribbon. That turns a clasp into a belt for a dirndl, skirt, or dress. To go with it, take a look at bodice hooks and bodice chains and more dirndl jewelry.
Apron clasp FAQ
What bar width do I need?
As wide as your apron ribbon. 25 to 35 mm (1 to 1.4 in) is common, most often 30 mm (1.18 in).
Do I have to sew the apron clasp on?
The ribbon is threaded through the bar and then sewn in place. That keeps the clasp where it belongs, even when you're dancing.
Where do I wear the apron clasp?
At the center front, where the bow would otherwise sit.
Is the rule “left for single, right for taken” true?
It's a widespread custom, but not historically documented. It has become known since about the 1980s.
Can I also wear an apron clasp as a belt?
Yes. On a ribbon of matching width, it becomes the closure of a traditional belt.
Read more in our guide: Bodice hooks and lacing and Traditional jewelry for your wedding
About the author: Sebastian Kube runs the Trachtenschmuck-Manufaktur in Bad Endorf in the Chiemgau region together with his family. Under the name Trachtenschmuck Stephan, the family has been making traditional jewelry, buttons, and clasps since 1949, now in the fourth generation. More about us
Sources: Measurements and prices from our range (as of October 2026); Abendzeitung München / dpa: Schleife links, Schleife rechts. Der Dirndl-Code (German; with Tobias Appl, district heritage officer of the Upper Palatinate, and Alexander Wandinger, Tracht advisory service of the district of Upper Bavaria).