Ziggy Colors 1: The Vintage Hair Clip Collectors Quietly Hunt For

Among British collectors of vintage hair accessories, few names spark as much quiet recognition as the Ziggy Colors 1 line. These small plastic clips and combs, produced in a limited run of saturated hues, first appeared in the late 1960s—a period when mainstream British fashion began to embrace bold, unapologetic colour after years of muted post-war restraint. The Ziggy Colors 1 series is defined not by elaborate ornamentation but by the purity of its pigment and the precise, spring-loaded mechanism that holds each piece securely in fine or medium hair.

The production date is generally believed to be between 1968 and 1971, though surviving trade catalogues from high-street haberdashers rarely mention the line by name. What we do know comes from the objects themselves: each clip is stamped on the inner metal spring with a tiny “ZC1” and a number code that likely identifies the colour batch. The palette includes a searing coral red, a deep mustard yellow, a translucent emerald green, a violet that leans slightly grey, and a turquoise so bright it appears almost neon under incandescent light. These were not colours chosen for shyness. They were meant to be seen.

A Brief History of the Ziggy Colors 1 Collection

The Ziggy name appears to have been a sub-label of a larger Birmingham-based plastics manufacturer that supplied accessories to department stores such as Selfridges and Debenhams in the late sixties. The “Colors 1” suffix indicates it was the first of a planned series of capsule colour runs, but no “Colors 2” or subsequent collections have ever been reliably documented—suggesting that the line was discontinued after a single season. This rarity is part of the appeal for today’s collectors.

The styling of the period heavily influenced the shapes chosen for the Ziggy Colors 1 series. The most iconic piece is a claw clip with four broad, rounded teeth and a slight upward curve that mimics the “Beehive” silhouette popularised by hairstylists like Vidal Sassoon’s early protégés. Unlike earlier metal barrettes that could snag hair, the Ziggy clips used injection-moulded cellulose acetate, a material that feels warm to the touch and flexes slightly under pressure. The spring mechanism was housed in a folded brass core, plated with a thin layer of nickel to prevent corrosion.

Design and Materials: What Makes Ziggy Colors 1 Distinct

The cellulose acetate used in Ziggy Colors 1 has a characteristic translucency that differs from the opaque Bakelite pieces of the 1930s and 1940s. When held up to natural daylight, the colour appears dense at the edges but lets light pass through the thinner centre of the clip, creating a stained-glass effect against the hair. This quality is especially noticeable in the emerald green and violet shades.

Each clip measures approximately 6.5 cm in length and 2 cm at its widest point, making it ideal for securing a side section or a half-up style. The teeth are spaced evenly at 3 mm intervals, a dimension that the manufacturer likely chose to accommodate both fine and medium hair textures without causing creasing or breakage. The back of the clip carries a faint mould line—a detail that purist collectors look for to confirm authenticity over modern reproductions.

The colour application is not painted or coated; the pigment is mixed into the raw acetate pellets before moulding, so the colour runs all the way through the material. This means that surface scratches do not reveal a different colour underneath, only a lighter version of the same shade. Among the known batches, the coral red and mustard yellow are the most colourfast, while the turquoise has been observed to develop a slight yellow shift over five decades of exposure to UV light.

Cult Silhouettes and the Ziggy Colors 1 Line

Although the Ziggy Colors 1 series is often grouped under the generic term “claw clip,” the precise shape is more akin to a Japanese-style “Kanzashi spring clip” adapted for Western hair. The top edge is gently scalloped rather than flat, producing a series of four shallow waves that catch light differently as the head moves. This design feature was not purely decorative: the scalloped surface provides a subtle grip that prevents the clip from sliding out of fine, straight hair—a common complaint with earlier plastic barrettes.

A smaller companion clip, known among collectors as the “Ziggy Junior,” exists in the same colour range but measures only 4 cm in length. It lacks the scalloped top and instead has a smooth domed surface. The Junior was likely intended for children or for securing very short hair sections, but it remains far rarer than the standard size. A complete set of both sizes in all five original colours is considered the holy grail of Ziggy collecting; fewer than a dozen such sets are thought to exist in private hands across the UK.

Scoring and Identifying Vintage Ziggy Colors 1 in the Field

Because the Ziggy Colors 1 line was produced for such a short window, most surviving examples surface in the United Kingdom, often in charity shops in provincial towns or in the estate lots of women who would have been in their twenties in the late sixties. Online marketplaces like eBay UK occasionally list pieces under generic descriptions such as “vintage orange hair clip” or “1970s plastic barrette”—the seller rarely knows the Ziggy name. To identify a true Ziggy Colors 1 clip, look for the following markers:

• An engraved “ZC1” followed by a two-digit number (e.g., “ZC1 04”) on the interior brass spring. The digits are tiny and may require a jeweller’s loupe to read.
• A slight “warm” smell when the clip is rubbed vigorously with a dry cloth—cellulose acetate releases a faint vinegar-like odour when heated, a telltale sign of authentic vintage material.
• Uniform colour saturation on both sides of the clip, with no paint chips or peeling. The mould seam should run precisely along the outer edge and not across the gripping surface.
• No maker’s name or “Made in England” stamp. Unlike many other British accessory producers, Ziggy did not mark their pieces externally; only the spring carries the identifier.

Condition is paramount. Clips that have been stored in damp lofts often develop a cloudy film called “cellulose acetate degradation” that cannot be reversed. A clip in excellent condition—clear colour, snappy spring, no cracks—can command prices between £25 and £45 at specialist vintage hair accessory fairs, such as those held at the Chelsea Antiques Market or the Birmingham Vintage Collectors’ Fair. For comparison, the well-documented Naomi hair clips from the same era rarely exceed £30, yet their production run was far longer.

Styling Ziggy Colors 1 with a Modern Wardrobe

The unapologetic brightness of Ziggy Colors 1 makes them surprisingly easy to pair with contemporary clothing. A single coral red clip worn at the temple works beautifully with a cream linen dress or a white cotton shirt—the contrast keeps the look fresh rather than costume-like. The mustard yellow clip finds harmony in navy, olive, and denim; it also echoes the mustard shades that appear in current British heritage brands like Toast and Alex Eagle.

For those who prefer a more matched approach, the turquoise clip can be used to anchor a silk scarf tied as a headband, with the clip placed just above the left ear. The green and violet clips lend themselves to autumnal layers: think a charcoal cashmere jumper, dark wash jeans, and the emerald clip holding back a side fringe. Because the clips are small, they add a punch of colour without overwhelming an outfit—a principle that applies whether you are attending a gallery opening in Shoreditch or walking the dogs on Hampstead Heath.

If you already own a Nina headband from the early 1920s revival, you might notice a similar restrained elegance in the Ziggy line despite the different era. Both accessories rely on precise craftsmanship and a thoughtful relationship between colour and silhouette.

Care and Preservation of Ziggy Colors 1

Cellulose acetate is a semi-synthetic material that continues to outgas acetic acid over its lifetime, especially in warm, sealed environments. To preserve a Ziggy Colors 1 clip, store it in an open tray or a breathable cotton pouch rather than a closed plastic bag. Keep it away from direct sunlight, radiator heat, and perfumes or hairsprays that can cloud the surface. If a clip develops a light yellow haze, a gentle wipe with a microfiber cloth dampened with distilled water sometimes restores some clarity, but never use alcohol or acetone—they will dissolve the acetate instantly.

Spring maintenance is simple: squeeze the clip open and closed a few times every six months to keep the nickel-plated brass from stiffening. If a spring feels gritty or does not close fully, a single drop of mineral oil applied to the pivot point (not the teeth) can extend its life by decades. Avoid bending the metal arms, as they are not designed to be reshaped.

One narrow but practical tip for first-time Ziggy owners: always check the colour fastness of the turquoise shade by holding the clip under a strong incandescent lamp for two minutes. If you notice the colour warming to a greenish-blue, that particular example has already started its UV shift and should be displayed in a low-light area of your collection rather than worn daily.