Quick answer: Cheongsam buttons are decorative, Chinese-style buttons used to finish cheongsam (qipao), hanfu and other traditional and modern garments. The most popular kinds are openwork filigree metal buttons with a hollow, carved pattern, and smooth faux jade glass buttons, usually with a shank (loop) back so the decorative face stays clean. They come in gold-tone, silver-tone and jade-look finishes and add an elegant, handcrafted touch to mandarin collars, front plackets and cardigans.
Want to give a cheongsam, qipao or a plain cardigan an elegant, traditional finish? Cheongsam buttons are decorative Chinese-style buttons designed to be seen, so a single row can turn a simple garment into something that feels considered and handcrafted. This guide explains what cheongsam buttons are, the main types available — including the openwork filigree metal styles we specialise in — how they attach, how to choose the right ones and how to care for them, so you can add a refined, Eastern-inspired detail to your next project with confidence.
What Are Cheongsam Buttons?
Cheongsam buttons (also called qipao buttons or Chinese-style buttons) are decorative buttons traditionally used on the cheongsam, qipao, hanfu and tang suit, and increasingly on modern cardigans, blouses and coats. Rather than plain, flat fasteners, they are designed as small ornaments: carved metal, hollow filigree patterns or smooth jade-look glass, often with a shank (loop) on the back so the decorative face stays clean and unbroken. They lend a garment an elegant, heritage feel, and because so many styles exist, they suit everything from an authentic handmade cheongsam to a contemporary knit that just needs one standout detail.
Types of Cheongsam Buttons
There are a few classic styles to know, each with its own look:
- Openwork filigree metal buttons — our signature style. Each button is a metal alloy piece with a hollow, cut-out filigree pattern in a gold-tone or silver-tone finish, so it feels light and jewelry-like while making a statement. The airy, carved design is the most recognisably “Chinese” look and pairs beautifully with a mandarin collar or front placket.
- Faux jade glass buttons — smooth, round discs of faux jade (jade-look) glass, usually topped with a gold-tone shank, for the calm, milky glow associated with classic cheongsam and qipao.
- Round “peace” donut buttons — smooth ring or donut shapes in a jade-look or ceramic-style finish, a gentle, understated option.
- Decorative shank metal buttons — carved balls, knot and floral designs in gold-tone, silver-tone or bronze-tone, for a vintage, ornamental finish.
Across all of them, the shared idea is the same: a decorative face that reads like a small piece of jewelry, attached through a shank so the pattern stays the focus.
How Do Cheongsam Buttons Attach?
Most cheongsam buttons, including our openwork filigree styles, use a shank — a small loop on the back — rather than holes on the front. To attach one, you pass your needle and thread through the fabric and then through this loop several times. This keeps the decorative face completely smooth and unbroken, so the openwork pattern or jade-look surface stays the star, and the small gap created by the shank lets the button sit slightly proud of the fabric. Because the stitching hides on the underside of the garment, the finished look is clean and professional, even on a delicate collar.
What Colors and Finishes Are Available?
Metal cheongsam buttons come in warm and cool metal tones — gold-tone, silver-tone and antique bronze-tone — that suit different fabrics and moods. Gold-tone feels warm and classic against red, black, navy and jewel colors; silver-tone is cooler and more understated; and bronze-tone gives an antique, heritage look. Jade-look glass styles add soft, stone-inspired colors such as green, cream and white for a gentler, traditional feel. Our openwork range alone offers 17 styles across gold-tone and silver-tone finishes, so you can match the button to your fabric or let it stand out as a feature.
Why Choose Openwork Cheongsam Buttons?
Openwork filigree buttons are an easy, affordable way to give a garment a refined, handcrafted, Eastern-inspired detail. The hollow, carved pattern catches the light and reads like fine metalwork, yet the cut-out design keeps each button light and comfortable, even in a full row down a placket. They suit traditional wear such as cheongsam, qipao and hanfu, and they look just as striking as a single accent on a modern cardigan, blouse or coat. Sold in packs of 10 or 20 — with a needle and thread included — they are a practical, giftable choice for makers, tailors and home sewers alike.
How Do You Choose the Right Cheongsam Buttons?
Style and Finish
Start with the garment and the mood. For an authentic cheongsam or qipao, the openwork filigree metal styles or jade-look glass buttons give the most traditional finish; for a modern cardigan or blouse, a single openwork button can act as an elegant feature. Choose gold-tone for a warm, classic look, silver-tone for something cooler and understated, or a jade-look style for a softer, stone-inspired feel. If you like variety, the openwork range offers 17 styles to mix and match.
Size and Fit
Check that the button suits both your buttonhole and the weight of your fabric. Smaller buttons are lovely for blouses, collars and lightweight cardigans, while larger, bolder buttons make more of a statement on coats and jackets. If you are replacing existing buttons, measure the old button and your buttonhole first so the new ones fasten easily and sit flush.
Quantity
Work out how many buttons your project needs and add a spare or two. Our openwork buttons come in packs of 10 or 20: a pack of 10 is ideal for a single cheongsam, cardigan or blouse with a few spares, while a pack of 20 covers larger garments, several projects or extra matching spares for future repairs.
How Do You Sew On Cheongsam Buttons?
- Thread a needle with a double length of matching thread and knot the end.
- Mark the spot for the button and bring the needle up through the fabric from the back.
- Pass the needle through the shank loop on the back of the button.
- Stitch down through the fabric and back up through the loop several times until the button feels secure.
- Wind the thread a few times around the stitches beneath the button to form a neat base, then knot off on the wrong side and trim.
How Do You Care for Cheongsam Buttons?
Metal and glass cheongsam buttons are hard-wearing, but a little care keeps them looking their best. Where possible, hand wash garments or place them inside a laundry bag for a gentle machine cycle. Avoid bleach, harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners, which can dull a gold-tone or silver-tone finish or cloud jade-look glass, and keep the buttons away from prolonged moisture. Wipe gently with a soft, dry cloth, and store any spares in a small box so the openwork pattern stays free of lint and dust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cheongsam buttons made of real gold or jade? No. The metal styles use a gold-tone, silver-tone or bronze-tone alloy, and the jade-look styles use faux jade glass, which gives the traditional look while keeping the buttons light and affordable.
What is a shank button? A shank button has a small loop on the back instead of holes on the front. You sew through this loop, so the decorative face stays smooth and the button sits slightly raised above the fabric.
What are openwork buttons? Openwork buttons have a hollow, cut-out filigree pattern, so they look like fine, airy metalwork while staying light on the fabric.
What can I use them for? Cheongsam, qipao, hanfu, tang suits, cardigans, blouses, coats, bags, hair accessories, costume making and all kinds of DIY sewing and craft projects.
How many buttons come in a pack? Our openwork cheongsam buttons are sold in packs of 10 or 20, with a free needle and thread included.
Can I buy cheongsam buttons in bulk? Yes. They are available for wholesale and bulk orders with trade pricing, alongside single packs for home use.
Rule of Thumb
Match the style to the garment (openwork filigree metal or jade-look glass for a traditional cheongsam, a single openwork button as a feature on modern pieces), pick the metal tone for the mood (gold-tone warm, silver-tone cool, bronze-tone antique), and choose the pack size to suit your project. Because they sew on through a shank, the decorative pattern stays clean and takes center stage on every garment.
Where to Buy
Ready to add a traditional, elegant detail to your wardrobe? Browse our range of openwork cheongsam buttons — in 17 hollow filigree styles across gold-tone and silver-tone finishes, sold in packs of 10 or 20 with a free needle and thread — and pick the style that suits your project. Not sure which will work best for your fabric or buttonholes? Get in touch using the contact details at the bottom of this page and we will be happy to help.
Can You Buy Cheongsam Buttons Wholesale?
Yes. As a button manufacturer, we offer cheongsam buttons — including our openwork filigree metal styles — for wholesale and bulk orders, with trade pricing for boutiques, fashion brands, tailors, costume makers and craft studios. Whether you are stocking a haberdashery, producing traditional wear, or putting together DIY sewing kits, we ship factory-direct worldwide. Tell us the styles and quantities you need, using the contact details below, and we will reply with a wholesale quote and bulk availability.
Get in Touch
Have a question about our cheongsam buttons, or want a wholesale quote? Contact our customer service team and we will be happy to help.
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +86 158-8823-7906
- Address: No. 163, Hanbu Road, Qiaoxia Town, Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, 325106