Why Mother-Of-Pearl Buttons Might be the Trend of the Year

You know the feeling when you see something familiar, but you can’t quite place where you’ve seen it before? That is how I’ve felt for the past few months whenever a garment embellished with mother-of-pearl buttons flashes across my feed or walks past me on a stroll down Broadway. Even though I couldn't place where the buttons made of shell and abalone were bringing me back to, I began to realize they were everywhere from European it-girl brands to designer ready-to-wear.

Buttons have been gracing the social pages of fashion darlings and creative masterminds alike. Iona Judd, the mind behind campaigns for brands like Harrods, De Beers, and Louboutin, took her love for buttons to another level by turning them into memories that encapsulated the bodice of her wedding gown. 

Her dress, which was custom-made by designer Ellie Misner, was covered in hundreds of mother-of-pearl buttons–each collected from someone she loves. Each button was different: some from her grandmother's sewing box, others borrowed from her parents' old coats, one with an E for the first letter of her husband’s name and even one with a tiny horseshoe over her heart for goodluck.

After further research I realized why these pieces were standing out to me, and it wasn't just because they were almost everywhere I looked since spring 2025. They scratched an itch in my brain for sustainable, timeless, cool-girl wear. The buttons, which may have previously evoked the nostalgia of a grandma’s cardigan or vintage button down, had been rebirthed as a symbol of trend-forward embellishment.

I also realized why these pieces seemed so nostalgic even when cut into a mini skirt or low-cut dress. Using this specific pearlescent button isn’t a new trend, it has been on the runway for years. Most notably, buttons were used to decorate the bodices of pieces in Alexander McQueen’s spring 2003 runway show. McQueen chose to swap out what would usually be beads or gems with mother-of-pearl buttons cascading down the garments instead. These pieces are now hot on the resale market with the few pieces available selling for upwards of $5,000 online. Since the 2003 show, many designers have used this as inspiration–there are collections by Paloma Wool, JCrew, Jaded London and With Jean to prove it. In 2025 with sustainability and vintage aesthetics at the forefront of fashion, it isn't surprising that these tiny, pearl buttons are popular once again.

Little Buttons, Big Brands

Indie brands like By Sahara and Cielle have created entire brands and cultivated large followings around their mother-of-pearl pieces. Sahara Shafi, founder of By Sahara, started her brand to mirror ‘90s style: clean, chic, flattering silhouettes, and pieces that feel effortless but still make a statement. 

“I struggled to find clothes that felt timeless and well-made without being over-designed or trend-driven, so I decided to create them myself,” said Shafi. “I wanted to build a brand that’s thoughtful in how it’s made, but still chic and wearable–something that reflects my own style and values.”

When it came to using mother-of-pearl buttons, she said that her inspiration came from their subtle, classy elegance, which allows them to elevate any piece they are on.

“It’s almost like each button tells its own story which I think is lovely–no two shell buttons are the same,” said Shafi. “I think I just loved the way we could use the buttons out of the norm of their usual function and also have a clear and ownable aspect of the brand.”

When asked if she thought that shell buttons were just another fleeting part of the trend cycle, Shafi shared that she never saw them as a trend to begin with–for her they will always be in style. She designed the button collection over a year and half ago, with the intention of creating timeless pieces–items to reach for year after year, not just for the season. Shafi’s understanding of sustainability guides the brand, creating pieces that don't go into a landfill just because a trend has died down.

“It’s like polka dots, they’ve been around forever and aren’t going anywhere,” said Shafi. “For us, shell buttons aren’t just a fleeting moment; they’re part of the story and the movement we’ve believed in since day one.”

For Stephanie and Nicola Lopez Kinghorn, twin sisters and co-founders of slow-fashion brand Cielle, mother-of-pearl buttons are not something that will fall out of the trend-cycle anytime soon. The twins find that the buttons are a fun way to add texture, a natural element and charm to any piece of clothing–as you can tell by how they grace their collection. 

Cielle began as a vintage resale brand based in Australia and that love for timeless fashion inspired Stephanie and Nicola to create clothing that could be treasured and passed down through generations. The collections are exclusively made in Bali, where the Kinghorns partner with local, family owned tailors and artisans to design their pieces. Each piece is carefully hand-crafted, labor that carries with it the care, skill, and tradition of the people who make it. 

With vintage fashion being the twins' greatest inspiration, it is no surprise that they were drawn to mother-of pearl-buttons, particularly after falling in love with the iconic Alexander McQueen 2003 spring show.The buttons were a natural choice for the brand, as they are a native style and easy to source in Bali, where all of the pieces are handmade. 

Inspired by McQueen, Cielle's love for buttons came to life with the launch of the brand's Perla collection. The spring/summer collection featured their iconic button bikinis, headbands and mini skirts. With so many brands choosing to take part in the mother-of-pearl button obsession, Cielle leans on their sustainable, handmade ethos to cut through the noise. Each of the brand’s handcrafted pieces take almost a full day to complete by artisans due to the intricate button sewing process which, depending on the piece, may need to be executed upwards of 400 times.

“The exceptional fabrics, thoughtful details, and artistry found in older pieces stand in stark contrast to what fast fashion offers today, said Stephanie. “That dedication to beauty and longevity is what continues to guide and motivate us, it’s our anchor.”

Looking through my closet, shell buttons are everywhere–they're even being used on the lounge pants I'm wearing right now. The maximalist take on the trimming has brought them to light once again, whether it's a glam top or a subtle hint on a cable-knit cardigan, its obvious mother-of-pearl buttons are here to stay. 

You Can Never Have Too Many Buttons!