When And How Were Hook-And-Loop Fasteners Invented?

Hook-and-loop fasteners—commonly known as Velcro—are now widely used in everything from footwear and textiles to cable management and medical equipment.

These practical, reusable fastening systems actually take their inspiration from nature.

So how did this smart tape technology come to be?

History

Hook-and-loop fasteners were discovered in 1941 by Swiss engineer George de Mestral.

While walking in nature with his dog, he noticed burdock seeds clinging to his clothes and his dog’s fur.

Upon examining them under a microscope, he saw hook-like structures at the ends of the seeds and imagined a fastening system based on this mechanism.

Development and Commercialization

De Mestral patented the system in 1955 and commercialized it under the brand “Velcro” in the late 1950s.

The name “Velcro” comes from a combination of the French words velours (velvet) and crochet (hook).

The mechanism works as follows:

• One side consists of hooks (the rigid surface)
• The other side consists of loops (the soft surface)
• When pressed together, they fasten securely but can be easily separated when needed

Common Areas of Use

Today, hook-and-loop fasteners are commonly used in:

• Footwear and clothing
• Medical devices and dressing securement
• Cable organization and electronics
• Furniture and panel mounting
• Industrial transport and packaging systems
• At MAS Global, we offer both standard tape form and self-adhesive hook-and-loop fastener solutions.

Conclusion

Inspired by nature, this fastening system provides practical and reusable solutions across various industries thanks to its simplicity and versatility.