Where did Velcro come from?

In the early 1940's, Swiss inventor George de Mestral went on a walk with his dog... Upon his return home, he noticed that his dog's coat and his pants were covered with cockleburrs. His inventor's curiosity led him to study the burrs under a microscope, where he discovered their natural hook-like shape.

This was to become the basis for a unique, two-sided fastener - one side with stiff "hooks" like the burrs and the other side with the soft "loops" like the fabric of his pants. The result was VELCRO® brand hook and loop fasteners, named for the French words "velour" and "crochet."

The challenge then became to make machinery that could produce the product in a manner that assured consistent closure performance. After considerable experimentation, looms and proprietary hook cutting systems were developed, which set the standards for hook and loop fastener performance, consistency and quality.

Today we find Velcro in a wide variety of outdoor gear and equipment. From wading boots, to clothing, tents and much much more.