History of VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop

VELCRO® Brand Fasteners – from a weed to the world’s leading fastener.

*In the early 1940′s Swiss inventor George de Mestral was walking with his dog through the woods when he saw that his pants were covered in cockleburs. De Mestral became curious about the burrs and examined them under his microscope.

*He discovered their hook-like shape and thus began his quest to produce a unique two-sided fastener — one side with stiff “hooks”, similar to the burrs; the other side with soft “loops,” resembling fabric.

*The two-sided fastener became known as VELCRO® brand hook and loop, named for the French words, “velour” and “crochet.”

*As pioneers in hook and loop fastener technology, VELCRO® Brand Fasteners is the original patent holder of U.S. Patent 2,717,437 filed on October 15, 1952.

Today, VELCRO® Brand Fasteners strives to be the dominant innovator in fastening technology through efficient and creative solutions.