The Velcro Shoe

Velcro shoes have straps that stick together instead of laces. You just press the straps down to fasten them and pull them apart to take the shoes off. They are quick, easy, and perfect for kids.

How Velcro Was Invented

Velcro was invented in 1941 by a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral. He went for a walk with his dog and noticed burrs sticking to his clothes and his dog's fur. He looked at the burrs under a microscope and saw tiny hooks.

De Mestral got the idea to make a fastener with tiny hooks on one side and tiny loops on the other. When pressed together, the hooks grab the loops and hold tight. He named his invention Velcro, from the French words for velvet and hook.

Velcro Shoes for Kids

Velcro straps were first added to shoes in the 1960s and 1970s. They quickly became popular for children's shoes because young kids often struggle with tying laces. With Velcro shoes, kids can put on their own shoes without help.

Today, Velcro is used on shoes, jackets, bags, and even by astronauts in space. NASA uses Velcro to keep things from floating away in the space station. But for kids, the best thing about Velcro shoes is how fast and easy they are to put on.

Fun Facts

• Velcro was inspired by burrs that stuck to a dog's fur during a walk.
• NASA uses Velcro all over the International Space Station.
• The ripping sound Velcro makes is caused by hundreds of tiny hooks pulling away from loops.

Did You Know?

A piece of Velcro the size of your hand can hold up to 175 pounds if it is high-quality industrial Velcro.