Velcro

Velcro is a simple way to stick two things together. One strip has tiny hooks. The other strip has tiny loops. When you press them together, they hold tight. You can pull them apart with a loud ripping sound.

How It Was Invented

A Swiss man named George de Mestral invented Velcro. He got the idea in 1941. He was walking his dog and saw sticky burrs on its fur. He looked at the burrs under a microscope and saw tiny hooks. He then made a fastener that worked the same way.

A close-up of tiny Velcro loops that stick together.
A close-up of tiny Velcro loops that stick together. (Alexander Klink / Wikimedia Commons)

How We Use It

Velcro is on shoes, jackets, and bags. It helps kids close their sneakers without tying laces. Astronauts even use Velcro in space. It holds their tools so they do not float away. Doctors also use it on braces and casts.

Fun Facts

  • The name Velcro comes from two French words: velours (velvet) and crochet (hook).
  • NASA used Velcro to keep items from floating in zero gravity.
  • A small piece of Velcro can hold many pounds of weight.

Did You Know?

George de Mestral got his big idea from nature. Copying nature to solve problems is called biomimicry.