The hook and loop fastener or commonly known as ‘velcro’ is a product, we frequently come across in our everyday life but do you know who is the brainchild behind this invention? It is George de Mestral, a Swiss engineer who invented this infinitely applicable product, with applications ranging from consumer apparel to space travel.
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The inventor got his inspiration from burdock fruits which kept sticking on his dog Milka while he was on a hunting trip in the Alps. He then spent the next decade studying the fruits under a microscope. He discovered when the loops and hooks attach to the opposing pieces of fabric it results in an easily removable fastening mechanism. He tested various materials for his invention and eventually ended up selecting nylon. He reverse-engineered a product of nature to suit human needs and he later patented the hook and loop fastener in 1955. He then came up with a brand VELCRO to commercialize his invention. VELCRO essentially means “hooked velvet” in French. Shockingly, many people think that VELCRO was invented by NASA for their space program as the product gained popularity when it was extensively used in space in the 1960s.[/ihc-hide-content]
