Velcro

Velcro is a registered trademark of  loop-and-hook fastener

Working 

When you press two pieces of Velcro together, thousands of tiny hooks instantly snag onto the fiber loops. It doesn't rely on any adhesive substance; the mechanism is entirely mechanical. One side features a layer of tiny plastic hooks, while the other consists of soft, looped fibers. When pressure is applied, the hooks engage with the loops, creating a mechanical grip; when you pull them apart, the hooks release one by one, producing a characteristic ripping sound.

History 

So, how did the idea for Velcro originate? It came from the burr—specifically the cocklebur. In 1941, a Swiss engineer named George de Mestral was hunting in the Alps with his Irish Pointer dog when he noticed cockleburs clinging tightly to his woolen trousers and the dog's fur. Upon examining them under a microscope, he discovered that the surface of the cocklebur was covered in hundreds of tiny, V-shaped hooks that easily snagged onto the looped structures of fabric fibers and hair. Inspired by this natural "hook-and-loop" fastening mechanism, he conceived the idea for an artificial fastener. In the early 1960s, however, Velcro received a lukewarm reception in the clothing industry; manufacturers felt it looked unsightly and made too much noise, so they were reluctant to adopt it. The turning point came with NASA's Apollo program, as Velcro offered a perfect solution for securing objects in zero-gravity environments—effectively taking the technology into space alongside the astronauts. Once it gained this association, it became immensely popular and was quickly embraced by the fashion world. French designers incorporated it into high-end fashion, propelling it to widespread mass popularity.^[1]