Where does it come from?

From the cocklebur... to the self-gripping tape

The self-gripping Hook and Loop Fastener concept was invented in 1948 by Georges de Mestral, a Swiss engineer. Upon returning from a hunting trip, Mr. de Mestral noticed that cockleburs stuck to his clothes and his dog's hair. From this observation Mr. De Mestral created the original self-gripping Hook and Loop Fastener. Mr. De Mestral applied for patents on his invention and established, with several investors, the Velcro S.A. Company in Switzerland.

Today the Hook & Loop fastener is recognized as one of the 50 most important inventions of the 20th century.