Hook and loop fastening was invented by Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral.

He hit on the idea in 1941 when he returned from a walk in the mountains and was surprised by how difficult it was to remove the burs of burdock that stuck to his clothes and the fur of his dog. He discovered that they were covered with small hooks that made them cling to his clothing and the dog’s fur. De Mestral recognised the potential and developed a fastening system that he patented in Switzerland in 1951. Today, the hook-and-loop tape stands as one of the 20th century’s most important inventions.