Sticky Business: The Accidental Birth of Velcro

What Sticks Around on September 13?

If you've ever spared yourself the indignity of tying shoelaces or quietly peeled open a jacket with that distinct riiiip sound, you have an annoying walk in the woods to thank! On September 13, 1955, Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral was officially granted a patent for his world-changing invention: Velcro.

• The Annoyed Inspiration: In the 1940s, de Mestral took his dog hunting in the Alps, only to return covered in pesky burdock burrs (burrs stuck stubbornly to his clothes and his dog's fur).
• The Microscopic Curiosity: Instead of just grumbling while picking them off, he shoved a burr under a microscope and noticed hundreds of tiny hooks gripping onto tiny woven loops in fabric fibers.
• The Portmanteau: He combined the French words velours ("velvet") and crochet ("hook") to name the sticky miracle material.

Though initially ridiculed by the fashion industry—who thought it looked tacky and ruined tailored silhouettes—Velcro eventually took off when NASA started using it to keep gear from drifting away in zero gravity. So on this day, celebrate the fine line between nuisance and genius—and make sure all your fasteners stay securely latched!