Hook and Loop Tape for Sewing

The Beginnings of Hook and Loop

Although NASA is frequently credited with the invention of hook and loop tape, its inventor was actually Swiss and pre-dated the Apollo missions. Engineer George de Mestral examined the cockleburs that stuck to his clothes and his dog’s fur after a walk. Under a microscope, he discovered a series of tiny, sharp hooks that allowed them to catch onto nearly anything it touched. Realizing that this “system” had the potential for a wide range of uses, Mestral worked with weavers to create a man-made version of this polypropylene adhesion system to mimic the cockleburs that stuck to his pants so well.

After trial and error, Mestral and his team finally created the hook and loop adhesive system we now know. This nylon webbing tape revolutionized closures and gave the world a new way to open, close and attach easily.

Since 1955, this simple two-part specialty fastener made from nylon webbing has been used in a wide range of applications, from military gear to medical clothing and equipment, safety equipment and everyday apparel.

In zero gravity, NASA discovered that the hook and loop tape with adhesive was a great way to keep things from floating around inside spacecraft. After NASA began using hook and loop tape in space suits, lunar modules, and other space-specific applications, the public began to adopt it as a widespread alternative closure to zippers, buttons, and snaps.

Choosing the Right Hook and Loop

Adhesive Or Sew-On?

Although GoldStar Tool offers a wide range of sizes and colors, there are two basic types of hook and loop tape: the type you sew on, and the adhesive type that you stick onto an item.

• Sew-On Hook And Loop Tape is designed primarily for fabric applications, such as clothing. Once stitched onto an item, it’s secure and can withstand repeated wear as well as washing and drying. It’s a suitable replacement for zippers and buttons, particularly in clothing for children and adaptive clothing for disabled adults.
• Adhesive Hook And Loop Tape is designed for use where sewing isn’t practical. The hook and loop tape holds an object in place, such as pictures or other wall-hung fixtures, mobile display signs, trade show exhibits, and most other non-sew applications. It can also be used to bundle together cords and wiring, medical tubing, and other supplies to keep them organized. Hook and loop adhesive tape can also be used to stick regularly used items (i.e., flashlights, tools, etc.) to walls and other surfaces, making them readily available.

Hook and loop sew-on tape is also used for pocket closures on cargo pants and shorts, jackets, footwear, various types of outerwear, sails, indoor and outdoor cushions, and many other textiles to hold surfaces together but allow easy opening. This can include military and civilian commercial uses such as safety equipment, protective vests, back braces, harnesses, hospital utility clothing, helmets, backpacks, and other applications.

Advantages Of Hook And Loop Tape

Why choose a hook and loop tape over buttons, zippers, and other fasteners? Using a hook and loop tape has several advantages to suit your needs, including:

• Washable
• Long lasting
• Maintenance free
• Better strength
• They’re simple to install and replace
• More applications than standard fasteners
• Closes with just a touch, no fiddling with buttons or a stuck zipper
• A wide range of sizes and colors means you’ll find the right type for your products

Adaptability makes the hook and loop tape ideal for so many kinds of textile, organization, repair, and other projects that need closures. Your imagination is your only limit!

Multiple Uses

When it comes to the hook and loop tapes, the uses are endless. What other projects can benefit from this specialty fastener tape? How about:

• Removable shoulder pads in jackets
• Briefcases, notebooks, and backpacks
• Laptop and tablet cases
• Wallets
• Baby bibs
• Cushion covers, indoor and outdoor
• Diaper covers and other baby accessories
• Totes, diaper bags, lunch sacks, and other types of bags
• Bed skirts
• Headliners in vehicles and boats
• Wrap tool cases
• Towel wraps
• Baseball caps
• Slipcovers
• Ironing board covers
• Cosmetic and shaving pouches
• Custom straps and wraps for cables and other objects
• Holding pictures and other objects securely on the wall without holes (adhesive type only)
• Rug control (adhesive type only)
• Keeping sofa and chair cushions from moving and sliding off the furniture

Need more ideas? Check out GoldStar Tool’s blog for tons of fun sewing projects.

GoldStar Tool—Buy Hook And Loop, Specialty Fasteners and Other Sewing Needs!

GoldStar Tool carries both sew-on hook and loop and the adhesive type of hook and loop tapes, all in different colors. Do you need more of one than the other? We also sell rolls of sew-on hook tape and loop tape separately to suit your individual needs. Buy all the hook and loop tape you need effortlessly, along with all your other sewing needs, right here on our website. We’ll ship it right to your business or home. Have questions, or need something specific? Call us at 1-800-868-4419, or use our online contact form to get in touch.