The idea for Velcro was born from a simple walk in the Alps in 1941. Swiss engineer George de Mestral noticed how burdock burrs clung stubbornly to his clothes and his dog's fur. Driven by curiosity, he examined one under a microscope. He discovered the burr was covered in hundreds of tiny, resilient hooks that latched onto the loops in fabric. He spent the next ten years trying to replicate this natural wonder, eventually choosing nylon for its durability. He patented his invention in 1955, cre