A photo of Stephen Ira

Stephen Ira

SEO Auditor

Expertise:

Hook-and Loop Product Engineering
• Product Innovation
• Mechanical Engineering
Stephen Ira worked as an inventor for a small manufacturing company where he developed several patents that included Velcro® brand products which led to his founding of HookandLoop.com in 1989, distributing Velcro® brand fasteners across the country. Stephen’s company has grown into a business that specializes in manufacturing hook and loop products that are used in the final products in many industries around the world. Stephen is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a BS degree in mechanical engineering and specialized in machine design and solar engineering. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida where he enjoys an avid outdoor lifestyle and spending time with his two daughters.
10+ Years of Experiences
180+ Articles Written
Organization
The association for Business Journalist

Stephen'S Picks

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"Do You Have a Catalog?"

AI 3 min read

Updated On: Nov 21, 2023

It's a question we get fairly often here at hookandloop.com and the short answer is no, we don't offer any physical catalogs of our products. We offer tons of products in various sizes and colors and compiling a catalog just doesn't make sense for us. All of our products are readily available online so the website itself acts as a catalog for us.
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Sewing Options

AI 2 min read

Updated On: Nov 22, 2023

We use industrial sewing machines to manufacture heavy duty straps for all sorts of applications. With over 40 years of experience among our seamstresses, there are tons of stitches our staff is capable of. We straight stitch, box stitch, zig zag stitch and more on straps as small as a few inches to straps that are over 20 feet long.

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Our Free Cut To Length Option

AI 4 min read

Updated On: Nov 21, 2023

At HookandLoop.com, DuraGrip Brand and VELCRO® Brand hook and loop fasteners are sold on 25 yard rolls for just about all of the products we offer. But we know that you aren't using this material like that. You are probably cutting it to size and using it in one or several different ways. That's why we offer our cut to length service for free.
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Our HookandLoop.com Calculator

AI 3 min read

Updated On: Nov 21, 2023

Our HookandLoop.com calculator makes it easy to determine how many yards, feet or inches you need as well as giving you a yield for cut pieces. And it's all right there on the order page! Sometimes when ordering, you know you need a certain number of feet, but it may be tricky to figure out how many yards or rolls that equates to. That's where the calculator makes things easy.

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Place an Order on Our New Strap Order Page

AI 3 min read

Updated On: Nov 22, 2023


Our new strap order page is designed to simplify the process of placing orders for our straps made with VELCRO® Brand fasteners and DuraGrip Brand hook and loop. The page lets you define the specific type of strap that you want with only a few clicks of a computer button. We offer four different types of hook and loop straps, namely the cinch strap with ring, back strap, face strap and the two way face strap. You can also order for customized lengths and designs of the straps that suit your unique preferences.


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Mil-Spec Hook and Loop Fasteners

AI 2 min read

Updated On: May 25, 2025

Mil-Spec hook and loop fasteners, sometimes referred to as hook and pile, means hook and loop products that are made to a particular military specification. The general callout for mil-spec hook and pile material is AA55126, but within that callout are different types and classes. Types and classes specify which kind of hook product and which kind of loop product is needed.
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Boy Scout And Girl Scout Uniform Colors

AI 6 min read

Updated On: Oct 1, 2025

Boy Scouts Have So Many Merit Badges


Boy Scouts of America has 11 different ranks split between the cub scouts (Webelos, Bear scout, Wolf scout, and Tiger scout) and the boy scouts (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star scout, Life scout, and Eagle scout). There are more than 135 different merit badges that a scout can earn.
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Do Stretchy Hook and Loop Products Exist?

AI 2 min read

Updated On: May 25, 2025

There are tons of hook and loop variations available in different styles like low-profile or heavy duty. There are several different colors that we offer from military colors to neon colors and everything in between. There are different widths available from as narrow as 3/8" to 54" wide, depending on the product, but are there stretchy hook and loop options?

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Can you Cut to the Same Length Pieces?

AI 2 min read

Updated On: Jun 21, 2024

Hook and loop is sold separately on 25 yard rolls, but we realize that no one uses it that way. Some people use smaller pieces, some use longer pieces, some use one side only, and some use the same sizes for both sides. This is why we offer our cut to length service for free. Yep, free. F-R-E-E.

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Best Ways to Hang Up Wide Loop

AI 2 min read

Updated On: May 25, 2025

Wide loop products, like this VELCRO® Brand wide loop, are fantastic for display panels, pedal boards, shadow boxes, and tons of other useful applications. But what do you do with it once you receive it? Well just as there are several options of wide loop, there are several ways of hanging fabrics like your wide loop.