4 min read
Velcro and Hook-and-Loop Tape: Uses, Sizes and Where to Buy in Chennai
A practical guide to velcro and hook-and-loop tape. Black and white velcro, sew-on and self-adhesive, common widths, and the right grip for each job.
Velcro is two strips that grip each other, one side full of tiny hooks and the other a soft loop. Press them together and they hold, pull them apart and they release. Tailors and boutiques reach for it constantly, on cushion covers, sari blouses, kids wear, bags and curtain headings. The trouble is that most people ask only for velcro and walk out with the wrong type. Colour, width and whether it is sew-on or self-adhesive all change which one you actually need.
Black velcro or white velcro
Stock both. Black velcro disappears on dark trousers, jackets, bags and uniforms, while white velcro is the safe choice under light cotton, baby clothes and pale curtains. The colour matters more than people think, because a strip of the wrong shade shows through thin fabric the moment light hits it. For garments where neither suits, a beige or matching tone keeps it invisible. We carry hook-and-loop velcro tape in black and white on every visit, so a boutique can pick up both shades in one trip to Sowcarpet.
Sew-on versus self-adhesive
Sew-on velcro is the workhorse for anything that gets washed or takes strain. The machine stitches straight through the tape and it stays put for the life of the garment, which is why blouses, waistbands and bag flaps all use it. Self-adhesive velcro has a glue back and presses straight onto a surface with no stitching. It is meant for fixed jobs like mosquito nets, light window screens, mounting boards and display panels, not for clothing. Glue gives way in the wash, so keep the adhesive type for non-stitched work and the sew-on type for garments.
Common widths and how much to buy
Velcro is sold by the metre off the roll, and width decides the holding power. The everyday sizes that move fastest are roughly 20mm and 25mm for blouses, plackets and light covers, and 50mm wide tape for heavier work like sofa covers, mattress protectors and bags that need a strong, wide grip. A wider strip simply holds more, so match the width to the load rather than buying one size for everything.
Buy a little more than the seam length, since the hook and loop sides are cut to the same run and you want clean ends. For a snug closure that flexes with the body, many tailors pair a short run of velcro with a strip of stitching elastic so the band gives and recovers. For trade quantities by the roll, ask for our wholesale rates.
Care and small tips
Always close the velcro before washing. An open hook strip grabs every loose thread and lint in the machine and slowly clogs, which is the real reason old velcro stops gripping. Trim stray threads off the hook side now and then to keep it fresh. For a velcro shop near Rattan Bazaar that keeps black, white and both closure types in stock, message us on WhatsApp at +91 98402 69851 before you come and we will keep the right roll ready.