Here are a few fun facts about shoelaces you’ve never heard about:

1. The world record for the fastest time to tie 3 pairs of shoelaces in a bow is 9.99 sec, achieved by Álvaro Martín Mendieta (Spain) on 6 November 2022.
2. The average person spends approximately six months of their lifetime tying their shoelaces.
3. The first shoelaces were made from animal hides, such as leather or rawhide, and were used to tie sandals and other footwear.
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5. The first shoelaces made from synthetic materials, such as nylon, were developed in the 1930s.
6. Some people believe that the number of holes on a shoe corresponds to the number of demons that can be kept out, with eight holes being the most effective.
7. Shoelaces can be used as a method of self-defense in emergency situations, such as tying the laces together and using them as a whip or strangling tool.
8. There are more than 100 different knots and tying techniques that can be used to fasten shoelaces.
9. Shoelaces were once used as a form of currency in some parts of the world, with people trading them for goods and services.