Fastenings, including stretchy or flexible "zebra-like" and "leopard-like"
appearing materials, are disclosed having spaced bands or a distribution islands
of molded loop-engageable hooks or molded pre-forms for hooks, between which are
bands or regions of different character. Molding is by rigid molds filled from
the base region of the stems. In embodiments, linear bands or islands of fastener
elements are themselves inextensible in the direction of their extent and comprise
multiple rows of fastener elements. For ease of forming a uniform, elastically
stretchy or flexible product, the bands or islands of fastener elements extend
in the machine direction during manufacture. Embodiments shown employ a widthwise
continuous carrier of uniform character to which multiple spaced bands or islands
of hooks have their molded stems in situ bonded, and in other embodiments, over-lapping
margins of the bases of hook bands are in situ laminated to surface structure of
adjacent bands of carrier using a laminating nip in which one of the rolls is a
mold roll. For a preferred mode of manufacture of an elastically stretchy product,
stretchy carrier material is stretchy only in the widthwise (cross-machine) direction.
In composite hook and loop fastener products, the bands or regions of material
between adjacent bands or islands of hooks comprise loop-engageable material, that
is uniform in construction widthwise, the loop-forming material itself being an
elastically stretchable or a flexible component. In useful product categories,
the hook bands or islands and intervening regions of material have importantly
different width ranges. Novel elastically stretchable and flexible loop-defining
materials, and their methods of manufacture are shown. In situ lamination of hook,
bands or islands on surfaces of materials held in a planar orientation or presenting
a planar surface are also shown, flexible materials on tenter frames and rigid materials.