What Does 3M Stand For? | Shoe Laces Guide
You've likely come across the name 3M before, maybe primarily here on our site? Or perhaps you've seen the phrase 3M elsewhere, like when people talk about high-visibility reflective gear for nighttime hiking, or durable safety wear for firefighters – that kind of thing. Maybe you've even landed on our site, spotted those 3M laces, and thought, 'Awesome, these are going to look amazing on my Air Max 95s!' But if you've ever wondered about the 3M meaning behind the name, or even asked yourself, '3M what does it stand for?', you're in the right place to find out more.
Maybe you thought, “but wait, what exactly is 3M again?” That’s a good question, because unless you’re really into textiles, you might not know.
Basically, 3M refers to that really shiny silver material you see weaved in and out of our 3M laces. That silver cross weave is a retroreflective fabric that more-or-less reflects light back to it’s source. In bouncing the light back to its source, the material becomes really, really bright.
Your earliest memories of retroreflective material was probably the crossing guard lady. Think about that vest she was wearing—it was probably neon green or orange, complete with those wide silver stripes down the front. That’s classic 3M hotness right there.
Moving forward a couple decades, 3M material was adopted by the fashion world when technical designs became prevalent in clothing. The hi-visibility meets astronaut look was big in the late 90’s and like all culture trends, the 3M craze came back again in the late 2000’s.
Let’s look at a couple defining moments in 3M fashion history:
(Source: therareairs.com)
One of the first instances of 3M outside of retroreflective workwear (think back to the crossing guard lady) was the OG Jordan V’s. These bad boys came with a 3M tongue. A 3M tongue meant your feet were hi-vis whether you were dunking on Clyde Drexler or doing, you know, anything else.
Another big one was the fully lit Windrunner Jacket Nike did for USA Olympic Team. These things brought the fire, even if the athlete didn’t place on the podium. You might be able to find this on eBay for a couple hundo, if you're into looking like an astronaut. Or if you cop some of our white reflective rope laces and want a choice jacket to match them. (Source: tumblr.com)
Now we even have 3M laces, and by we, we specifically mean Lace Lab. So if you’re in the market for a night run, or a night out, catch everyone’s eye with 3M laces.
FAQs
Q. What does 3M stand for?
You might be wondering what does 3M stand for. The "3M" actually comes from the company's original name: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. So, 3M, in short, stands for Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing.
Q. What is the meaning of 3M?
When people ask about the meaning of 3M, they are usually asking about 3M's meaning as a company name and brand. It signifies a long history of innovation stemming from its origins in Minnesota, focusing on mining and manufacturing, which has since expanded into a vast array of product categories.
Q. Is there another meaning of 3M?
While the primary meaning of 3M refers to the company name origin, there isn't really another common "3m meaning" outside of this context. When you see "3M," it almost always points back to the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company and its products.
Q. Why is understanding the 3M meaning important?
Knowing 3M's what does it stand for and the meaning of 3M can help you understand the brand's heritage and its long-standing reputation for quality and innovation across diverse industries, especially when you see the 3M brand on products like our reflective laces and safety gear.