Shoelaces

The tip of the shoelace is called aglet. Most people only know this because of a Phineas and Ferb episode.

Long ago shoelaces were used to demonstrate your wealth. The rich wore buckled leather shoes with ribbon laces, while the working man wore rawhide laces in his shoes. In Greece and Rome, the outer appearance was especially important. People got ridiculed when they tied their shoes bad.

Shoelaces are almost always too long as their isn't any standard size of shoe. For the same reason different shoes need different shoelace types and patterns to feel more comfortable.