In the middle ages, there were no zippers, snaps, or Velcro. Buckles were expensive. Nearly everything was tied together. Armor had holes, called "points," through which laces passed. The French knot was commonly used to tie off a pair of strands.
This is a picture of 14th Century arming points
taken from the Manesse manuscript.
These fasteners linger on in American cowboy fashion, perhaps inherited from late medieval Spanish settlers. The bolo tie with its metal tips is very similar to the laces used in medieval armor. Using them with a slide as a necktie is modern, but the cords go way back.
And, pairs of leather laces hanging from metal conchos still serve to tie gear onto saddles.
