An upper, for an article of footwear, comprising: a first side portion, a second side portion separated from the first side portion by a throat opening, and a closure for selectively coupling the first side portion to the second side portion across the throat opening; the closure including: a unitary closure panel having a first fastener portion; a plurality of laces each extending between a respective first end and a respective second end, wherein: the first end of each of the plurality of laces is directly and permanently secured to the first side portion of the upper; the second end of each of the plurality of laces is directly and permanently secured to the unitary closure panel; and the unitary closure panel is permanently coupled to the upper only via the plurality of laces; and a second fastener portion provided on an outer surface of the second side portion of the upper, the second fastener portion configured to selectively couple with the first fastener portion to secure the closure panel to the second side portion of the upper, characterized in that the unitary closure panel comprises: an outer layer, and an inner layer secured to the outer layer; wherein the inner layer comprises the first fastener portion; and wherein the second end of each of the plurality of laces is directly secured between the inner layer and the outer layer of the closure panel. a first side portion, a second side portion separated from the first side portion by a throat opening, and a closure for selectively coupling the first side portion to the second side portion across the throat opening; the closure including: a unitary closure panel having a first fastener portion; a plurality of laces each extending between a respective first end and a respective second end, wherein: the first end of each of the plurality of laces is directly and permanently secured to the first side portion of the upper; the second end of each of the plurality of laces is directly and permanently secured to the unitary closure panel; and the unitary closure panel is permanently coupled to the upper only via the plurality of laces; and a second fastener portion provided on an outer surface of the second side portion of the upper, the second fastener portion configured to selectively couple with the first fastener portion to secure the closure panel to the second side portion of the upper, characterized in that a unitary closure panel having a first fastener portion; a plurality of laces each extending between a respective first end and a respective second end, wherein: the first end of each of the plurality of laces is directly and permanently secured to the first side portion of the upper; the second end of each of the plurality of laces is directly and permanently secured to the unitary closure panel; and the unitary closure panel is permanently coupled to the upper only via the plurality of laces; and the first end of each of the plurality of laces is directly and permanently secured to the first side portion of the upper; the second end of each of the plurality of laces is directly and permanently secured to the unitary closure panel; and the unitary closure panel is permanently coupled to the upper only via the plurality of laces; and a second fastener portion provided on an outer surface of the second side portion of the upper, the second fastener portion configured to selectively couple with the first fastener portion to secure the closure panel to the second side portion of the upper, characterized in that the unitary closure panel comprises: an outer layer, and an inner layer secured to the outer layer; wherein the inner layer comprises the first fastener portion; and wherein the second end of each of the plurality of laces is directly secured between the inner layer and the outer layer of the closure panel.