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 . <EOS>