A fastening mechanism for an article of footwear, comprising: a rigid element attached to an elongated member , the elongated member including a central aperture that is sized and dimensioned to receive the rigid element, the elongated member being substantially more flexible than the rigid element; a first channel formed between the rigid element and the elongated member, and a second channel formed between the rigid element and the elongated member; the first channel being configured to receive at least a portion of a lacing element; characterized in that the first channel including a sloped sidewall comprising an upper sloped sidewall portion and a lower sloped sidewall portion that is continuous with the upper sloped sidewall portion; the first channel including a proximal channel portion with a proximal opening , the proximal channel portion comprising the lower sloped sidewall portion and an inner wall portion disposed opposite of the lower sloped sidewall portion, wherein the lower sloped sidewall portion is sloped relative to the inner wall portion; the first channel including a distal channel portion with a distal opening , the distal channel portion comprising the upper sloped sidewall portion and an outer edge portion disposed opposite to the upper sloped sidewall portion, wherein the upper sloped sidewall portion extends between the lower sloped sidewall portion and the distal opening; and the sloped sidewall including a plurality of ridges , wherein each of the plurality of ridges comprise a first edge joined to a second edge , the first edge being orthogonal to the second edge; the elongated member including a first state and a second state; wherein the first edge is substantially alligned with a vertical axis in the first state; wherein the first edge is oriented diagonally with respect to the vertical axis in the second state. a rigid element attached to an elongated member , the elongated member including a central aperture that is sized and dimensioned to receive the rigid element, the elongated member being substantially more flexible than the rigid element; a first channel formed between the rigid element and the elongated member, and a second channel formed between the rigid element and the elongated member; the first channel being configured to receive at least a portion of a lacing element; characterized in that the first channel including a sloped sidewall comprising an upper sloped sidewall portion and a lower sloped sidewall portion that is continuous with the upper sloped sidewall portion; the first channel including a proximal channel portion with a proximal opening , the proximal channel portion comprising the lower sloped sidewall portion and an inner wall portion disposed opposite of the lower sloped sidewall portion, wherein the lower sloped sidewall portion is sloped relative to the inner wall portion; the first channel including a distal channel portion with a distal opening , the distal channel portion comprising the upper sloped sidewall portion and an outer edge portion disposed opposite to the upper sloped sidewall portion, wherein the upper sloped sidewall portion extends between the lower sloped sidewall portion and the distal opening; and the sloped sidewall including a plurality of ridges , wherein each of the plurality of ridges comprise a first edge joined to a second edge , the first edge being orthogonal to the second edge; the elongated member including a first state and a second state; wherein the first edge is substantially alligned with a vertical axis in the first state; wherein the first edge is oriented diagonally with respect to the vertical axis in the second state. <EOS>