A method of forming a dry adhesive by includes forming an electrospun non-woven of a spinnable polymer, wherein the polymer fiber forming the non-woven is aligned. A dry adhesive is provided that comprises aligned polymeric nanofibers. The polymeric nanofibers may be formed from a mixture of highly spinnable material is combined with an adhesive component to further enhance the adhesion onto substrates. The non-woven can further be processed by plastic deformation to create microprotrusions.