Figure 1.--Nylon after Du Pont introduced it wsimmediately popular for women;'s stockings. Then the Americn militry used most of avaiaable production for World War II parachutes. Sllk was no longer available from Japan and China. Women still wanted Nylon for stockings and the term 'nylons' became virtually synonymous with women's hosiery. Gradually Nylon became more wiely used in many other garments, including children's wear. Eventually symthetic fibers would be used mostly as blended fabrics. This American ad from Du Pont read, "Exciting new things are happening in Du Pont NYLON. So nicely behaved in NYLON. Here are small-fry clothes with party looks and manners no mother can resist. And the reason for their delightful behvior? It is Du Pont nylon ... nylon that tays crisp ... nylon that washes easily, needs little ironing, wears longer no mtter how rough-and-tumble your youngsters. Wouln't you like chilren's clothes that make life easier? Then ask for Nylon when you shop at your favorite store. Du Pont 'Betterthings for btter living through chemistry. NYLON -- One of Du Pont's modern-lving fibers." The ad is not dates, but we would guess the late-50s or very early-60s. The illustrator's name is hard to read, something like Relto Reviers.

The first hint of a new generation of textile fibers occurred in 1938 when DuPont announced the invention of nylon. The following year the company introduced nylon at the New York World's Fair and began selling it. Until this time stockings were made from cotton, silk, and wool. Initial production was limited, but stockings and underwear made of nylon began to sell well. Women's hem lines has risen, but modesty was still very important. Nylon stockings soon begn known as 'Nylons' They offered not only a smoother look, but were stonger and eventully cheaper, especially compared to silk. Stores immediately began stocking them (1940). The immediate demand was massive. Some 64 million pairs were sold tht first year. They immediately became a women's wardrobe stapple. Dupont for some reason did not patent nylon. Thus many manufactures produced nylons. Any nylons essentially became synonamous with women's hosiery. Nylons sold very well until the entry of the United States into World War II (December 1941). The United States at the time had only a small air force and did not have any paratroopers at all. Given the success of the German Luftwaffe and Fallschirmjäger, the United States immediately moved to rapidy expand its air forces as well recruit and train paratroopers. Thus as part of the tansition to a war-time footing, production of the new silky fiber was diverted to military use. Even more imprtant than the paratroopers was the massive expansion of the U.S. airforces. Much of the world's silk production was centered in China and Japan as thus not available to the Allied war effort. Most of the still limited production of nylon was used to produce parachutechutes. They were needed for the American and British paratroop and even more importantly for the massive expansion of air forces which would play a key role in the War. Parachutees were needed for every member of the air crews. Only after the War in the late-1940s did nylon become available in quantity for clothing production. It was first used primarily to produce women's stockings which to this day are still referred to as nylons. [Crosley, p. 16.] Nylon had a streach factor which made them perfectly suitable for hosiery. And women brought them in huge qualtities. In fact at he time, the term 'nylons' was much more common than the name of the material itself. Eventually waist-covering 'panthose' became available. This was an adult female garment. At the time nylons were introduced, children's long stockings were still worn, but araodly going out if style. After the War by the time that nylons were availablw, American children no longer wore long stockings to aany extent. Children wore socks, mostly ankle socks and knee socks. Nylons came in various similar colors: sheer, nude, taupe, cream, tan, and powder. Nylon production and the production ofstockings ar a good example of a seemingly insignificant article of clothing and the activities of ordinary people are in reality the history of a particular era. It is also a good example of the influence of science and technology on people's lives. Only after the War in the late 1940s did nylon become available for clothing production. It was first used primarily to produce women's stockings (which to this day are still referred to as nylons) and underwear. Nylon is today the second most important synthetic fiber after polyester.

History

Science made huge stides in the 20th century. One of the topics addressed was o create artifical fibers to supplement ntural fibers used for clothing. Much of the work was on regenerating natural material. But with all the avances in chemistry, some scientists also began working on wntirely syntheic fabrics. Eventually work alo befun on entirely synthetic fibers. The first hint of a new generation of textile fibers occurred in 1938 when DuPont announced the invention of nylon, the first coomercially sucessful synthetic fiber. The following year the company introduced nylon at the New York World's Fair and began selling it. Dupont for some reason did not patent nylon. Thus many manufactures produced nylons. The United States at the time had only a small air force and did not have any paratroopers at all. Given the success of the German Luftwaffe and Fallschirmjäger, the United States immediately moved to rapidy expand its air forces as well recruit and train paratroopers. Thus as part of the tansition to a war-time footing, production of the new silky fiber was diverted to military use. Even more imprtant than the paratroopers was the massive expansion of the U.S. airforces. Much of the world's silk production was centered in China and Japan as thus not available to the Allied war effort. Most of the still limited production of nylon was used to produce parachutechutes. They were needed for the American and British paratroop and even more importantly for the massive expansion of air forces which would play a key role in the War. Parachutees were needed for every member of the air crews. Only after the War in the late-1940s did nylon become available in quantity for clothing production. Only after the War in the late 1940s did nylon become available for clothing production. Nylon is today the second most important synthetic fiber after polyester.

Garments

Nylon was first used primarily to produce women's stockings (which to this day are still referred to as nylons) and underwear.Until this time stockings were made from cotton, silk, and wool. Initial production was limited, but stockings and underwear made of nylon began to sell well. Women's hem lines has risen, but modesty was still very important. Nylon stockings soon begn known as 'Nylons' They offered not only a smoother look, but were stonger and eventully cheaper, especially compared to silk. It was first used primarily to produce women's stockings which to this day are still referred to as nylons. [Crosley, p. 16.] Nylon had a streach factor which made them perfectly suitable for hosiery. And women brought them in huge qualtities. In fact at he time, the term 'nylons' was much more common than the name of the material itself. Eventually waist-covering 'panthose' became available. This was an adult female garment. At the time nylons were introduced, children's long stockings were still worn, but rapidly going out if style. Stores immediately began stocking them (1940). The immediate demand was massive. Some 64 million pairs were sold tha first year. They immediately became a women's wardrobe stapple. Any nylons essentially became synonamous with women's hosiery. Nylons sold very well until the entry of the United States into World War II (December 1941). The diversion of nylon to the War effort, meant that there was a tremedous unfilled demand. Women took yo oainting seams on the back of their legs with an eye pencil. And GI's after D-Day learned that nylons were a huge draw from the ladies as hey linerated France and eventually occupied Germany. Finally production of nylons resumed (1945). There was frentic scenes with the first shipments reached the stores. One newspaoer headline reas, "Women risk life and limb in litter battle for nylons". After the War by the time that nylons were available, American children no longer wore long stockings to any extent. Children wore socks, mostly ankle socks and knee socks. Nylon production and the production of stockings ar a good example of a seemingly insignificant article of clothing and the activities of ordinary people are in reality the history of a particular era. It is also a good example of the influence of science and technology on people's lives. the term 'Nylons' in the plural became synomnous with women's stockings. One author describes drawers full of nylons culed up like'over sized garlic knots'. [Crosly, p. 16.] Nylons came in various similar colors: sheer, nude, taupe, cream, tan, and powder. epartmen tores hd huge banks of thin nylon boxes with allthe differnt sizes, sheer grades, and colors. Young people today woul have no idea what this was all about if thy saw photographs of period department stores. It ws a major items in the women's wear department. Nylons continued to be a fashion mainstay through the 1980s,but have now disappeared. .

Reader Comments

A reader writes, "We are trying to research if there are any modern uses of weaving nylon or kevlar into denim for jeans? Would you happen to know of any, or know how we could find out? Has the technology changed from the uncomfortable Sears ToughSkins brand jeans?" HBC has no information on this, but would be interested in any information our readers may have.

Sources

Crosley, Sloane. "Sheermadness: Nylons were a craze when they debuted 75 years ago--but their run is over," Smithsonian (May 2015), pp. 16, 20.

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Created: 7:24 PM 5/19/2015
Last up dated: 9:06 AM 7/9/2015