The synthetic fibre nylon, which is mainly associated with hosiery, was pioneering in its day. It first appeared in the late 1930s, and its strength and elasticity quickly made it popular as an alternative to delicate silk. During World War II, it was used to make parachutes, ropes and other war materials, and after the end of the war, it became part of everyday life, revolutionising the textile industry.
Revolutionary Fabric
An inventor at the US chemical giant DuPont, called Wallace Carothers, first invented nylon after being given free rein to do research into anything he wanted. The versatile new fabric created a sensation when it was unveiled in 1939. Marketed as being as strong as steel and as fine as a spiderweb, it was cheap to manufacture, yet both malleable and durable.
When war broke out, rations and shortages meant that women could no longer buy nylon stockings, forcing many to draw fake stockings on their legs, using brown make-up and drawing a black line with eyeliner. They had to wait until 1946 for nylon stockings to return, leading to long queues at department stores.
Nylons quickly became common parlance for women’s hosiery, which moved from stockings to tights and eventually leggings.
These days, the trend for sheer tights and stockings has abated, with many women preferring the look of 80 denier tights. Unlike the flesh-coloured nylons of the 1940s, tights now come in a vast array of thicknesses, colours and even patterns, like the ones available from websites like //www.bettertights.com/collections/80-denier-tights.
Modern and Innovative
Nylon continues to be used all the time and is among the most commonly used materials ever invented. While it is still primarily associated with hosiery, it is also used for fabricating umbrellas, carpets, rugs, food packaging, outdoor furniture and cooking utensils.
Its advantage over other materials is its strength and durability, which is what makes it ideal for tights, which need to be resistant to everyday wear and tear. Despite its toughness, it is soft to the touch and still feels lightweight next to the skin.
