When Were Nylons Invented?

Nylons have their fans and their foes, but they've only been around for a relatively short time. There wasn't just one person who had a brilliant concept one day, but a series of different individuals all along the way. The nylons we know today were ultimately invented after a small series of inventions all along the way.

Creation

In an important breakthrough, two scientists at DuPont laboratories (Julian Hill and Wallace Hume Carothers) invented nylon. By using trial-and-error techniques with coal tar, water, petroleum, natural gas and even by-products from agricultural processes, they came up with a polymer that was strong yet flexible.

The Name

The name of the new discovery, nylon, came from DuPont entering it in the New York World Fair in 1939. Ny(-lon) is the abbreviation for New York. The publicity was a hit and the basic products were advertised (see link in Resources).

Nylon Stockings

Stockings were typically silk and pricey. When nylon stockings became available (May 15, 1940), DuPont sold nearly 800,000 the first day. By the end of the first year, 64 million stockings had been sold. They were still being produced the same as the silk stockings--"fully-fashioned" with hand-sewn backs.

Spandex

Joseph Shivers, a chemist for DuPont, created Lycra (the official brand name of Spandex). This addition in 1959 made the formation of the nylon stockings easier. No longer was there a focus on specific sizes because nylon now had a new stretchiness, due to the addition of Spandex.

Pantyhose

Pantyhose was produced by Glen Raven Mills (the joining of panties and nylon stockings) in 1959, called Panti-Tights and Panti-Legs. Alan Gant Sr. was the inventor and company president. Glen Raven Mills then introduced a seamless version of pantyhose in 1965, which are roughly the first type of the "nylons" we have today (see link in Resources)

Resources

• Glen Raven Inc.
• New York's World Fair 1939