Contents
Birth of the nylon stocking
Stocking trading in the Second World War
The nylon stocking on the catwalk
Manufacture and sale of fine pantyhose
The birth of nylons and of nylon stockings
Wallace Hume Carothers discovers the material nylon in 1935. Because Carothers commits suicide 20 days after the registration of his patent in 1937, he is unable to enjoy the success of his invention and the pleasure of seeing ladies in nylon stockings. The name "nylon" originates from the name "No-Run", which is what the researchers want to name their new product. Because the advertising department of DuPont doesn't like the name, the vowels are first switched around to form "Nuron", which is in turn transformed into "Nulon". However, trademark law concerns don't allow this, whereby the search continues until the name "Nylon" is finally agreed upon. The DuPont company begins soliciting its invention in 1938 and speaks of the potential uses for ladies' stockings. The first nylon stockings come on the market on October 24, 1939. The 4,000 pairs of nylon stockings produced for test purposes are sold in only 3 hours. Official sales nationwide begin on May 15, 1940 following this test phase. 4 million pairs of stockings are sold in the first four days.
Stocking mail order and stocking trading in the Second World War
The nylon takes on a new role after 1942, when the USA enters the Second World War. Due to its tensile strength, the military shows great interest, so that little nylon can be spared for the manufacture of stockings. Nylon stockings become scarce articles and a kind of substitute currency on the black market.
The nylons on the catwalk
Less well known is the fact that, at the same time as the polyamide with the name nylon is discovered in the USA , the same product with the name Perlon is created in Germany . However, while the IG Farben company, the Perlon producer in Germany , is dissolved by the victorious powers following the end of the war and the Perlon factories dismantled, the victory march of nylon stockings from the USA begins. In 1945, the production and sale of nylon stockings starts up again. In New York , more than 50,000 pairs of nylon stockings are sold within 6 hours! The nylon stocking becomes an indispensable accessory for mannequins and film stars. Hollywood beauties such as Rita Hayworth or Jane Russell show how beautiful women's legs are in nylons. The stocking manufacturer "Opal" secures the rights for the Miss contests and presents Miss Germany with 50 pairs of the coveted stockings. While the early stockings still have a density of 70 to 40 Den, they soon grow ever finer. Around 1950 it is already possible to manufacture stockings with a yarn count of 10 Den. Nylon enjoys skyrocketing popularity in the 50's and 60's. The wearing of nylon stockings with the unmistakable seam becomes a symbol of the time. However, with the use of circular knitting machines, the hosiery loses its classic seam.
Manufacture and sale of fine pantyhose
In 1959 the DuPont company patents Elasthan under the name "Lycra". Elasthan has the property that it can be stretched to many times the original length without losing its shape. The bringing together of nylon and lycra make it possible to manufacture the first fine pantyhose around 1960. The advantage of pantyhose is that the previously indispensable stocking garter disappears. The rise of the mini-skirt of course favours this change and, until the 1970's, garter stockings are more or less pushed aside by pantyhose. However, since the end of the 90's, demand for pantyhose has been declining noticeably. Many manufacturers give up. The market collapse can be traced back, on the one hand, to yarns more durable than nylon, as well as to the way women dress today. (sport socks instead of fine pantyhose, pants instead of skirts) The market seems to have stabilised for the time being, and women seem to have rediscovered that stockings symbolise femininity. The stocking itself is first made what it is by women. The delicate material tenderly envelops the bare leg of the woman. Its sheen and its shape elongate the legs, thus presenting a real eye catcher. Whether trendy, classic, discrete or avant garde, a lovely stocking is the most beautiful way to show legs.
Did you know? - More details on socks, pantyhose, stockings
Terms on this page: nylons, pantyhose, ladies' stockings, thigh highs, tights, sport socks
