The history of nylons (0 Comments)
Stockings may be the hottest garment for the new millennium, but did you know that they actually have stories dating back over 400 years?
The story began in 1589. The English churchman Reverend William Lee invented the world’s first knitting machine and started to make hosiery out of cotton, wool and silk. The machine was a national treasure. In fact, the queen of the day threatened the death penalty for anyone who attempted to export it.
Synthetic fibres were first shown by the company to the public at the World’s Fair in New York in 1939. Taking the NY from the city’s initials, the fibre became known as “nylon”. (Just as well, then, that it wasn’t in San Francisco, as I doubt sflon would have caught on quite as well!)
Nylon was a revelation. The first nylon stockings appeared in New York stores on May 15, 1940. Over 72,000 pairs were sold in the first day alone, and the Japanese silk market collapsed almost overnight. Department stores throughout America saw a similar stampede. In the first year, 64 million pairs of stockings were sold and manufacturers could not keep up with demand.
When the US joined the Second World War in 1942, most nylon production was switched into tent and parachute manufacturing for the military forces. American GIs could still get hold of stockings, though, and they became the gift of seduction as the GIs tried to woo their way into the hearts of British women.
After the war, demand rocketed. The first post-war hosiery sale took place in 1945 in Market Street, San Francisco, and attracted 10,000 shoppers. Throughout the ’40s and ’50s, stockings were known as “fully-fashioned” rather than the single size of most hosiery today. Fully-fashioned stockings were tailored to the shape of the leg, and had a distinctive seam at the back. When women could not afford stockings, or had difficulty getting hold of them, they would often draw a vertical line up the back of their legs to simulate the effect.
Nylon stockings remained popular throughout the 1950s, but were gradually replaced in the 1960s by pantyhose, considered by many to be the work of the devil! Pantyhose suited the modern, fast lifestyle of the day and were said to be more convenient for women than traditional garter belts and real nylons. I must say I love them both!
Well, enough talk 
— Here are some pics for you!
Today’s gallery
Luke
nylonsblog.com
