Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did nylon stockings become popular in the United States in 1940?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

man-made fibre Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.

Nylon stockings became popular in the United States in 1940 because nylon offered a superior alternative to the materials previously used for hosiery, such as silk and rayon.1

Developed with the women’s stocking market in mind, nylon consists of long chains of carbon-based molecules that provide unprecedented strength and flexibility. These properties made nylon stockings highly desirable compared to traditional options. Furthermore, the introduction of nylon yarn allowed for advancements in manufacturing; its thermoplastic nature enabled seamless stockings to be permanently heat-set into a desired shape, improving fit and comfort. Following its introduction in the 1940s, nylon almost immediately replaced silk and much of the rayon used in the industry.21