DuPont introduced nylon stockings commercially in the United States in 1940.
DuPont developed nylon in the 1930s under the direction of chemist Wallace Carothers. The company first presented nylon products publicly before putting nylon stockings on sale in Wilmington, Delaware, on 15 May 1940. Thousands of pairs sold quickly, showing that the new synthetic fiber could compete with silk for a popular consumer product.
Nylon stockings became difficult to obtain during the Second World War because nylon was redirected to military uses such as parachutes, ropes, and aircraft components. After the war, demand returned and helped create dramatic “nylon riots” when limited supplies appeared in shops. Nylon is a polymer, not a natural fiber, and its success helped launch the modern synthetic-fiber industry. The word “nylon” is a generic fiber name, while DuPont’s consumer branding and manufacturing helped make it famous.