Nylon

   This is the first commercial petroleum-based synthetic fiber; it was invented by DuPont scientists Gerald Berchet and Wallace Carothers (Americans) in 1935. Commercial production of nylon hosiery began in 1939 by the DuPont Company in America. Nylon stockings were all the rage, especially after World War II, as they were stronger and cheaper than silk stockings. By the late 1950s, nylon became a significant fiber of the intimate apparel business. "Penior Sets," as the matching robe and nightgown ensembles were named, consisted of yards of sheer and opaque nylon. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the warp-knit nylon was given a shiny surface and it gave the appearance of silk or satin. This allowed the mass-market manufactures and retailers in the United States to design and produce knock-offs of high-end intimate apparel. The 1980s saw a return of the demand for comfort, namely cotton; while nylon was no longer front and center, it remained a significant component of the intimate as well as sportswear industry.