History of Nylon & introduction of Qiana, courtesy of Don & Michele Myers, RustyZipper.Com Vintage Clothing (http://www.rustyzipper.com) "Nylon - The First All-Synthetic Fiber" A laboratory set up by the Du Pont Company and headed by Wallace Hume Carothers was the birthplace of the first all-synthetic fibers. Studying long chains of molecules called polymers, Carothers and his group of researchers tried dozens of chemical combinations until discovering a substance that could be stretched into a strong, silky, and heat-resistant fiber. Nylon, whose first letters stand for New York, was introduced to the American public at the New York World's Fair of 1939. Nylon stockings were previewed as well and were wildly successful when first sold at New York stores on May 15, 1940. In fact, 64 million pairs sold in the first year! World War II brought an end to the nylon craze when in 1942 the War Department decreed that nylon would be used for miltary items such as parachutes and tents. During the war, women took to using leg makeup and painting a dark line up their legs to simulate the look of seamed stockings. When stockings went on sale again in 1945, 10,000 frenzied shoppers mobbed one San Francisco department store alone, forcing sales to cease for the day. In the early 1950's, newly developed nylon fabrics created a sensation in Paris with frothy evening gowns of tulle and sheers, and lingerie of see-through tricots and lace. The development of crimped nylon fibers that allowed stretch led to the creation of seamless stockings and Ban-Lon used in early '60's knit shirts and sweaters. Qiana, a silky, shiny knit, was introduced in 1968 and used for slinky disco dresses and shirts of the 1970's. Though polyester has taken the place of nylon in many areas, nylon is still used in lingerie and many foundation garments, and is dominant in many non-clothing uses such as carpeting.