Nylon

What is nylon?

Nylon (or nylon 6-6 by its scientific name) is a synthetic plastic created in 1935. It's a type of polyamide, widely used in the textile industry. The polyamides of which it is made are plastics produced by the chemical industry from coal (a mineral fuel with a high carbon content) or petroleum. Polyamide is renowned for its strength, waterproofing, stretchability and silk-like properties. It is mainly used in the manufacture of stockings and tights, lingerie, windbreakers, sportswear, etc.

Where does nylon come from?

Around 5 million tonnes of nylon are produced worldwide every year. It is mainly produced in China.

Material transformation processes

Nylon is a type of polyamide, so it's produced from plastic, derived from petroleum. It is obtained using a step-by-step polymerization process, the aim being to add a molecule at each step to end up with a chain of molecules that will make up the fiber.
If you're interested in the manufacturing process, we invite you to read this section, which is more detailed in the article on polyamides.

Is nylon compatible with ethical and responsible fashion?

Unfortunately no, nylon is not compatible with ethical fashion. In fact, it's a plastic material derived from a non-renewable fossil fuel (petroleum) and emits greenhouse gases. The manufacturing process is highly polluting, energy-intensive and water-intensive. For example, 14,000 km of nylon thread, 750 liters of water and non-ecological dyes are used to make just one pair of tights that will only be used 2 or 3 times before it wears out.
We invite you to read this section in the article on polyamides which summarizes why it's not eco-responsible and what alternatives are available.

How to care for nylon

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Nylon is a material that is extremely sensitive to heat, which can deform it irreparably. That's why it's essential to maintain it correctly to keep it as long as possible.
It's important to wash your nylon in the washing machine on a low-temperature program, and to avoid spinning too hard.
Nylon doesn't wrinkle, so there's no need to iron it.
Unfortunately, nylon retains unpleasant odors. In fact, it wicks away water (and therefore perspiration), but it's lipophilic, which means it absorbs the oils in which odor-causing bacteria nest.


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