Nylon was first introduced in the late 1930's  by the E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company Inc. of Wilmington Delaware, and was the first completly synthetic fabric ever produced.  Nylon is a synthetic polymer, a plastic made from petroleum.  The first nylon produced was a toothbrush made with nylon bristles.  It was soon utilized to make women's hosiery, and became a household word at that time.  It was used extensively by the armed forces for uniforms, parachutes, tires, and other articles.

Today nylon is used in a variety of products including, clothing, carpeting, upholstery, fabric, rugs, curtains, luggage, sleeping bags, tents, as well as seat belts, and many other industrial applications.

Nylon is very strong and durable, yet lightweight.  It does not absorb water well, allowing for quick drying.  Today nylon is the third most common fabric used, after cotton and polyester.