Nylon Stockings Essay

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Nylon Stockings Nylon stockings were invented in 1935, by a team doing research for the DuPont Company. Led by Wallace Hume Carothers, the team had been researching for a few years before they were able to discover what they needed, which was the development of a new artificial material, nylon. Next they would introduce their invention to the world and start commercializing it. Since DuPont was experienced, their commercialization of nylon was able to take off rapidly. They figured out that production would not be too costly and they had their target market, women’s hosiery. After much testing and further research they created a pilot production plant, and a few years later, in 1939, began full-scale production. Nylon was then shown to the public at the World Trade Fair in New York that same year, and a year later the first pairs of nylon stockings were sold in stores of New York. Just in the first day, over 780, 000 pairs were sold, with 64 million pairs being sold during the first year of them being on the market. However, the company chose not to trademark the term “nylon”, but instead chose to let the word enter vocabulary as a synonym for “stockings. The invention and production of nylon stockings was a real breakthrough and great success for the DuPont Company. With nylon being first used as a strong fiber for things like fishing line, sutures for surgery, and toothbrush bristles, they made a perfect material for stockings, as it would not rip or tear easily, and would also be comfortable. Nylon stockings were very popular among women when they were first put on the market because they were a cheaper, more affordable alternative to silk stockings that women were basically forced to wear to cover their legs after it became socially acceptable for them to actually show their legs. During the time that nylon stockings were first put on the market, the United

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