returning to of-troy's subject
Nylon stockings are near and dear to any woman who had to live with the snags of silk. Silk stockings were used before, but they snagged very easily and made users very frustrated.
Because of the public-relations fanfare surrounding the debut of nylon stocking, there is no ambiguity concerning their origin. In late 1938 the Du Pont chemical company announced its new synthetic, nylon, "passing in strength and elasticity any previously known textile fibers." The hosiery industry welcomed relief from the periodic shortages of raw silk, but feared the effect of indestructible stockings. While the "miracle yarn" was displayed at the 1939 World's Fair, Women across America eagerly awaited the new nylon stockings.
DuPont shipped spools of the new yarn to selected mills, to be knit per Du Pont's specifications. The mills allotted nylon stocking to certain stores, on the promise that none would be sold before "Nylon Day", May 15, 1940. With Du Pont's advertising, hysteria built.
On May 15 the hysteria erupted. Newspapers reported that no consumer item in history ever caused such nationwide pandemonimum. Women queued up hours before the store doors opened. Hosiery deparments quickly ran out, and in many stores near riots broke out. By the end of the year 3 million dozen pairs had been sold -- and far more could have been sold had more been available.
Compared to silk, nylon stockings appeared virtually indestructible -- particularly since women treated the few pair they managed to buy with greater care. In very little time silk stockings were obsolete and nylon stocking became simply "nylons".