Definition of nylon

The word "nylon" originated from the name of a town in New York, USA, where the first synthetic polyamide fibers were developed in the 1930s. The story goes that the researchers at Wallace Carothers' team at DuPont, who were working on the development of the fibers, were inspired by the name "Nylon," a brand of castor bean oil that was taken from the town of Nylon, New York. The name was chosen because it sounded futuristic, modern, and unique, which appealed to the company's marketing team. The production of nylon fibers began in 1938, and the first nylon stockings were introduced in 1939. The rest, as they say, is history! Today, the term "nylon" is widely recognized and used to refer to a range of synthetic fibers and materials.