The history of nylon stockings: Why tights need to be repaired and recycled

The Age of Nylon: From Marvellous Invention to Environmental Problem

Anyone who has watched *Matador* will no doubt remember the scene from the series’ final episode, where businessman Mads Skjern offers entrepreneur Agnes Jensen a job at his clothing company. Agnes hesitates, as she has already built up her own small business, where she and her staff mend the town’s ladies’ stockings. Mads suggests taking over the business and the staff – but adds that this is only for as long as there is a need for mending. “The stockings keep running all the time,” says Agnes. Mads replies sharply:

“In America, they’re already making socks so cheap that people throw them away and buy new ones. Repairs and the like might be relevant now, but not in the future.” Spoiler alert: He was right!

The advent of nylon and its consequences

The cheap stockings Mads refers to are, of course, nylon stockings. Nylon was invented in 1938 by the American chemical company Du Pont and is a 100 per cent synthetic fibre. In the 1940s, the first nylon stockings were introduced to female consumers as a more durable alternative to silk and rayon – materials that were either expensive and fragile or cheap and poor quality.

Nylon revolutionised the fashion world and became an instant success. At the time, nylon stockings were far more hard-wearing and durable than the silk and rayon products they replaced, which is why they were initially just as expensive as their predecessors. However, as production increased, prices fell and quality declined accordingly.

From sustainability to a culture of waste

Nowadays, tights are still made from nylon, but the quality has deteriorated significantly. They often tear on first use, and what’s worse: nylon is extremely harmful to the environment, both during production and as waste.

The result? An endless cycle of production and waste that benefits neither consumers nor the environment. It makes one wonder: who actually stands to gain from this trend?

That’s why you should repair and reuse your tights

Every year, around 8 billion pairs of tights are produced, but most are only worn a few times before they tear and end up in the bin. Tights have thus become one of women’s most short-lived items of clothing – a ‘wear-and-tear’ product comparable to the fashion industry’s plastic straws. Nowadays, repair is rarely an option, as it is often regarded as a hassle and unprofitable (as Mads Skjern already observed in *Matador* in 1947). This cycle of short-lived tights contributes to the textile industry being among the most polluting in the world. The world’s oceans and the natural environment are literally filled with cheap, non-biodegradable textiles.

Swedish Stockings – tights with a conscience

Fortunately, there are companies working to change this picture. Swedish Stockings is a company that has taken up the fight against the polluting nylon tights industry whilst creating durable and sustainable products. Their tights are made from recycled nylon with a focus on quality and environmental considerations. Production takes place at an Italian factory that sets the standard for both design and environmental performance. Much of the production is powered by solar energy, and the water is purified and returned clean to the environment. The dyes used in the colouring process are strictly monitored to minimise the environmental impact.

Swedish Stockings’ tights are designed to fit well and last a long time, which is in line with Ecouture’s values. That is why you will find their products in our online shop.

A hack for mending your socks

Would you like to mend your tights when they get a hole, but are otherwise still in good condition? Here’s a simple trick from Johanne:

1. Brush the edge of the hole with clear nail varnish to prevent the stitches from unravelling – leave it to dry.
2. Sew the hole up with a thread that matches the colour of the tights.

This way, you can extend the life of your socks and help reduce plastic waste on the planet.

Recycling Club – help close the loop

As part of their mission, Swedish Stockings collects used nylon tights for recycling. This ensures that they do not end up in the natural environment, but are instead turned into new products (although the technology does not yet allow them to be recycled into new tights).

Since 2021, Swedish Stockings has been working to recycle tights collected through its Recycling Club and has created a range of designer tables in collaboration with Gustaf Westman. Their aim is to introduce a key performance indicator that ensures that, from 2025, they take back more tights than they produce.

Would you like to help recycle your old tights? Send them to Ecouture! We collect tights for Swedish Stockings here in Denmark – and support their Recycling Club to close the loop ♻️

Thank you for helping to tidy up and make a difference 💚

GemGem