Nylon

Basia

Angie - a question - I've noticed this season that many wool or cashmere blend sweaters have incorporated nylon. It feels to me like this is dfferent than prior years; is this a symptom of manufacturers trying to lower input costs? or is there something about nylon that makes it appealing to add to a sweater blend?

Personally, I don't care for it, and would much prefer natural fibers especially if the item price is on the high side. Why should I pay a premium for what is essentially engineered plastic?! Thoughts?

10 years ago

Shopping

13 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Anonymous

I can't wait to read what Angie thinks of nylon. I, too, have been wondering about this.

10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

First, natural fibres are not all what they are cracked up to be. I just wrote about that again in a post actually. (Read the comments too). Manmade fibres have earned their rightful place in fashion and continue to impress me:

http://youlookfab.com/2015/12/.....s-place-2/

As for nylon specifically, I haven't noticed the nastiness of nylon used in blends so far. Acrylic - yes - can be very nasty - but not nylon. Nylon hosiery is fabulous and I wear nylon knee-highs all the time. I wish I could satisfy your question Basia, but this is all I have for you on Nylon.

10 years ago

Anonymous

I think adding nylon helps to make the fibres and construction stronger. In other words, it adds resilience to wear.

10 years ago

Anonymous

That's good to know, Angie and Diane! I do agree that nylon has its place. I just wasn't sure about adding it to sweaters. You have eased my mind.

10 years ago

Diana

Veteran

Nylon adds strength and resilience to wools. It is much stronger, especially compared to shorter fiber wools like merino or cashmere. It's often added to yarn used to make socks, for example. The same yarn without nylon is generally softer/fluffier, but you're less likely to get pilling, holes, and stretched out knits if they contain a little bit of nylon. The nylon does not make the fabric feel nasty or plasticky, just a little less soft and fluffy.

10 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I don't wear wool sweaters, but I love cotton or rayon sweaters that have a bit of nylon blended in. It makes them much less likely to pill or look worn quickly, and it seems to make them more amenable to frequent washing. I had a cotton/nylon gray cardigan from Lane Bryant several years ago that I swear looked the same 10 years on as it did when I when I bought it. I finally donated it because I was sick of looking at it, not because it was worn.

Acrylic, on the other hand, I avoid like the plague in sweaters because it always pills.

10 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Interesting!

10 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

I hate the feel of many synthetics, but nylon is the one that I don't mind at all. It makes sweaters stronger and I haven't noticed any downsides (odor retention, etc).

Also, I learned recently that nylon is called polyamide on labels in Europe. I'd been dismissing polyamide blends because I thought it was a form of polyester.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Interesting, Greyscale. I greatly prefer nylon to polyester,both in blends and alone and mentioned it in Angie's post on polyester. I have some cotton/nylon buttondowns that hold their shape and color beautifully and never wrinkle. The nylon breathes better than polyester and doesn't seem to have or hold odors.

10 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Greyscale, polyester has its place - and has definitely earned its place in my own wardrobe. You might like to read that post.

Diane, you're dead right.

Joy, there you go.

10 years ago

Anonymous

Thank you for posting about this. I'll look out for nylon/polyamide blends.

10 years ago

Basia

Active Member

Wonderful! I don't know why this stuck out for me so much this season, but this discussion has certainly eased my mind! Thank you so much, everyone!

10 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

I haven't read all the responses, but I wonder if nylon is being added to counteract shrinkage. Wool is of course very prone to shrinking when washed, so the nylon might help stabilize that.

10 years ago

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