What Is Nylon Fabric?
Nylon is a synthetic fiber — polyamide, the first fully man-made fiber ever produced — with the highest strength-to-weight of anything common in fabric stores. It is why parachutes, climbing gear, swimwear and windbreakers lean nylon: enormous tensile strength in a light, smooth, quick-drying thread.
In apparel fabric you will meet it two main ways: slick wovens (windbreaker, ripstop) and soft, sleek knits (swim tricot, activewear jersey), usually blended with spandex.
How nylon is made
Polyamide chips are melted and extruded into continuous filaments — smooth, uniform and immensely strong. The fiber absorbs a little moisture (more than polyester), which makes it slightly softer-feeling and less static-prone, but also means it holds water marginally longer. Its real weakness is heat: nylon melts at iron temperatures, so pressing happens low and quick or not at all.
What nylon feels like
Cool, smooth, almost slippery, with a fine drape at light weights. Nylon knits feel sleek and second-skin — the classic swim and leggings hand. Woven nylon rustles and blocks wind. Neither breathes like a natural fiber, but both dry in a fraction of the time.
What to sew with nylon
- Swimwear and activewear (nylon-spandex knits)
- Windbreakers, anoraks and vests
- Bags, pouches and linings in ripstop and pack cloth
- Rain shells in coated versions
For slick wovens: fine sharp needle, longer stitch, clips instead of pins where holes would show, and go easy on the iron. For nylon-spandex knits: ballpoint needle, stretch stitch, and polyester thread.
Nylon vs. polyester
The eternal synthetic showdown, and the answer is use-specific. Nylon is stronger, more abrasion-resistant, softer and slightly more absorbent. Polyester resists UV and holds color better, dries even faster, wrinkles less and costs less. Swim and gear favor nylon's strength and hand; outdoor colorfastness and easy-care everything favor polyester. Both melt — keep both away from hot irons.
How to care for nylon
Machine wash cool, hang or tumble low — nylon dries almost immediately anyway. Chlorine slowly degrades nylon-spandex swim, so rinse suits in fresh water after the pool. Iron only on the lowest synthetic setting with a press cloth, if at all.
The environmental picture is the standard synthetic one, honestly stated: nylon is petroleum-derived, energy-intensive to make and not biodegradable, and it sheds microfibers in the wash. Its counterweights are durability — nylon gear outlives most alternatives — and the growing supply of recycled nylon regenerated from fishing nets and offcuts.
Nylon, measured
What nylon becomes on our shelf
- Ponte15%
- Interlock11%
- Warp Knit9%
- Jersey8%
- Lace7%
- Rib6%
Share of listings by cloth type — one fabric can carry more than one.
Live from 2,615 measured listings on our shelf. How we measure →
Common questions
Is nylon waterproof?
The fiber does not absorb much, but woven nylon cloth lets water through unless it is coated (PU) or laminated. Uncoated nylon is wind-resistant and quick-drying, not waterproof.
Is nylon stretchy?
The fiber has moderate natural give, more than polyester, but real stretch comes from knit construction and spandex content. A nylon-spandex tricot stretches four ways; a woven ripstop barely at all.
Can you iron nylon?
Barely — lowest setting, press cloth, keep moving. Nylon melts before cotton temperatures. When in doubt, steam from a distance instead.
Which is better for swimwear, nylon or polyester?
Nylon-spandex feels softer and fits sleeker; polyester-spandex survives chlorine and sun longer. Frequent pool swimmers choose polyester; everyone else usually prefers nylon's hand.
