01How nylon is made
Nylon is polymerized from chemicals derived from oil and gas. The polymer is formed into chips, melted and pushed through spinnerets to make continuous filaments, which are drawn (stretched) to line up the molecules and build strength. The filament is then textured for bulk and stretch, or used flat for smooth, shiny fabrics.
Nylon is almost always used as filament rather than spun staple, which is part of why it resists pilling. It is dyed with acid dyes, which give deep, bright colors. That also means nylon cannot be sublimation printed the way polyester can; prints go on by digital acid printing, screen printing or transfer.
02Nylon 6 vs nylon 6,6
Nylon 6 is made from a single monomer, caprolactam. Nylon 6,6 is made from two, hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid, each with six carbon atoms, hence the name. They look and feel similar in a finished garment, but they behave differently in production.
| Nylon 6 | Nylon 6,6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Building blocks | One monomer (caprolactam) | Two monomers (diamine and adipic acid) |
| Melting point | Lower | Higher, more heat tolerant |
| Abrasion and strength | High | Slightly higher, stiffer |
| Dyeing | Dyes easily, deep colors | Harder to dye evenly, more colorfast |
| Recycling | Easier to depolymerize and recycle | Harder to recycle chemically |
| Price | Usually lower | Usually higher |
Most recycled nylon on the market is nylon 6, because it can be broken back down to caprolactam and rebuilt. Most high-end outdoor and bag fabrics lean toward nylon 6,6 for its heat and abrasion performance.
03Ripstop, Cordura and bag fabrics
Ripstop is a weave, not a fiber. Thicker reinforcement yarns are woven in at regular intervals in both directions, making the small grid you can see on the surface. If the fabric gets punctured, the tear stops at the next reinforcement line. Nylon ripstop is standard for packable jackets, tents, kites and light bags.
Cordura is a registered brand for a family of durable fabrics, most of them nylon, sold by licensed mills. Not every heavy nylon is Cordura, and a factory calling a fabric "cordura" in lowercase usually means a generic look-alike. If you want the brand name on your product or hangtag, the fabric has to come from a licensed mill and the use has to follow the brand’s rules.
Bag fabrics are named by denier, the weight of the yarn: 210D and 420D for linings and light packs, 500D and 1000D for tougher bags, and 1050D ballistic nylon for luggage. Higher denier is heavier and more abrasion resistant, but also stiffer. Most bag nylons get a PU coating on the back for water resistance and body.
04Pros and cons
- Stronger and more abrasion resistant than polyester at the same weight
- Smooth, soft hand that feels more premium in leggings and swim
- Great stretch and recovery when blended with spandex
- Takes acid dyes for deep, saturated colors
- Light weight for its strength, ideal for packable shells and bags
- Costs more than polyester for comparable fabrics
- Cannot be sublimation printed; printing options are narrower
- Absorbs a little more water than polyester and dries a bit slower
- Sensitive to high heat: dryers and irons can glaze or melt it
- Some colors yellow or fade with sun and heat over time
05Typical uses and price
- Leggings and sports bras (nylon and spandex)
- Swimwear
- Windbreakers, packable jackets and puffer shells
- Backpacks, duffels, luggage and tech pouches
- Hosiery, tights and shapewear
- Webbing, straps and zipper tape
Price tier: Mid. Nylon yarn generally costs more than polyester, nylon 6,6 usually more than nylon 6, and branded fabrics like Cordura or branded recycled nylon carry a further premium. For basics where price matters most, factories will often suggest polyester instead.
06How to spec it with a factory
Nylon quotes vary with polymer type, yarn denier, construction and coating. Put all four in the tech pack or you will get quotes for different fabrics.
| No. | Field | What to write |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Fabric composition | Exact percentages, e.g. 78% nylon 6,6, 22% spandex; state nylon 6 or 6,6 |
| 02 | Recycled content | Virgin or recycled, with the recycled source and certification if recycled |
| 03 | Yarn | Denier and filament count, e.g. 40D/34F for knits or 420D for bag fabric |
| 04 | Construction | Warp knit, jersey, taffeta, ripstop (grid size), oxford or ballistic |
| 05 | Weight | GSM after finishing, with a tolerance such as plus or minus 5% |
| 06 | Coating and finish | PU or TPU coating, DWR (and whether PFAS-free), brushing, anti-odor |
| 07 | Brand fabric | If Cordura or another branded fabric, name it and require the mill license paperwork |
| 08 | Testing | Abrasion (Martindale or Taber), tear strength, colorfastness to light and chlorine for swim |
Certifications and marks
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- Tests the finished fabric for harmful substances. Common request for skin-contact nylon.
- Global Recycled Standard (GRS)
- For recycled nylon claims; ask for transaction certificates per shipment.
- bluesign
- Chemical and environmental management at the mill. Common among outdoor and performance nylon suppliers.
From the factory floor
- Ask whether the quote is nylon 6 or 6,6. Factories sometimes quote 6,6 and deliver 6 because it is cheaper and looks the same.
- For leggings, test squat-proofing (opacity when stretched) on the sample, in light colors especially.
- If you want PFAS-free water repellency, say so in writing; older DWR chemistries are still common.
- Bag fabrics: get the coating spec and a hydrostatic head number if water resistance matters.
07Nylon vs polyester
| Nylon | Polyester | |
|---|---|---|
| Hand feel | Smoother, softer | Slightly drier, can feel plasticky |
| Strength and abrasion | Higher | High |
| Moisture | Absorbs a little, dries slower | Absorbs very little, dries faster |
| Printing | No sublimation | Sublimation friendly |
| UV and sun | Can yellow and weaken over time | More UV stable |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
08Recycled nylon vs virgin nylon
Recycled nylon (ECONYL is a well-known brand of regenerated nylon 6) performs close to virgin when it is chemically recycled. It costs more and has fewer sources than recycled polyester. As with any recycled claim, the proof is certification and transaction certificates, not the fabric itself.
09FAQ
Q01Is nylon a good fabric?
For durability and stretch, yes. It is one of the strongest common textile fibers, which is why it is used in leggings, swimwear and bags. It is less breathable than cotton and needs gentle heat in care.
Q02Is nylon better than polyester?
Nylon is softer and more abrasion resistant; polyester is cheaper, dries faster and handles sun and sublimation printing better. Pick by product, not by fiber ranking.
Q03What is the difference between nylon 6 and nylon 6,6?
Nylon 6 is made from one monomer and is easier to dye and recycle. Nylon 6,6 is made from two and has a higher melting point and slightly better abrasion resistance, at a higher price.
Q04Is Cordura the same as nylon?
Cordura is a brand name for a family of durable fabrics, most of them nylon. All Cordura nylon is nylon, but not all heavy nylon is Cordura.
Q05Does nylon shrink?
Very little in normal washing, but high dryer heat can distort, glaze or shrink it. Wash cool and tumble low or line dry.