Nylon is a generic term for a family of synthetic polymers. It is a silky, thermoplastic material generally made from petroleum, and it can be melt-processed into fibers or solid objects. It can be extremely durable and achieve various property variations, which makes Nylon a widely used material. In terms of hosiery, "nylons" were first shown at the 1939 New York World’s Fair and has been a huge commercial success since then. Only later has the implications on the environment caused by synthetic fibers been questioned by consumers and scientists.