Wallace Carothers, a chemist at DuPont, invented nylon, the first commercially successful synthetic thermoplastic polymer. It was marketed as being 'as strong as steel, as fine as a spider's web.' Nylon was first used for toothbrush bristles, but its most famous application was 'nylon stockings,' which caused a sensation when they hit the market in 1940. During WWII, nylon production was diverted entirely to the military for parachutes, tents, and ropes, replacing silk which was difficult to obtain from Japan. This invention marked the beginning of the synthetic fiber revolution, leading to the development of polyester and spandex. It fundamentally changed the textile industry and consumer culture by providing durable, inexpensive, and versatile materials that did not rely on natural crops or animals.