Editing Nylon (section)

=== Longer-term popularity ===
Nylon’s popularity soared in the 1940s and 1950s due to its durability and sheerness. In the 1970s, it became more popular due to its flexibility and price.

In spite of oil shortages in the 1970s, consumption of nylon textiles continued to grow by 7.5% per year between the 1960s and 1980s.<ref name="Wilson">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qc8mDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA246 |title=Petrocultures: Oil, Politics, Culture |last1=Wilson |first1=Sheena |last2=Carlson |first2=Adam |last3=Szeman |first3=Imre |date=2017 |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press |location=Montreal, Quebec |pages=246 |isbn=9780773550391 |author-link3=Imre Szeman |access-date=26 June 2017}}</ref> Overall production of synthetic fibres, however, dropped from 63% of the worlds textile production in 1965, to 45% of the world's textile production in early 1970s.<ref name="Wilson" /> The appeal of "new" technologies wore off, and nylon fabric "was going out of style in the 1970s".<ref name="Ndiaye" /> Also, consumers became concerned about environmental costs throughout the production cycle: obtaining the raw materials (oil), energy use during production, waste produced during creation of the fibre, and eventual waste disposal of materials that were not biodegradable.<ref name="Wilson" /> 
Synthetic fibres have not dominated the market since the 1950s and 1960s. {{As of|2020}}, the worldwide production of nylon is estimated at 8.9 million tons.<ref name="Businesswire">{{cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200730005398/en/Global-Nylon-Market-Analysis-and-Outlook-2020-2027---Nylon-6-Volumes-Will-Reach-5.3-Million-Tons-by-2027-Despite-COVID-19---ResearchAndMarkets.com |title=Global Nylon Market Analysis and Outlook 2020-2027 - Nylon 6}}</ref>

Although pure nylon has many flaws and is now rarely used, its derivatives have greatly influenced and contributed to society. From scientific discoveries relating to the production of plastics and polymerisation, to economic impact during the depression and the changing of women's fashion, nylon was a revolutionary product.<ref name="Wolfe2008" /> The [[Lunar Flag Assembly]], the first flag planted on the moon in a symbolic gesture of celebration, was made of nylon. The flag itself cost $5.50 but had to have a specially designed flagpole with a horizontal bar so that it would appear to "fly".<ref name="Welsh">{{Cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/apollo-flags-moon-faded-white-2016-5?r=US&IR=T |title=The American Flags on the Moon Have All Turned White |last=Welsh |first=Jennifer |date=21 May 2016 |work=Business Insider |access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="Platoff">{{cite web |url=https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/flag/flag.htm |title=NASA Contractor Report 188251 Where No Flag Has Gone Before: Political and Technical Aspects of Placing a Flag on the Moon |last1=Platoff |first1=Anne M. |date=1993 |website=NASA |access-date=26 June 2017}}</ref> One historian describes nylon as "an object of desire", comparing the invention to Coca-Cola in the eyes of 20th century consumers.<ref name="Ndiaye" />