What is Polyamide Fiber? Polyamide fibers, popularly recognized by the trade name "Nylon," represent a breakthrough in synthetic polymer science. Originally developed by Wallace Carothers at DuPont, these fibers have evolved from a laboratory experiment into a fundamental component of the modern textile industry. While polyamides occur naturally in materials like silk and wool , synthetic versions such as Nylon 6 and Nylon 6.6  dominate the market today due to their versatil