Hosiery

The Nylon Stocking had its 70's Anniversary

NY7001
34.90 €*

Cuban Heel Black/Black Seam
23.00 €*

Cuban Heel Chocolate
23.00 €*

Blackfoot Copper Contrasting Black
26.00 €*

Blackfoot Nude Contrasting Black
26.00 €*

Cuban Heel White
23.00 €*

Manhattan Heel Black/Black Seam
26.00 €*

Pointed Heel Black/Black Seam
23.00 €*

 

Invented end of the 30’s, Nylons made their final breakthrough in the 50’s. Some manufacturers even promised a soon coming marriage if women wear the hot stockings.

Such a simple promis wouldn’t be a sale promis nowerdays in the age of social networks and online partner agencies. But in lot areas of life – practically as trend against the rapid life style of these days  - we come back to old values. Why not prove style and sence for established things at the legs ?

This matches the philosophy of ARS VIVENDI. As producer and admirer of real nylons, the company established in Germany, has a partner in the UK that manufactures fully fashioned nylons without lycra or elasthan.

Fully fashioned nylons are knitted on mills. They are manufactured by using genuine, 1950’s machinery (also cotton-machines in remembrance of the inventor William Cotton). The last machine is from the year 1956 and is still in England to produce stockings. Cotton machines  are huge machines – some are up to 60 feet long and 12 tons in weight. With 16.000 needles per machine they need constant attention and take one hour to produce only 30 legs. After manufacture each stocking is seamed, one at a time. Once the stocking has been knitted, the seam is added, giving the stocking its classic shape and fit. The “finishing loop” at the top back of the stocking is also a result of the finishing process, and is created because the seaming machinist has to finish the seam by turning the stocking top (called “the welt”) in a circel. The finishing loop identifies a true fully-fashioned nylon.

Stockings are usually manufactured white, then dyed in different colors. After this, they’re “boarded” where each stocking is pulled over a flat wooden or metal leg and steamed. This tightens the knit, defines the leg shape and removes creases.

Some different varieties can be made with the heel of the stockings, for example with different colours. And because of the different tastes, ARS VIVENDI offers four different styles: “Cuban Heel”  with angular heel and wide footbed, “Pointed Heel” with a pointed heel and a narrow footbed, “Havanna Heel” with a wider angular heel and a narrow footbed and “Manhattan Outline” which have an additional outline along the heel and the footbed.

In the post-war period, Nylons were goods in short supply and they were traded high priced on the black market. Even American agents seemed to be payed with Nylons instead of money. GI’s brought them to Germany and women were crazy for them. And as the german young woman was ready to do a lot for this leg jewelery, they were soon traded as “bed-currency”.  Having a pair at least, they were cherished  like life itself. And damaged ones have been given to special services that repaired the run in the stockings.