What Is Polyamide? Polyamide vs Nylon in Clothing Explained
Polyamide is the chemical family name for nylon. Here is what it means on a clothing label, how it is made, how it compares with polyester and how to care for it.
On this page
Quick answer
Polyamide is a family of polymers joined by amide bonds. On a clothing label it almost always means nylon (PA6 or PA66): a strong, light, smooth synthetic fibre made from petroleum chemicals. It resists abrasion, stretches and recovers well, dries fast and takes bright colours, but it dislikes high heat and can pill or yellow over time.
Key takeaways
- Polyamide and nylon are the same fibre on most garment labels; Europe tends to say polyamide, the US says nylon.
- The two main types in clothing are PA6 and PA66; aramids such as Kevlar are aromatic polyamides used in protective gear.
- Polyamide is lighter, softer and more abrasion-resistant than polyester, but less UV-stable and more heat-sensitive.
- Wash it cool, skip high dryer heat and keep white polyamide away from colours that bleed.
Contents11 sections
- What does polyamide mean on a clothing label?
- A short history: from DuPont to “Perlon”
- How is polyamide fabric made?
- Properties of polyamide fabric
- Polyamide vs polyester: which is better?
- How to tell polyamide from polyester
- Reading a polyamide label
- Where is polyamide used?
- How to care for polyamide clothes
- Is polyamide sustainable?
- Frequently asked questions
What does polyamide mean on a clothing label?
Polyamide is the chemical family name for any polymer whose building blocks are linked by amide bonds (the -CO-NH- group). When you see polyamide on a swimsuit, legging or bra label, it means nylon. Labelling rules allow either word; brands selling in Europe and much of Asia tend to print polyamide, while US labels usually say nylon. The fibre inside is the same.
The family is wider than clothing nylon. Wool and silk are natural polyamides, because proteins are chains of amino acids joined by amide links. Aramids such as Kevlar and Nomex are aromatic polyamides used in body armour and fire-protective suits. In everyday garments, though, polyamide means one of two nylons: PA6 or PA66.
Polyamide at a glance
- Fibre type
- Synthetic, melt-spun filament (also staple)
- Common grades
- PA6 (nylon 6) and PA66 (nylon 6,6)
- Raw material
- Petroleum chemicals; recycled PA6 is available
- Density
- About 1.14 g/cm3, lighter than polyester
- Moisture regain
- About 4 to 4.5 percent
- Melting point
- About 220 C (PA6) and 260 C (PA66)
- Dye class
- Acid dyes (also metal-complex and disperse)
- Care
- 30 to 40 C wash, low dryer heat, cool iron
A short history: from DuPont to “Perlon”
Wallace Carothers and his team at DuPont made nylon 6,6 in 1935, and nylon stockings went on sale at the end of the 1930s. Almost at the same time Paul Schlack in Germany produced nylon 6 from caprolactam, sold under the name Perlon. Those two chemistries still make up nearly all apparel polyamide today. Nylon 6 dyes a little deeper and is common in Asia and in recycled yarns; nylon 6,6 has a higher melting point and slightly better heat and abrasion resistance, so it is popular for hosiery, airbags and premium outdoor fabrics.
How is polyamide fabric made?
Polyamide starts as small molecules (monomers) made from crude oil. They are joined into long chains, melted and spun into filaments, then stretched so the chains line up and give the fibre its strength.
- MonomersCaprolactam (for PA6) or adipic acid plus hexamethylenediamine (for PA66), mostly from crude oil.
- PolymerisationHeat joins the monomers into long chains linked by amide bonds; the melt is cut into chips.
- Melt spinningChips are melted and pushed through a spinneret to form continuous filaments.
- DrawingFilaments are stretched several times their length, lining up the chains for strength.
- TexturingOptional crimp or twist adds bulk and stretch for knits and hosiery.
- Knitting or weavingYarn becomes tricot, jersey, ripstop, taffeta or blends with elastane.
- Dyeing and finishingUsually acid dyes near the boil, then heat setting and softeners.
Simplified route from chemical raw materials to a finished nylon fabric.
The finished yarn can be knitted into smooth tricot for lingerie and swimwear, single jersey with elastane for leggings, or woven into taffeta and ripstop for jackets and tents. Because polyamide is thermoplastic, the fabric is heat-set after dyeing so it keeps its width and does not shrink in normal washing.
Properties of polyamide fabric
Strength and abrasion resistance
Nylon is the toughest of the common apparel fibres when rubbed. That is why it shows up in the seat and knees of hiking trousers, the heels and toes of socks, backpack fabric and the outer shell of ski gloves. A small percentage of polyamide blended into wool or cotton socks noticeably extends their life.
Stretch and recovery
Polyamide filaments stretch and spring back better than polyester, and they pair well with elastane. A typical activewear fabric is 75 to 85 percent polyamide with 15 to 25 percent elastane, giving the firm, smooth “second skin” feel of good leggings and swimsuits.
Comfort and moisture
With a moisture regain of about 4 percent, polyamide holds roughly ten times more moisture than polyester. It still dries quickly, but it feels a little less clammy and builds up slightly less static. Fine-gauge knits and mesh feel cool and smooth; heavy, dense polyamide can still feel warm in humid weather.
Colour
Polyamide dyes with acid dyes in a mildly acidic bath close to the boil, and it takes very bright, clean shades. The flip side is that it also grabs loose dye easily, which is why white nylon goes grey in mixed washes. You can read more about the process in our guide to nylon fabric dyeing with acid dyes.
Weak points
Strengths
- Very strong and abrasion resistant for its weight
- Light, smooth and soft against the skin
- Excellent stretch and recovery, especially with elastane
- Quick drying and easy to wash
- Bright, deep colours
Drawbacks
- Loses strength and yellows with long sun exposure
- Softens and glazes under a hot iron or high dryer heat
- Pills that form tend to stay attached because the fibre is so strong
- Picks up stray dye in the wash
- Made from fossil raw materials and sheds microfibres
Polyamide vs polyester: which is better?
Both are melt-spun synthetics and they often sit side by side on a shop rail, but they behave differently. Polyamide wins on softness, abrasion resistance and stretch; polyester wins on price, UV stability and heat tolerance.
- Feel
- Polyamide: Smoother, softer, slightly silky
- Polyester: Crisper, can feel drier
- Weight
- Polyamide: Lighter fibre (about 1.14 g/cm3)
- Polyester: Heavier fibre (about 1.38 g/cm3)
- Moisture regain
- Polyamide: About 4 percent, a little more comfortable
- Polyester: Under 0.5 percent, very hydrophobic
- Abrasion resistance
- Polyamide: Excellent, the toughest common apparel fibre
- Polyester: Very good
- Sunlight
- Polyamide: Weakens and yellows with long UV exposure
- Polyester: Better UV resistance
- Heat
- Polyamide: Softens at lower temperatures; iron cool
- Polyester: Handles more heat; iron warm
- Dyeing
- Polyamide: Acid dyes, bright deep shades near 98 C
- Polyester: Disperse dyes, usually at 130 C under pressure
- Typical price
- Polyamide: Usually costs more
- Polyester: Usually cheaper
General fibre behaviour; finishes and fabric construction can change the result.
A simple rule: choose polyamide for things that rub, stretch or sit close to the skin (leggings, swimwear, hosiery, bra fabric, climbing trousers), and polyester for things that see a lot of sun, need printing by sublimation or must be cheap (sports jerseys, curtains, outdoor cushions).
How to tell polyamide from polyester
Labels sometimes go missing, and the two fibres look alike. A few simple checks help:
- Feel: polyamide feels smoother, slightly cooler and more slippery; polyester feels drier and a little crisper.
- Stretch: pull a polyamide-elastane fabric and it snaps back firmly; polyester-elastane often feels a touch looser in recovery.
- Burn test (on a loose thread, safely, over a sink): nylon melts and burns with a faint celery-like smell and leaves a hard, pale bead. Polyester melts with darker, sooty smoke, a sweetish smell and a hard dark bead.
- Dye pick-up: nylon stains easily in a mixed wash; polyester rarely does.
Reading a polyamide label
Labels list fibres by weight percentage. “80% polyamide, 20% elastane” is a typical compressive activewear or swimwear fabric. “Polyamide 6” or “PA6” and “polyamide 6.6” or “PA66” tell you the chemistry; “recycled polyamide” usually means recycled nylon 6. If you see “polyamide” on a wool or cotton sock, it is there to reinforce the heel and toe and extend wear.
Where is polyamide used?
- Activewear and shapewear: polyamide-elastane jersey and power-net.
- Swimwear: smooth, quick-drying tricot; chlorine-resistant grades exist.
- Hosiery and socks: fine textured yarns for tights; reinforcement in socks.
- Lingerie: microfibre polyamide and lace.
- Outdoor gear: ripstop and taffeta shells, tents, backpacks, often coated or with a durable water repellent.
- Industrial uses: carpets, ropes, seat belts, airbags, tyre cord and engineering plastics.
Comparing other fibres for a project? Our fabric types and specifications guide lines up the common options.
How to care for polyamide clothes
- Wash at 30 to 40 C on a gentle or synthetics cycle, inside out.
- Wash whites and pale colours apart from new dark items.
- Line dry or tumble on low; high heat can shrink, pucker or glaze the surface.
- If ironing is needed, use the lowest synthetic setting with a press cloth, or steam lightly.
- Skip chlorine bleach; it weakens nylon and can yellow it.
- Store away from strong sunlight to slow yellowing.
Is polyamide sustainable?
Virgin polyamide is made from oil, and making adipic acid for nylon 6,6 releases nitrous oxide, a strong greenhouse gas, unless the plant has abatement equipment. Like all synthetics it sheds microfibres when washed. On the positive side, nylon garments last a long time, and recycled nylon 6 made from old fishing nets, carpet fibre and factory waste is now widely available. If a label says recycled polyamide, look for a recognised certification such as the Global Recycled Standard.
Frequently asked questions
Is polyamide the same as nylon?
On clothing, yes. Nylon is a type of polyamide, and almost every garment labelled polyamide is nylon 6 or nylon 6,6. The word polyamide is the chemical family name, which is why European labels often use it.
Is polyamide a good fabric?
For activewear, swimwear, hosiery, lingerie and outer shells it is one of the best fibres because it is strong, light, stretchy and quick drying. It is less ideal for very hot weather or for anything that will be ironed hot or left in strong sun for long periods.
Is polyamide breathable?
It breathes better than polyester because it absorbs a little more moisture, but it is still a synthetic. Fine knits and mesh constructions feel comfortable; dense polyamide fabrics can feel warm and clammy in heat.
Does polyamide shrink?
Heat-set polyamide is stable in normal washing, but high dryer heat or a hot iron can shrink, pucker or glaze it. Wash at 30 to 40 C and tumble dry low or line dry.
Is polyamide toxic or safe to wear?
Finished polyamide garments are considered safe to wear. Environmental concerns are about its oil-based raw materials, nitrous oxide emissions during adipic acid production and microfibre shedding in the wash, not about skin contact.
Why does my white polyamide underwear turn grey?
Polyamide picks up loose dye from other items very easily. In colour fastness tests the nylon stripe of the multifibre strip is often the first to stain. Wash whites separately and use a colour-catcher sheet with new dark items.
