How Paratroopers Led To The Development Of Ripstop Fabrics

One of the greatest innovations in the history of trade workwear is the development of ripstop clothing, which once applied to uniforms of people operating and near heavy machinery, helped improve safety considerably.

Unlike the hard hat, which has a fairly straightforward history, the development of ripstop reinforcement revolves around a mix of different developments, not only in the development of new materials but new methods of weaving and adulteration that give them their tear-resistant strength.

However, many of these technologies were developed at a similar time albeit for very different purposes.

The first leap forward came in the development of nylon, a synthetic material developed by DuPont as a replacement for silk. It was first used in the creation of ripstop stockings and underwear in 1939, where it was an instant if short-lived success.

The reason for this is that 1939 is when the Second World War began, and nylon production was redirected almost completely to the military. Alongside undergarments, nylon was seen as a vitally important and stronger replacement for silk in parachutes and tents.

Once this redirection had been made, the impetus was to make a strong material even stronger, which led to the development of a ripstop weave technique similar to the patented one that can still be seen today.

There are several different ripstop methods, but the most common is to have regular crosshatches of reinforcement yarns that not only make it harder to tear, but in cases where the clothing is ripped or torn at, it limits the ability for a small tear to spread.

Some examples have toughened weaves with stretchy elastic properties, based on the multipurpose weaves seen with ejection seat parachutes that allow for a more gentle descent than a traditional parachute which can be powerful enough to break backs.

These more advanced fabrics have seen use in a wide variety of industries, as well as being part of fireproof integration for safety suits.