| Introduction | | 6 | (4) |
| 1700s--1930 The Chemist Conquers the Worm |
| | 10 | (20) |
| Semi-synthetic fibres are first made from cellulose plant life |
| |
| Courtauld's Art Silk and British Celanese acetates |
| |
| 1930--50 `N' Day: The Dawn of Nylon |
| | 30 | (22) |
| The first full synthetic and DuPont's `miracle' fibre |
| |
| The manipulation of molecules brings the democratization of luxury |
| |
| 1950--60 Better Living through Chemistry |
| | 52 | (24) |
| New materials create a post-war shopping euphoria |
| |
| The battle of the brands opens with a drip-dry utopia |
| |
| 1955--70 Paris Couture Embraces Man-Mades |
| | 76 | (22) |
| From nylon ballgowns to Space-Age mini skirts |
| |
| Synthetics enter the salons of Dior, Givenchy, Courreges and Cardin |
| |
| 1955--70 The Fabric of Pop |
| | 98 | (18) |
| London, sixties city of youth culture and throwaway fashion, swings into style with `Crimplene', PVC and fake fur |
| |
| 1970--80 The Disco Dacron Decade |
| | 116 | (12) |
| The polyester dream ends in disillusionment |
| |
| Fashion returns to `noble naturals' and synthetics are banished to the blend |
| |
| 1980--Japanese Design and the Fine Art of Technology |
| | 128 | (16) |
| Western fashion falls under the spell of ancient tradition |
| |
| High-tech textiles and fashion's philosophers |
| |
| | 144 | (24) |
| The return of artifice in the form of intelligent fibres, smart fabrics and poly-filled designer collections |
| |
| 1990--Science Fiction Becomes Science Fashion |
| | 168 | (10) |
| Wearable technologies and the electronic wardrobe |
| |
| Fact, fantasy or fashion fad? |
| |
| Epilogue | | 178 | (4) |
| Notes | | 182 | (4) |
| Bibliography | | 186 | (2) |
| Acknowledgements/Picture Credits | | 188 | (1) |
| Index | | 189 | |
