What does Synthetic Fibres mean?Well-known fibres like nylon, polyester, spandex, and acrylic fall under this classification. Heddels explains Synthetic FibresSynthetic fibers, first produced in the 1930s, are derived from coal or oil. Wallace Carothers discovered nylon, the first synthetic fiber, in 1934. Today, they make up approximately half of all fiber usage and are found in every sector of fiber and textile manufacturing. They are valuable in that they can be produced with certain characteristics to meet specific uses. Synthetic fibers are divided into four primary classifications: nylon, polyester, acrylic, and polyolefinPolyester fibers, a synthetic fiber: