EDITION 003: NYLON METAL–
Since its inception, Stone Island has sought to redefine the relationship between material, treatment, and colour, using innovation to open up new possibilities for clothing. Material Science explores the process behind some of Stone Island's most renowned technical achievements, and the experimentation that brought them to life. For its third chapter, the series explores one of the most iconic Stone Island fabrics, Nylon Metal. Introduced in 2005 and developed over decades of research and development, the material has evolved to become an instantly recognisable element of the brand.
INDEX
01 VIDEO
02 PROCESS
03 COLOUR
04 APPLICATION
05 TODAY
01 VIDEO
Filmed at the Stone Island headquarters in Ravarino, an exclusive look at the process by which Nylon Metal is created and transformed into clothing, through the creation of a garment in the Spring_Summer '026 collection.
02 PROCESS
The fabrication is constructed from a nylon yarn with a trilobate cross-section, which allows it to refract light and creates its distinctive lustre. The material retains the intrinsic characteristics of nylon: it is durable, quick-drying, and retains a lightweight feel.
001/001
03 COLOUR
The metallic sheen on Nylon Metal garments is imparted during the dyeing process. The woven material is made from a black weft and white warp; when dyed, only the white yarn absorbs colour. This creates not only an iridescent finish, but also a unique depth and tone of colour in the final product.
The acronym “TC”, which is applied to Nylon Metal garments, refers to “TINTO CAPO,” a proprietary garment dyeing technique where the entire garment is dyed using methods and colour recipes developed in-house.
04 APPLICATION
–Nylon Metal has become a cornerstone of Stone Island’s material vocabulary. Iterations include Nylon Metal Colour Weft Watro for SS '016, which modified the black weft into coloured yarn to intensify the iridescent effect through strong chromatic contrast. In AW '019-'020, Nylon Metal Watro Ripstop-TC was introduced, featuring a micro ripstop weave and a distinctive internal resin treatment. Poly-Colour Frame followed in AW '020-'021, featuring a shiny nylon warp combined with a coloured polyester weft, creating a three-dimensional, embossed‑looking square motif driven by the different tension of the yarns.
05 TODAY
Spring_Summer '026 further develops this trajectory, presenting Nylon Metal-TC in ECONYL® across a range of garment weights and constructions.
Alongside down jackets, the material is applied to a field jacket with front patch pockets and matching cargo trousers, complemented by short‑sleeve shirts and shorts. The colour spectrum spans from saturated tones such as malachite green and moss green to more restrained shades of mud and soft grey.
DISCOVER MORE
A laboratory of innovation. Discover the latest episodes of Material Science here, and learn more about the philosophy of creativity that powers Stone Island.
