The 20th century was marked by the rapid growth of science and technology, which were aimed at increasing the volume of industrial production. One of the most important developments of this period was the invention of synthetic fabrics, which are now widely used in the world. Fabrics such as polyester, nylon, neoprene, and spandex were invented in the 30-the 40s of the 20th century and are still actively used in the production of not only clothing but also other goods (Bellis, 2019). The main advantage of synthetic fabrics over natural ones is their low cost and unique properties. For example, spandex can stretch more than 100% without tearing, while polyester is extremely durable and comfortable to wear (Bellis, 2019). They replaced natural fabrics, which are expensive to manufacture and also limited in their functional variety.
This development became available primarily due to the development of the chemical industry and the expanding needs for production. These fabrics were developed for utilitarian needs in the first half and middle of the twentieth century and were marked by such global events as the Second World War and the Cold War. In this context, technology has been used to achieve an advantage both on the battlefield and in science. Synthetic fabrics made production cheaper and faster, and goods made from them were more durable and possessed the necessary properties. In turn, Woytus (2017) notes that synthetic fabrics made a real cultural revolution in later periods. Outside of military and industrial needs, synthetic fabrics have made it possible to provide people with an abundance of goods. Synthetic fabrics made it possible to produce new clothes and household items so people could spend more money. This process was both a symbolic end of the Great Depression and boosted economic growth.
It can be assumed that synthetic fabrics could be used exclusively for the strategic needs of production and the army. In this case, they would never reach mass production and would be inaccessible to a wide audience of consumers. In this situation, society would change drastically and would probably be completely different from the present time. Primarily, production would be limited to natural fabrics, which would significantly reduce the amount of clothing and household goods produced. This aspect would probably also have a negative impact on the development of the economy due to the limitations both in production capacities and in spending by the population. This factor would also inevitably affect the areas of STEM, especially science, technology, and engineering. The limited availability of synthetic fabrics would prevent the creation of many civil inventions and would also slow down the development of culture. On the other hand, society would be able to maintain a craving for complex products with a certain utilitarian and artistic value.
This scenario assumes that the development of STEM domains should serve the benefit of the whole society. At the same time, it should be noted that achievements in these areas also often occur within the framework of certain events and for certain purposes. In this case, people should pay attention to specific materials and inventions and try to rethink their possible applications. Probably the many advances in science and technology that are currently available in a limited circle can be used to meet the needs of a wide audience. Thus, STEM should serve global progress and directly affect the daily life of people.
References
Bellis, M. (2019). Fabrics – The history of fabrics and different fibers. ThoughtCo. Web.
Woytus, A. (2017). Synthetic fabrics inspired a cultural revolution. JSTOR Daily. Web.