Nylon is an interpretation of pre-16th century letterforms, in particular those found in mediaeval portraits at the National Gallery, London. The source material contains many unusual manic shapes—it appears as if these classical forms have over time become perverted, almost demonic. Draylon is the more restrained counterpart to Nylon; it is based on letterforms found on 18th century ceramics—some 200 years after the source material of Nylon. Nylon and Draylon have been designed so that they can be easily mixed together. Both typefaces have been drawn with a kind of crude digital awkwardness—acknowledging the tool of the present moment, the computer, in the drawing process.
The names are very 20th century in origin—two man-made materials with man-made consumer names. The name Nylon was reputed to be a combination of New York and London: NY-Lon. It was assumed that the manufacturers DuPont were trying to give it a sophisticated transatlantic association. The name Nylon first epitomised the glamour that surrounded man-made materials but has since become a symbol of tackiness. Draylon is an equally tacky soft furnishing material, the name is because ‘-lon’ was used after the introduction of Nylon to signify a scientifically created but mystical product to consumers.
