Man-made fibers can be created by synthetic means, by extruding material through holes, called spinnerets, into the air to form thread. Some of the most popular man-made fibers used in the fashion industry include acetate (1924), acrylic (1950), modacrylic (1949), nylon (1939), polyester (1953), the artificial, but not truly synthetic, fiber rayon (1910), and spandex (1959).
Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Francesca Sterlacci and Joanne Arbuckle.