In the 20's the silk stocking was the desired leg clothing for elegant ladies. Especially in the evening it was fashionable to wear stockings in different colours with pretty trimmings like pearl embroidery.

Caused by the World War I synthetic silk stockings (invented 1912 in England) came in Germany gradually during the 20's into fashion. They had a strong metallic glamour that was abolished 1934 as a result of the national promoted research work for new materials ( the nazi intended independence of raw material import since 1933). So the first dull synthetic silk stocking was put on the market.

1938 invented a German scientist "perlon", a full synthetic fibre, that was fast to boiling and was able to be ironed and coloured. A little bit earlier an American developed "nylon" that was very similar to perlon. While in America nylons were successfully sold by "DuPont" since may 1940, the war in Europe stopped a similar development. With outbreak of war perlon was only used for the war industry (for example parachutes).

After silk and synthetic silk stocking production closed also in progress of war, the fashion world propagated cotton anklets. Besides leg make-up was offered that should take the place of real stockings. With an eyebrow pencil the seam was imitated. 

After the war the allies forbad the perlon production in Germany. American nylons became a substitute money on the black market. 
The perlon production started again in the 50's.