Is NylonPower Thread Vegan? GRIFFIN’s Answer to Silk-Free Jewellery

Demand for vegan jewellery materials has grown significantly in recent years. As more jewellers and hobbyists think carefully about where their materials come from, silk - traditionally the gold standard for bead stringing - has come under closer scrutiny. GRIFFIN has had an answer for decades: NylonPower Bead Cord,  a vegan alternative to silk bead cord, the Nylon thread is a  professional-grade synthetic thread that performs comparably to natural silk without any animal-derived content. This guide takes a closer look at the question.

Why Silk Is Not Vegan

Natural silk is produced by the silkworm (Bombyx mori) as it spins its cocoon. To harvest the continuous filament thread - the quality that makes silk so strong and lustrous - the cocoons are typically placed in boiling water before the silkworm has pupated. This kills the silkworm and allows the unbroken thread to be unwound.

For vegan jewellers, this is a clear ethical problem. Silk is an animal-derived product produced through a process that causes the death of the silkworm. Regardless of the quality of the resulting thread, it falls outside the scope of vegan practice by any standard definition.

For jewellers who market their work as vegan, or who simply want their material choices to reflect their values, switching to a synthetic alternative isn’t a compromise. It’s a principled decision. The question is just whether the synthetic alternative meets the same quality bar.

What Is GRIFFIN NylonPower Made Of?

GRIFFIN NylonPower Bead Cord is made from high-performance synthetic nylon - specifically an extra-strength formulation that delivers approximately twice the breaking strength of ordinary nylon bead cord. This cord is triple twisted using GRIFFIN’s Z-Twist method, giving it the same round profile and knot-holding properties as the Natural Silk range. 

Key material properties at a glance:

• Construction: Triple twisted Z-Twist synthetic nylon
• Break strength: Approximately 2x stronger than standard nylon bead cord
• Stretch: 3 to 4% elastic stretch under tension, slightly more than natural silk
• Surface: Smooth with a silken sheen that closely resembles natural silk
• Needle: Pre-attached stainless steel needle included
• Colours: Available in 21 vibrant colours 
• Sizes: 13 sizes from No. 0 (0.30 mm) through No. 16 (1.05 mm)
• Dyeing: All colours ecologically dyed

NylonPower is highly regarded for its durability, reliability and professional-grade quality for making jewelry.

The Vegan Credentials of GRIFFIN NylonPower

NylonPower contains no animal-derived materials at any stage of its production. The raw nylon fibre is synthetic in origin, the dyes are ecologically formulated, and the pre-attached beading needle is the same stainless steel needle used across the GRIFFIN range.

From a vegan standpoint, NylonPower satisfies all three criteria that typically define a vegan material in jewellery making:

• No animal-derived content in the finished product
• No animal by-products used in the manufacturing process
• No animal testing in product development

For jewellers selling through platforms with vegan product categories - Etsy’s vegan filter, specialist vegan jewellery retailers, conscious lifestyle brands - NylonPower allows accurate, unambiguous labelling of both materials and finished pieces.

Does GRIFFIN NylonPower Look and Feel Like Silk?

This is the first question most vegan jewellers ask, and the honest answer is closely, though not identically.

NylonPower is specifically engineered to replicate the sensory properties of natural silk as closely as synthetic technology allows. The Z-Twist triple construction gives it the same round, smooth profile. The surface has a notable sheen that reads as silk-like in finished jewellery. The cord is soft to handle and pleasant against the skin, with no roughness.

Where NylonPower differs from silk:

• Minimal elasticity: NylonPower stretches 3 to 4% under tension. This is almost imperceptible in finished pieces but may require minor adjustment when knotting for the first time.
• Slightly cooler feel: Silk has an inherent warmth from its natural protein fibres. NylonPower is smooth but doesn’t carry this quality - though the distinction is unlikely to be noticeable to someone wearing the finished piece.
• Greater environmental resistance: NylonPower handles humidity, moisture and light better than natural silk, which is a real practical advantage for finished jewellery.

In finished, knotted jewellery, the visual difference between a strand made with GRIFFIN silk and one made with GRIFFIN NylonPower is minimal. Both deliver a professional finish.

GRIFFIN REACH Certification and Eco-Conscious Production

GRIFFIN NylonPower carries REACH certification - the European Union’s comprehensive regulation for chemicals used in manufactured products. REACH compliance means the cord has been assessed for chemical safety and meets the strict requirements governing substances used in products sold within the European market.

For jewellers selling within the EU or marketing to European customers, REACH certification is an additional quality assurance signal. It also supports claims around responsible and transparent manufacturing, which matters for brands that lead with ethical production values.

GRIFFIN’s ecological dyeing processes apply to NylonPower in exactly the same way as the Natural Silk range. The 21 vibrant colours are dyed without harmful chemicals, maintaining consistent environmental standards across both product lines.

A Full Vegan GRIFFIN Cord Products Guide

For jewellers committed to working entirely within a vegan material framework, GRIFFIN offers a comprehensive toolkit beyond NylonPower:

1. NylonPower Bead Cord: The nylon thread for beading for pearl stringing, bead knotting and fine gemstone jewellery. All 21 colours, all 13 sizes.
2. Braided Nylon Cord: REACH certified round braid cord for macramé, Shamballa bracelets and heavy bead stringing. 20 colours, 6 diameters.
3. Jewelry Nylon on Spools: Polished single-twist nylon for crocheted jewellery, woven beadwork and rocaille stringing. 27 colours, REACH certified.
4. Illusion Cord: Transparent nylon monofilament used for floating bead designs, invisible stringing.
5. Jewelry Elastic Cord: (Stretch Magic): TPU elastic cord, 100% synthetic and durable, ideal for stretch bracelets, children’s jewellery and easy-on designs.
6. Waxed Cotton Cords: REACH certified, a 100% plant-based material available in 22 colours. Suitable for macramé, kumihimo and mixed-material jewellery where a natural-look vegan cord is preferred.

Worth noting: Natural Silk and Leather Cords (made in Germany from goat, cow, buffalo and kangaroo leather) are the only materials in GRIFFIN’s catalogue that fall outside a vegan framework. Everything else is animal-free.

NylonPower vs Natural Silk: A Vegan Jeweller’s Verdict

For any jeweller whose practice is guided by vegan principles, the choice here is clear. NylonPower is the right thread for any application where silk has traditionally been used.

It matches silk in the areas that matter most: colour range, size range, Z-Twist construction, professional finish and GRIFFIN’s five-generation quality standard. It actually exceeds silk in break strength, environmental resistance and practical durability. The 3 to 4% stretch requires a small adjustment for first-time users but becomes intuitive quickly - and for many knotters, it’s actually a welcome feature that makes knots feel more secure.

The answer to the question in this title is straightforward: yes. NylonPower is comprehensively and verifiably vegan.

Rely on GRIFFIN NylonPower as your professional vegan stringing material, and craft every piece with the same confidence that jewellers have placed in GRIFFIN since 1866.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GRIFFIN NylonPower 100% vegan?

Yes. NylonPower contains no animal-derived materials, uses no animal by-products in its production and has not been tested on animals. It’s a fully synthetic, vegan-compliant beading cord.

Does NylonPower perform the same as silk for pearl stringing?

NylonPower performs comparably in professional pearl stringing. It holds firm knots, has a silken sheen and handles similarly to silk. Its slight 3 to 4% elasticity under tension is the primary functional difference, and it becomes easy to manage with a little practice.

Is NylonPower available in the same colours as GRIFFIN Natural Silk?

Yes. NylonPower is available in the same 21 colours and 13 sizes as the Natural Silk range, giving vegan jewellers full access to GRIFFIN’s colour palette without any compromise.

Does NylonPower carry any certifications?

Yes. GRIFFIN NylonPower is REACH certified, meeting the European Union’s strict chemical safety standards. All colours are ecologically dyed, consistent with GRIFFIN’s commitment to responsible manufacturing.

Can I use NylonPower for knotting between beads?

Yes. NylonPower’s Z-Twist triple construction holds firm knots between beads and is fully suitable for traditional knotted necklaces and bracelets. The slight elasticity can actually make knots feel more secure than with non-elastic alternatives.

How does NylonPower differ from other nylon bead cords on the market?

GRIFFIN NylonPower is approximately twice as strong as standard nylon bead cord and uses the same Z-Twist triple construction as GRIFFIN’s Natural Silk - a method developed and refined since 1866 for professional jewellery-grade performance.