Possible Clues:

• With the North it's only synthetic
• Sheer material
• It's only to the North that it's not natural
• Brush material
• Only the North could be sure to give oe a hand
• Materialistic New York initially, and the initial bit of London
• Stocking-maker's New Year wish not fufilled
• Strong, resilient, synthetic fibre
• Company longs to show what is in hosiery
• Synthetic material used in textiles