Electrospinning provides a simple method to process solutions or melts, mainly of polymers, into continuous ultrathin fibers. However, the mechanical properties of electrospun fibers are low due to non-optimized macromolecular orientation in the fibers. The methods of CNT reinforcement and heat-induced orientation of rigid macromolecular chains are used to prepare high strength electrospun fibers. This paper presents an overview of these high strength electrospun fibers, with focus on the progress achieved in last 10 years and some theories for the formation of high strength electrospun fibers. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.