Top 150 Best High-End Luxury Socks / Hosiery Makers
A SOCK is an item of clothing worn on the feet. The foot is among the heaviest producers of sweat in the body, able to produce over a pint of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can evaporate the perspiration. In cold environments, socks decrease the risk of frostbite. Its name is derived from the loose-fitting slipper, called a soccus in Latin, worn by Roman comic actors.
Socks have evolved over the centuries from the earliest models which were made from animal skins gathered up and tied around the ankles. In the 8th century BC, the Ancient Greeks wore socks from matted animal hair for warmth. The Romans also wrapped their feet with leather or woven fabrics. By the 5th century AD, socks called "puttees" were worn by holy people in Europe to symbolise purity. By 1000 AD, socks became a symbol of wealth among the nobility. From the 16th century onwards, an ornamental design on the ankle or side of a sock has been called a clock.
The invention of a knitting machine in 1589 meant that socks could be knitted six times faster than by hand. Nonetheless, knitting machines and hand knitters worked side by side until 1800.
The next revolution in sock production was the introduction of nylon in 1938. Until then socks were commonly made from silk, cotton and wool. Nylon was the start of blending two or more yarns in the production of socks, a process that still continues.
Socks are manufactured in a variety of lengths. Bare or ankle socks extend to the ankle or lower and are often worn casually or for athletic use. Bare socks are designed to create the look of "bare feet" when worn with shoes. Knee-high socks are sometimes associated with formal dress or as being part of a uniform, such as in sports or as part of a school's dress code or youth group uniform. Over-the-knee socks or socks that extend higher (thigh-high socks) are today considered female garments. They were widely worn by children, both boys and girls, during the late-19th and early-20th centuries, although the popularity varied widely from country to country.
HOSIERY, also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as hose. The term is also used for all types of knitted fabric, and its thickness and weight is defined in terms of denier or opacity. Most hosiery garments are made by knitting methods. Modern hosiery is usually tight-fitting by virtue of stretchy fabrics and meshes. Older forms include binding to achieve a tight fit. Due to its close fit, most hosiery can be worn as an undergarment, but it is more commonly worn as a combined under/outer garment.
Socks & Hosiery News, Reviews & Resources
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- A -
- Adrienne Vittadini - since 1979. Women's.
- AgnÈs B. - men's.
- AgnÈs B. - women's.
- ALAIN FIGARET - men's.
- ALAN FLUSSER - men's.
- ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - men's.
- ALLEN EDMONDS - since 1922. "An American Original." Men's.
- Andrew's Milano - "Made In Italy Sockrates Socks." Men's.
- Ann Taylor - women's socks & tights.
- A.P.C. - men's.
- A.P.C. - women's.
- Austin Reed London - since 1900. Men's.
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- B -
- BALENCIAGA - men's.
- BALENCIAGA - women's socks & tights.
- Barbour - since 1894. Men's.
- Barbour - since 1894. Women's.
- Basile - men's.
- BEN SHERMAN - since 1963. Men's.
- BENSON & CLEGG - founded in 1937. Jermyn Street, London. Men's.
- BERLUTI - Paris since 1895. "The ultimate expression of luxury for men."
- Billy Reid - men's.
- Billy Reid - women's.
- BjÖrn Borg - men's.
- BjÖrn Borg - women's.
- Bonaval - men's.
- Bonaval - women's.
- BOSS - men's.
- BRESCIANI - since 1970. Men's hosiery and socks. "Our attention to details begins with the selection of the finest and natural yarns in cotton, wool, cashmere, hemp, silk, vicuna and linen."
- BRESCIANI - since 1970. Women's hosiery.
- BRIONI - men's.
- BROMLEYS - since 1999. "Timeless Classic Dressing." Men's.
- Brooklyn Tailors - since 2007. Men's.
- BROOKS BROTHERS - since 1818. Men's.
- BRUNO BANANI - men's.
- BRUNO BANANI - women's.
- Budd - since 1910. Piccadilly Arcade, London, U.K. Men's.
- bugatchi - men's.
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- C -
- CANALI - since 1934. Men's.
- CARMINA - since 1866. Men's.
- Chantal Thomass Paris - since 1975. Women's hosiery.
- CHARLES TYRWHITT - since 1986. Jermyn Street, London. Men's.
- CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA - since 2008. "To Die For." Women's Incy socks.
- CHEANEY - since 1886." Men's.
- CHURCH'S - men's.
- COLE HAAN - since 1928. Men's.
- COLE HAAN - since 1928. Women's socks & tights.
- Commando - women's pantyhoses & tights.
- CORGI - established 1893. "Luxury Socks Made in Wales, UK." Men's.
- CORGI - established 1893. "Luxury Socks Made in Wales, UK." Women's.
- CROMBIE - "Timeless British menswear since 1805." Men's cashmere socks.
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- D -
- DOLCE & GABBANA - men's.
- DOLCE & GABBANA - women's.
- Donna Karen - women's hosiery.
- Dr. Martens - men's.
- Dr. Martens - women's.
- DRAKE'S - men's.
- Dsquared2 - men's.
- Dsquared2 - women's.
- DUCHAMP LONDON - since 1989. Men's.
- DUNHILL - men's.
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- Nancy Meyer - since 1978. "Luxury Hosiery | Wolford Tights, Stockings, Thigh Highs, Legwear."
- NEW & LINGWOOD - "Flourishing Since 1865." Jermyn Street, London. Men's design socks.
- NO.6 - women's socks & tights.
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- O -
- Oliver Bonas - women's Tights & Socks.
- Oliver Spencer - men's.
- Organic Basics - "Better Greener Basics. For the highest comfort of you & the environment." Men's Socks.
- Organic Basics - "Better Greener Basics. For the highest comfort of you & the environment." Women's Socks.
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- PANTHERELLA - "Fine English Socks Est. 1937." Men's
- PANTHERELLA - "Fine English Socks Est. 1937." Women's
- PAUL SMITH - men's.
- PAUL SMITH - women's.
- Paul Stuart - men's.
- PENROSE LONDON - men's.
- PERRY ELLIS - men's dress socks.
- Philippe Perzi Vienna - "These socks were made for strutting..." Men's.
- PICKET London - since 1988. "Handmade in England." Men's cashmere socks.
- PICKET London - since 1988. "Handmade in England." Women's cashmere socks.
- PlÜmo - "Handknitted socks in fairisle patterns, colourful and unique. Icelandic socks in muted grey wool." Women's.
- Psycho Bunny - men's.
- PURDEY - since 1814. "Men's & women's handknit houndstooth alpaca sock & garter set & hand knitted cashmere shooting socks with garters."
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- RALPH LAUREN - men's.
- RALPH LAUREN - women's socks & tights.
- Rancourt & Co. - "Handcrafted in Maine since 1967." Men's.
- RICHARD ANDERSON - 13 Savile Row, London, U.K. Men's.
- Richard James - 29 Savile Row, London, U.K. Men's.
- Roderick Charles - 90 Jermyn St., London, U.K. Men's.
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- S -
- Saint James French Clothing - since 1889. Men's & women's.
- Saint Laurent - women's socks.
- Saint Laurent - women's tights.
- Scarosso - men's.
- Sieger - men's.
- SIMON CARTER London - men's.
- Sock Shop - since 1983. "The World's Largest Sock Selection." Men's.
- Sock Shop - since 1983. "The World's Largest Sock Selection." Women's.
- Spanx - since 2000. Women's hosiery.
- ST. CROIX - "Distinctive Luxury Fashion for Men."
- STELLA MCCARTNEY - men's.
- Steve Madden - women's socks & tights.
- Suitsupply - since 2000. Men's.
- SUNSPEL - "England since 1860." Men's.
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- TALBOTS - established 1947. Men's & women's.
- TED BAKER London - men's.
- The Kooples - men's.
- The White Company London - since 1993. Men's & women's cashmere bed socks, and more.
- THOMAS PINK - since 1984. Jermyn Street, London, U.K. "From practical plains to bold patterns." Men's.
- T.M.LEWIN - established 1898. Jermyn Street, London, U.K. Men's.
- TIMBERLAND - men's.
- TIMBERLAND - women's.
- TIMOTHY EVEREST - men's.
- Todd Snyder New York - men's.
- TOMMY HILFIGER - men's.
- TOMMY HILFIGER - women's socks & tights.
- TURNBULL & ASSER - since 1885. "Made in England." 71-72 Jermyn Street, London, U.K. Men's.
- TYLER & TYLER - men's.
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- VALENTINO - men's.
- VALENTINO - women's silk knitted socks.
- Vince Camuto - men's.
- Vince Camuto - women's socks & hosiery.
- Viola Milano - men's.
- VIVIENNE WESTWOOD - women's hosiery.
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- Whistles - men's.
- William Hunt - 41 Savile Row, London, U.K. Men's.
- WOLFORD - since 1949. Men's.
- WOLFORD - since 1949. Women's hosiery.
- WOOLRICH - men's & women's.
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- Y -
- Yves Saint Laurent - women's socks.
- Yves Saint Laurent - women's tights.
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- Z -
- Zimmerli of Switzerland - men's.
