The History of Socks
The History of Socks from the Egyptians to Millennials
The History of Socks How long have socks been around? The first knitted items were invented in Jutland and date from 1500 BC. The earliest sock-like knitted items were found in Egyptian graves in Antinopolis and date from around 500 AD. Follow the history of socks from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Up until the Middle Ages: Socks as a status symbol
Before the Industrial Revolution, socks and stockings were knitted. The first knitted socks, from around 1500 BC, were found in Jutland, now part of Denmark. The first stockings were found in Egyptian graves in Antinoe, from circa 500 AD.
For a long time, stockings were a privilege of the rich, as the manufacturing was a guild secret. In the Middle Ages, the pants and stocking together formed one piece of clothing. Later, the stockings on the pants were changed more frequently, since they became dirty much more quickly. Eventually, stockings became fully independent articles of clothing.
The beginning of the Modern Age: The spread of socks
The English reverend William Lee (born in 1550 in Nottingham) invented the knitting loom in 1589, making knit fabrics far easier to produce. Queen Elizabeth I received a pair of black stockings from Lee, but declined to grant a patent for his invention, horrified by the socks' crude form and afraid it would take away jobs from her people. But France's King Henri IV offered Lee financial support, so the inventor moved to Rouen and built a stocking factory.
Before long the Huguenots spread the knitting loom throughout Europe. After the Industrial Revolution the socks, mostly still made of wool, became easier and cheaper to produce, spreading their appeal across European society. Most socks (both past and present) are made of wool. We have a much wider variety of materials now than we did in the past – from cashmere and merino wool to Pima and mercerized cotton.
The Industrial Age: Socks become mass produced
Reverend William Lee's original invention developed further. In the beginning of the 19th century, the first circular knitting frames were developed, which allowed a mostly mechanized process. As a consequence, many home workers lost their jobs and many manufacturers sacked sock makers. Eventually, as cheaper materials were used and factory production advanced, socks became mass-market goods.
In the Internet Age: Socks become a service
Around the end of the 20th century, the 'sockscription', a regular sock delivery was invented by the founders of BLACKSOCKS Samy Liechti and Marcel Roth. Clever contemporaries no longer need to worry themselves with sock-buying, since they automatically receive consistently high-quality socks. Socks become an internet driven service saving the consumer valuable time and money.
In the era of the smartphone: sorting socks with mobile support
The interaction between socks with a communication button, the Sock Sorter and an iPhone app makes sorting socks child's play. Smarter Socks – probably the smartest socks in the world.
Good to Know
Free shipping worldwide | 
Secure shopping with SSL | 
Over 60'000 happy customers | 
Since 1999
