HOW IT ALL BEGAN
The History of Socks
The History of Socks: From the Egyptians to Millennials
When did socks actually first appear? The earliest knitted items were found in Jutland and date back to 1500 B.C. Knitwear resembling stockings was first discovered in Egyptian tombs in Antinoe and dates back to 500 AD. Trace the history of socks from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Socks as a Status Symbol All the Way Through the Middle Ages
Before industrialization, socks and stockings were knitted. The earliest knitted items found in Jutland date back to 1500 B.C. The earliest stockings were found in Egyptian tombs in Antinoe and date from 500 A.D.
For a long time, stockings were a privilege of the wealthy, as their production was a closely guarded secret and knitting was an activity reserved for ladies of high society. In the Middle Ages, pants and stockings were considered a single garment. Later, the stockings attached to the pants were replaced, and gradually stockings evolved into garments in their own right.
The Democratization of the Sock in Modern Times
The Englishman William Lee invented the hand-knitting machine, which made knitting easier. In 1561, Queen Elizabeth I of England was given a pair of black stockings as a gift, but she refused to grant him a patent for this invention, so Lee moved to France in 1589 and established a stocking factory there, financed by King Henry V.
Emigrating Huguenots spread the chair throughout Europe. With industrialization, socks became easier and easier to produce and thus cheaper. Consequently, they also became increasingly widespread. Most socks back then were made of wool. In comparison, you have a much wider selection of materials today—from cashmere to merino and Pima to mercerized cotton.
The Agony of Choice
Socks as a Mass-Produced Good in Industrial Society
The invention by William Lee was further developed. In the early 19th century, the first circular knitting machines were introduced, which allowed for largely machine-based production. This led to many home-based workers losing their jobs and many citizens being provided with socks.
Gradually, various materials were incorporated into production, and mass production advanced. Socks became commonplace and the first industrially manufactured garment.
Socks as a Service in the Internet Age
Toward the end of the twentieth century, one of the company’s founders, BLACKSOCKS, invented the sock subscription service. Since then, resourceful people no longer have to worry about buying socks, as they receive them delivered right to their door in consistently high quality. Socks have become a service sold online.
