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A Brief History of the Invention of Socks
Socks! When did people start wearing them? A long time ago, it turns out. History shows that what we may jokingly call “foot bags” have been around a lot longer than the internet, television, radio, the automobile and a whole lot of other things we take for granted these days. In a few minutes, you will learn a lot more about the history of socks than you ever imagined possible. And we’ll do our best to keep it interesting, as buried somewhere in here is a history lesson and we all know how much fun history can be. Even about socks. The Earliest Attempts at “Socks” People were attempting sock-like foot coverings made from plant matter as early as the Stone Ages. About the year 5000 BC, cavemen were wearing what we now call socks but they would not be recognized as anything other than something to protect the feet and to keep them warm. We only know this thanks to cave paintings that show some kind of clothing worn on feet.Of course, they didn’t order their socks from trendy online boutiques! They had to get down and dirty and make their own from natural resources. Because there are no specimens left from that era, scientists and archeologists have speculated that the sock-like clothing worn “back in the day” was more organic in composition. That means they were very likely made from animal skins, pelts and plant life tied around the ankle for support. It is not known what kind of shelf life these items had. They would have kept the feet drier and safer--less prone to cuts and infections--but at the same time, will have delivered their own share of problems such as encouraging mites, slipping and holding onto wetness. It’s now recognized and widely accepted that a damp or wet fabric against the skin encourages and stimulates bacterial and fungal growth, so nowadays, soggy socks are a big health concern, and many superior socks include synthetic materials such as polyamide--as seen in this fine black pair--to help wick moisture from the feet. While polyamide has low breathability, combined with natural cotton, it’s the perfect mix that also allows great stretch and cling--thus, high quality modern socks stay up on their own, unlike those raggedy first attempts tied with plant sinews. It was a few thousand years later when socks were first mentioned by the Greeks. Poet Hesiod wrote about something called “piloi” in the poem “Works and Days” in the 8th Century BC. Piloi was a type of foot covering made from matted animal hair and was worn under sandals. That sounds horrendously unsanitary and itchy compared to today’s super-soft and sumptuous socks, and almost certainly these did not come in luscious lemon yellow and polka-dotted pinks!The Romans took the ancient Greek “piloi” concept a step further with a rather extreme makeover somewhat later. It was around the 2nd Century AD when the Romans were habitually wrapping their feet in strips of leather or woven fabric. They soon started sewing different pieces of fabric together, fashioning the first actual fitted socks, although they still would have needed some form of tie to keep them in place, unlike the modern sock that has a clingy cuff. Modern socks may include Spandex, a very fine and extremely versatile super-stretch elastic. The better the quality of sock, the more likely you are to find some element of Spandex in its manufacture.Special occasion socks as suggested here--with bespoke labeling--would typically comprise something like a 5% Spandex alongside natural cotton and synthetic polyamide, a suitable blend for a more upmarket sock. The unique blend of these on-trend socks delivers the freshness of soft cotton alongside great temperature control, moisture wicking and fine esthetics--a far cry from their scratchy beginnings.The ancient civilizations had nothing like this modern-day manufacturing capability, of course; the Romans’ attempts at socks were known at the time as “udones”, and they were the first sock-like item to resemble what we wear nowadays. Woolen socks also date back to the Romans. The Egyptians Get It Right You’ve got to hand it to the Egyptians. In our history of socks, they come out looking like winners. It was back in 300 – 500 AD when the first actual knit socks were being made in Ancient Egypt. The design was unique in that each sock had split toes--like a pig’s trotter!--which permitted them to be worn with sandals. The technique used to create these socks was called naalbinding. The socks shown in the above-linked image show how sophisticated the Ancient Egyptians were at weaving techniques and dyeing. The fine shape of the upper foot is also evident, with the bridge of the foot well accommodated in this design. Breeches, Garters, and Other Fashions It was in the Middle Ages when the history of socks hit warp (and weft!) speed. It was during this time when trousers were extended and socks became a vital accessory, sported by everyone. Clothing was beginning to differentiate people by their social status, far more than nowadays where anyone can get away with wearing an awesome pair of Argyles or some sassy, grassy, green-striped socks. Socks of the Middle Ages were made of brightly-colored cloth that fit tightly over the lower part of the leg. Garters were required to hold them in place as elastic hadn’t been invented yet. When breeches started to get shorter, socks got longer--simply to counter the cold. Although not yet a fashion accessory, it was in the Middle Ages that dyes really became de rigeur, so socks were starting to be brighter as a matter of course. It was at about the year 1000 when knit and woven socks became accepted as luxury items and being developed as such in Europe. As an example, socks were a status symbol for nobility throughout Europe as they were quite expensive to purchase. These were worn high and more like leggings in appearance. “Feet” were not added to them until the 12th century. Due to the price and limited access to socks, the European working class started knitting their own version of these clothing items. In the 15th century, French and Italian aristocrats were becoming the leaders with fine hand-knit silk stockings. Men discovered that these tight-fitting garments that resemble today’s leggings permitted ease of movement and emphasized shapely legs. And yes, men were the primary wearers. It wasn’t long before British aristocrats jumped on board and adopted knitted silk stockings. By the year 1490, breeches and hand-knitted hosiery were made into a single garment which we now know as tights. No one was ashamed to show off their tights-clad legs in public; they were more of an outerwear item than nowadays. At this time in our history of socks, they were made of colorful silk, velvet, and wool and each leg was a different color! Perhaps this partially explains why we love our special-edition patterned socks--which interweave different-colored threads harmoniously--so much. The heritage of the Argyle sock also harks back to Scottish tartans, not only designed to keep the wearer warm but also to speak volumes about a man’s ancestry. A new tartan sock could be created to mix threads marking the marriage of one family with another, or the conquering of territoryBy the 16th Century, hosiery was regulated. Technological Innovation: A Game-Changer Laws in the 1500s were in place to ensure that no one wore the wrong kind of socks in London, England--yes, they really had the sock police! In those days, you couldn’t get away with wearing bright orange or sunflower yellow socks or a nifty pair of spotty dots! You’d invariably have been locked up--for real! In 1589, an English clergyman named William Lee helped push the history of socks much further down the evolutionary line. That was when the first knitting machine was invented. The patent wasn’t immediately granted as Queen Elizabeth I had issues with the product. According to history books, Lee’s machine made wool stockings that were uncomfortable for Her Royal Highness. She also didn’t like the idea that the machine could potentially take jobs away from those who had been hand-knitting stockings before Lee had created the machine. So she nixed it--but financial support came to Lee from a very different source and location. It was King Henry IV of France who saw what kind of opportunity Lee’s machine presented and the inventor moved to France to open a factory to produce stockings. The knitting loom led to more factories across Europe and saw socks made of wool for the working class and socks made of colored silk for noblemen. You could say the product was now spreading like wildfire, and this marked the beginning of (rudimentary) automated sock manufacturing that would quickly lead to the enormous variety of patterns and colors we have today. Sock fashion continued to evolve over the next few years. Not only were lengths changing – from mid-calf to knee and eventually up to mid-thigh – but more colors were coming into fashion. Rather than having the tops of the stocking embroidered, decorations, stripes and all kinds of new looks became the norm. Then in the 17th-century, cotton was used for socks. The abundance of this natural material allowed every style of sock and every shade, from the naturals like white, black and beige, through bright colors and deep reds and burgundies. Enter the Industrial Revolution. This was when progress of all kinds took a major leap. The production of socks was now happening with ease thanks to circular looms. Many hand-knit workers were replaced by machinery that could churn out socks at a much faster rate than the workers could. It also brought wider access to socks of all kinds. At this time in the history of socks, trousers once again got longer and socks got shorter--and what had formerly been known as a stocking was now being called a sock. But the evolution of this garment did not stop there. In 1938, the invention of nylon introduced a whole new element to many clothing items. A nylon-cotton blend was what the new socks of the day were made out of. These material blends pushed the manufacturing of these products further into the future. The addition of elastane, or elastic, ended up changing the future of socks once again to where they could be comfortably worn without the need of garters. It also meant that with the right blend of materials, different-sized feet could fit standard-sized socks straight from the factory, as with this pair that fits sizes 8 - 13. Socks in The Modern Era Socks of today are not all that different from those of a hundred years ago or so. Well, aside from comfort and style. Socks come in so many different styles and colors that you can easily find the right match for any outfit or occasion. Some styles have even come back as trendy throwbacks from decades ago. An example of this is that the Argyles popular in the 1920s that are again fashionable. Here is a short review of the many different styles of socks available today. No-Show Socks These are thin and also called a sockette or loafer sock. It is a short sock that fits snugly on your foot but reaches up only to just below the edge of the shoes. The idea is to create a clean look but without you having to wear your loafers barefoot. Ankle-Length Socks Also known as low-rise socks, these socks will cover your feet but will reach up just to your ankles. The hemline should hit the middle of the ankle bone and these socks are designed to be worn with Oxfords and sometimes sneakers. Quarter-Length Socks These socks are somewhat longer than ankle-length socks. They will cover your feet and reach up to just below your calf. Quarter-length socks are a good, comfortable choice to wear with business suits and for any type of formal event or activity. Crew-Length Socks These are thick and ribbed at the cuff. They will cover your feet and have a height that is between six and eight inches. Crew length socks will keep your feet warm and can be worn with various shoes, but are particularly comfortable when worn with hiking boots for outdoor activities. Mid-Calf Socks These socks cover your feet and will reach to just a few inches below the knee. They are also known as tall socks or trouser socks and come in many patterns for both men and women. Designed to keep your feet warm, these socks can be worn with various types of shoes. Calf-Length/Knee-High Socks Calf length socks cover your feet and reach up to just below the knee. They are the choice of sports enthusiasts as the length can protect the lower leg from any harm. Women wear these socks usually in the cooler months underneath winter or fur boots that are tall and cover the ankle and calf.These also make the perfect smart groomsmen’s socks when a kilt is worn, or for formal wear, and these are often available in great boxes and with bespoke labeling if you buy from an upmarket retailer. Thigh-High Socks These are another type of sock that is mostly aimed at the female market. Women choose thigh-high socks as they have seductive undertones while also being super warm for winter--ideal for long boots. They are typically worn with skirts and dresses. Conclusion The history of socks is quite an interesting one, isn’t it? Who knew that something created by wearing animal skins or pelts and plant life would end up filling our sock drawers at home? Thanks to the invention of the knitting machine, nylon and elastic, socks have evolved into a comfortable everyday piece of clothing we don’t normally think about until we need a matching pair to go with our outfit. And when you think about it, it is rather cool how socks came into being after becoming stockings and leggings over time. Thankfully, socks are no longer considered something that only the rich can afford. If you need a pair, you can find them just about anywhere including online! Talk about progress and the march of time...
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Learn moreThe Best Ways to Dry Socks If You Don’t Have A Dryer Handy
Wet socks are simply the worst! But sometimes, you get wet socks and don’t have a dryer available. You could skip the socks altogether and go barefoot in your shoes or sneakers--but that isn’t any better. Older, thinner socks worn wet will make your feet sore, and plush, opulent specialty socks will have their fabrics flattened and spoiled by wearing them damp or soggy. Plus, your feet are going to slip and slide inside of your shoes or sneakers and that’s uncomfortable and a trip hazard. Then you have a whole new problem to contend with. Walking around anywhere with wet feet just isn’t good for your health. Not only can you develop a chill that might result in a cold or flu, depending on your immune system, but you could also develop foot conditions such as Athlete’s Foot or any kind of icky foot fungus. Yuck! >Of course, these scenarios only happen if you’ve been caught in the rain or sunk your feet into some wet sand or mud--but there’s also that occasion when your favorite pair that someone sent you as a special-occasion gift is fresh out of the washing machine and you want to wear them. You could always just opt to air dry your socks but what if you don’t have that kind of time? The last thing you should do is wear them anyway in your footwear, hoping for the best. You can’t possibly enjoy the way they feel wet in your shoes or sneakers and they’ll dominate all your thoughts. In this article, we will explore some of the best ways to dry your precious pair of Argyle socks you love to bits, or those stunning Valentine’s socks that bring back the memory of romance, when you just don’t have a dryer handy. Bust Out Your Blow Dryer Without a doubt, this is going to be your best bet provided you have a blow dryer handy. If you are staying in a hotel room, chances are there is a blow dryer either attached to the wall in the bathroom or stashed somewhere in a clothes closet or drawer. If you happen to be at home, you don’t need us to tell you where you may have left it after you used it last. How Do You Use It? Here’s where you get to use a bit of science. Simply slide one sock over your hand as if you were going to wear it like a glove. Spread your fingers and start waving the blow dryer at your sock-covered hand. Do not hold the blow dryer too close to the wet sock and do not blast away at the highest/hottest setting. Your fingers should tell you that the sock is beginning to dry. Be careful with special socks that have intricate designs such as fine stripes, since these are created from a clever weave of multiple threads. The heat can begin to fray or separate such threads if the setting is too warm or the heat is applied for too long. Note too, that socks containing Spandex may end up with tiny elasticated snapped threads if the ideal heat is exceeded. (Spandex is used in many high-end socks to maintain shape and give extra elastication). Just go super easy on indulgent, soft, plush socks. As the sock dries, slowly pull the dry part off of your hand and continue waving the blow dryer at the wet sock with your fingers spread apart. If we forgot to mention it, while you are doing this, flip your hand over every so often so that you are firing heat directly at the other side of the wet sock as well. Once one sock is dry, repeat this process with the other wet sock. And yes it does feel horrid having a wet sock on your hand--but imagine how it would have been on your poor feet! And nobody wants cold feet either… The Public Restroom Move For desperate situations, you can use the hand dryer in a public washroom if you don’t mind looking like a bit of a weirdo. Seriously, this particular method to dry socks is not for everyone but if you are late for a big sales meeting or a wedding reception and got caught in a downpour wearing your groomsmen’s socks, then this option could save your butt--and foot! If you happened to find the groom in the same soggy, sorry situation, then his own socks are even more precious as he's the man of the match, so to speak. Go and hog two hand dryers in the men’s room--pronto! But before you set to it, you first have to know what kind of hand dryer you are going to be dealing with. The Classic High-Mounted Version Be prepared when you discover that the hand dryer you will be using in this public washroom is one of those older-style models that sit almost eye level on the wall next to the sink or vanity. We say this because these dinosaurs don’t roar much. In other words, there’s not going to be a lot of heat coming out of it and you will have to keep restarting it with an elbow or free hand. This is going to be a feat of patience and agility. Just a little note of caution if you’re drying dark, solid-colored socks with a washroom dryer. These appliances are often filled with a fair amount of old dust--they are not a priority on the cleaning roster--so be aware that use of a hand dryer on a really smart pair of dark socks for a special occasion can leave them slightly greyed or fluff-strewn. Give that dryer a good old blast before putting a smart, solid dress sock anywhere near it. The High-Tech Rapid Air Model If the public washroom you have chosen has one of these models attached to the wall at about hip level, you have hit the jackpot. Now, bear in mind this could turn out to be a red-hot super-blaster so test it first without sock in situ. However, these machines are usually motion activated so they allow more flexibility. Not only will you be able to get dry socks in a fraction of the time you would with the other hand dryer, but this model will allow you to dry both socks simultaneously which will get you into your meeting or seated at your dinner table a whole lot faster. These mega-blaster units can, however, make lightweight socks take off like a beautiful blue and red sock balloon… so go easy and keep a very firm hold. No man wants to wear socks--dry or not--that have wallowed on the floor of the men’s washroom. Ugh, no. How Do You Use It? Slide the wet sock over your hand like a glove, and keep the fingers moving around as you rotate under the warm air. Note that with the high-mounted hand dryer, you will have to hold the sock – with fingers spread apart – as close to the hand dryer heat outlet as possible. Hanging the wet socks over this model is not going to work as well as wearing them on your hand. Expect to be here a while as your second sock air dries as it waits for its turn. As before, watch out for keeping special, Spandex-enhanced socks under the hot air for long enough to destroy its delicate elasticity. The softer and better fitting they are, the more likely they could fall prey to overheating. Keep special socks, super fluffy socks or those with intricate patterns or color combos on the move to avoid this hazard. With the high-tech rapid air model of dryer, such as the ever-popular Dyson Airblade, just slide a sock over each hand like gloves and dip both hands into the dryer chamber, easing the hands up, down, up, down. You should feel the 400 mph blast of air nipping your fingers – you’ve got them spread apart, right? Flip the sock-covered hands over and back so they can get the full force of the high-pressure air getting shot at them. In seconds you will have dry socks. One more note of caution there; we did say 400 mph. That’s a fair speed. This is not for your very best occasion socks--you do not want any sock misshaping to occur to a fluffy, soft and super-indulgent gift given to you by someone you really care about. The Old Apartment Radiator This is everyone’s old favorite and really needs no guidelines. This habit of radiator-drying socks probably accounts for why socks end up separated--many poor lost ‘soles’ are down the back of radiators, gathering fluff! However, if you live somewhere with an old-fashioned heater or radiator, you have an option that may be a bit faster for you than hoping for the best by air-drying them or even using a heat blower. Depending on the age of the building and what type of radiator it is – as in, water or oil – there will be a wait for it to heat up unless you’ve been using it all day to stay toasty and warm indoors. How Do You Use It? Let’s assume you have had that heater/radiator running for most of the night or part of the day. It will already be nice and warm. Drying wet socks is going to be a snap. All you do is drape the socks over the radiator, but take your time spreading out and shaping the foot area while damp; this especially applies to socks with a high cotton content since they can look misshapen if you don’t. If it’s a convector type of radiator, then the air movement will speed up the process so keep an eye on any especially delicate socks and don’t let them start to burn. Monitor the progress and don’t leave them there for days since you’ll spoil the fabric. The bonus is warm socks to wear! The other side of the coin here is what do you do if the radiator is stone cold and you’ve just turned the heat up? Well, this would be a good time to take a shower, fix breakfast or do some other constructive activity as you wait for the radiator to get to temperature. In the meantime, drape your wet socks over the radiator and they will dry as it slowly heats up. The Towel Method This happens to be a popular method used by cyclists and with a couple of variations, it can also become your go-to way to dry socks; all you need is a bath towel. You can fake it with a hand towel or even a face flannel if you have to, but the bigger and fluffier the towel, the better your results are going to be. Oh, and if you have a blow dryer, this will come in handy as the final step to the Towel Method. We especially recommend this means for the preservation of the fine fibers in super-stretchy or fine-weave patterned socks, again to treat these more delicately and keep them away from too intense a heat.. How Do You Use It? The first thing you do is very gently wring or dab extra moisture from the sock over the sink. This is going to get them about a third drier than when you started. Next, lay a fresh towel out on the floor and place both socks in the center of the towel. Don’t just drop them into place, spread them out and flatten the socks so that there is more surface to work with. Then roll the towel up tightly with the socks inside. Once you have created what looks like a towel rolled up like a cigar, step on it. Only, don’t be gentle here. Put as much pressure as you can on the rolled-up socks by walking on the towel, pressing down as hard as you can. Then unroll the towel to remove the socks. They will now be about two-thirds drier than they were when you first started reading this section and you have not applied any heat. A benefit of this method is that you can--given a towel big enough--dry several pairs at once--even when they are special pairs, perhaps if you’re away from home and need them dry for packing in your suitcase. The final step to this process involves the blow dryer if you think it’s appropriate. We only recommend this for older socks that are very lightweight and those you don’t really love so much, since this method carries a wear-and-tear warning. Here, instead of sliding the socks over your hands like gloves, slip the opening of a sock over the opening of the blow dryer – where the heated air comes out. Your sock should inflate slightly resembling a sock balloon and will dry completely in a matter of seconds. Repeat with the other one and you will have dry socks. Be very careful to not overheat the appliance since you do not want to burn down your apartment block--mind you, at least all the socks would be dry! A few seconds at a time is the way to go. Can I Dry Socks in the Microwave? Yeah. That sounds like fun. (Note: we did not say sensible…) Let’s think about this one for just a moment. Starting with the microwave--the way your microwave oven works is that it applies some kind of magic to objects sitting inside of it. The magic causes molecules in things like food and drinks to vibrate at such a rate that they create heat, which cooks whatever you stick into the microwave from the inside out and fast. This sounds to us like a super way to cook and kill your best socks. Don’t do it unless you’re ready for a sock funeral, and especially do not try it with your best pair of lovely socks containing polyamide--which can just partially melt and then stick to you--superheated, so they may burn you--when you remove the socks from the offending appliance. Polyamide is a fantastic sock material--like nylon--and helps socks keep their shape and longevity. But it’s not really made for cooking and at best, you’ve gone and destroyed your socks. No socks are made of microwavable materials. Sure, you could slide a wet sock over a slab of frozen meat and zap it good with the microwave. But that sounds most unhygienic and since your socks are not microwave safe, they may catch fire, cook that meat from the outside, destroy the meal, ignite the microwave--and blow up your entire house. And at the very least, you’ll have dirty, bacteria-laden socks filled with sausages. However, a final note here is that if you’re lucky enough to own a dehydrator--used to make raisins, dried fruits etc in the kitchen--these give absolutely perfect and gently air-dried socks and are suited to the most delicate, deep-colored, or themed pairs. But not many folks have a dehydrator so that’s why we did not give it a headline. If you do, you’re in wet sock heaven. Conclusion Wet socks happen. They really do, at all the worst times. Hopefully, the information above gives you a couple of hints on how to dry socks if you’re caught out. Wet socks are not good for your health and you can get hurt wearing them if you slip. Plus, they will ruin your shoes too. We trust you will test the methods listed above to learn the effectiveness of each and hope you never have to resort to using them regularly. Remember, don’t get caught with wet socks and maybe pack an extra pair when traveling so you don’t end up in this situation at all.
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