Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Sockman visits Pantherella HQ (aka Sock Heaven)

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

I love socks and I love factories, so the chance to visit one of Britain’s last remaining sock factories (Pantherella’s in Leicester) was pretty awesome!

I had no idea what to expect when it came to what is involved in sock manufacturing, however my trip around Pantherella didn’t disappoint.  The huge level of detail and care taken to produce each pair of socks is amazing – from quality testing the yarn (using rub tests – rubbing the yarn 10,000s of times to check durability) to hand-linking the toes, to ensure supreme quality and fit.

Whilst I was there, I filmed the factory tour and a number of interviews with various members of the Pantherella team – which I’ll be releasing over the next couple of weeks.

One of the big questions I wanted to know, was whether the Pantherella team (all 100 of them) wore Pantherella’s to work?  Of course the answer (to the man) was yes, so I took a couple of photos as proof.  David (Commercial Director) was seen sporting a pair of knee-length argyle numbers, whilst Dave (Factory manager) was spotted wearing a natty pair of Richard James!

Pantherella argyl sock

Richard James sock

Birthday socks

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

What does every sock-loving guy get from his sockcessful g-friend for his birthday?  Answer: socks (of course).  So I was pleased to find x2 pairs of socks in my birthday stocking this year.  Pair 1: a pair of grey cashmere spot / stripe mixed socks from Comme des Garcons.  Pair 2: a pair of geometric green and blue socks from a Japanese brand called Ayame.  A truly awesome combo.

So awesome, that I trialled my grey Comme’s whilst we doing some champagne indulgence in Epernay.  So it’s a case of SPOTTED grey spot / stripe mixed socks AT hotel Villa Eugene on the Avenue du Champagne (a fine location to trial a fine pair of birthday socks!)

Sock tour lands in Austin @SXSW

Friday, March 12th, 2010

The Sock Man has finally made it to SXSW in Austin – Woohooo. SPOTTED, Pantherella pleasure socks @ the Austin convention centre.  Sock Man’s about to enter a whole world of geek for the next 4 days.  Question: do geeks do great socks?

Pantherella’s enroute to the US of A

Friday, March 12th, 2010

SPOTTED a pair of blue Pantherella pleasure socks @ Terminal 5 Heathrow enroute to Austin, Texas – via Chicago.  Blue Patherella’s = perfect travel sock: pure pleasure @ 30,000 feet ; – )

Pink Pantherella’s and laptop

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

A glorious pair of my favorite pink Pantherella’s SPOTTED next to my laptop ACCOMPANIED by my equally glorious navy blue Prada loafers.  Loafers loafing on my desk (in Soho – London).

Pink Patherellas and laptop

Pink Patherella's and laptop

Glorious yellow Pantherellas on the train

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

SPOTTED a glorious lemon pair of Pantherella’s on the train from London Paddington  to Bristol.  Sunny day + lemon socks = happiness ; – )

Laddered Pantherellas – ARGHHHHH!

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

So today is a bad day – I’ve laddered my socks.  Red Pantherella BIG DEAL SOCKS SPOTTED in Soho – ARGHHHHH!  Though it’s not all bad, as I quite like the idea of laddering socks – as it shows how damn fine (as in the fabric’s fine) they are.  Pantherella’s are famously fine, so they don’t roush in your shoes – so I’m not sooo annoyed by the fact.   WARNING  – watch out for laddering ; – )

No socks + velvet skull slippers

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

So it’s a no sock day today : – (  Just a pair of skull motif velvet slippers from Trickers SPOTTED in my kitchen in Brixton whilst doing some early morning lounging  . . .

Green lambswool + Hunters + Twickenham

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Green lambswool boot socks SPOTTED at Twickenham (for the England / Ireland 6 nations rugby match) accompanied by a nice pair of chocolate brown Hunter wellies SPORTED by the sockman.  Mmmmmm – toasty and dry feet ; – )

Pantherella + Temple Meads (Bristol) train station

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Blue Pantherella pleasure sock accompanied by a pair of brown suede Miu Miu loafers SPOTTED at Bristol Temple Meads train station, platform 5 and SPORTED BY the Sock Man (me!).  One of my favorite sock / shoe combos ; – )