The Sock Man blog

Sockman visits Pantherella HQ (aka Sock Heaven)

ChrisQ — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:58:49 +0000

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!

Ayame sock road-test

ChrisQ — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:44:34 +0000

Thanks to the wonderful Sock Girl, I’m now the proud owner of a pair of Ayame socks. Ayame are a boutique Japanese brand, who produce some pretty special socks.

So my first day out in my new pair of Ayame’s was pretty exciting. Similar to Tabio (another Japanese brand) man-made fibres are the dominant feature (out-waying cotton by 80 to 20%). What this means in practice is that although remarkably well shaped and strong feeling, they tend to sweat a little in the heat, making them not massively ideal for the summer months.

That said, the retro green geometric styling is pretty awesome, and went down a treat on my visit to Monocle Magazine’s HQ to see editor Andrew Tuck.

So it’s a case of SPOTTED a fine pair of green geometric Ayame’s @ Monolce HQ in Maylebone, London ACCOMPANIED BY a pair of brown Eterno loafers. Oooh la la!

Happy socks (guest #4)

ChrisQ — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:50:05 +0000

I bumped into my old uni mucker Chris L last week, and whilst having a work chinwag we got onto the subject of socks (naturally). It turns out that Chris is a bit of sock-lover too, and had recently indulged in a pair of stripey numbers from Happy Socks.

So it’s a case of SPOTTED a pair of stripey Happy Socks ACCOMPANIED BY a pair grey suede Ted Baker boots AT London Bridge.

Birthday socks

ChrisQ — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:54:05 +0000

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 anatomy

ChrisQ — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 22:04:36 +0000

I was going to write that I wouldn’t be seen dead in these socks – though on second thought these are definitely the kind of socks that I would most definitely be seen dead in ; – )

Having said that, they’re kinda cool. Randomly SPOTTED in the blog of v.cool Estonian designer Anton Repponen.

Sock marriage made in heaven: English socks + Italian shoes

ChrisQ — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:43:33 +0000

It’s got to be my favorite combos – a fine pair of English socks (preferably Pantherella) served up with a fine pair of hand-made Italian shoes (preferably loafers). This weekend me and Sock Girl went to a friend’s wedding at the Royal Holloway where I was SPOTTED wearing a pair of Richard James’ finest Pantherella-made pink socks, ACCOMPANIED by a truly awesome pair of Italian suede tassled-loafers from Eterno (Conduit Street).

To finish off the combo, I was SPORTING my 80’s-tastic Ralph Lauren pinstripe suit. Possibly the finest sock-shoe-suit combo this side of the Thames : – )

No.10 socks

ChrisQ — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 08:29:34 +0000

Dilemma: what kinds of socks would you wear for a meeting @ No.10 (Downing Street)? Do you go for the power sock, something party political, or something more laid back? Answer – the power sock of course!

So it’s a case of SPOTTED a pair of red Pantherella’s SPORTED by Sock Man @ No.10.

N.B. the photo was taken outside No.10, as you have to give your phone in when you enter the building : – (

New socks?

ChrisQ — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:10:38 +0000

I spotted a guy on the tube wearing one of these T-shirts a couple of weeks back – but couldn’t bring myself to ask him for a photo. Then, luckily, at the weekend stumbled across their home – Paul Smith of course ; – )

Holy socks

ChrisQ — Mon, 31 May 2010 00:30:33 +0000

Becoming a god-father’s a pretty special moment for a guy. And pretty special moments demand pretty special socks. So, I was pleased to find that my fellow g-father – Charlie B – was sporting a pretty darn fine sock n’ shoe combo for mighty Milo’s christening.

It’s a case of SPOTTED a fine pair of red Pantherella’s ACCOMPANIED BY a pair of tan Crockett and Jones loafers, off-set by an achingly just-short pair of jeans. Mmmmm – possibly the ultimate Christening-combo.

Soho socks #2

ChrisQ — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:35:08 +0000

Out last Thursday night I was out for my colleague Darren’s leaving drinks in Soho, and got chatting socks to Justin @ NMA. It turns out that Justin too is a bit of a sock-lover, who was sporting a fairly bombastic Paul Smith sock n’shoe combo.

So it’s a case of SPOTTED Paul Smith stripey socks ACCOMPANIED BY a pair of white Paul Smith loafers.