Who invented socks — through history on foot

Let’s start with a riddle. What comes in different types, keeps you warm and comfortable, and accompanies you throughout the day? A little hint — something we all do not think about, but there are only a few occasions when we don’t use it. Do you know? It’s a sock! Our constant companion, a vital element of everyday clothing, an accessory that makes all the difference to your outfit.

Socks are our feet’s best friends, but where do they come from, and who invented socks?

It’s all in the name — why socks are socks?

It seems a good idea to start a sock-centred journey with the etymology of the name. After all, a name always follows an invention, from its very beginning. That might shed some light on the history of socks.

Socks weren’t socks all the way through history, since the first person to put a piece of fabric on their feet. This Modern English word comes from a bunch of different names, altering through time, but tracing them all back shows the long way socks had to come.

A direct ancestor of the word “socks” is probably the Old English word “socc”, not that different in sound and meaning, as it referred to a light slipper. People of that time borrowed the idea, together with the name, from the Latin “soccus”, which was a type of light shoe with a low heel. The Romans adapted it from the Ancient Greeks, who called such a shoe “sykchos”. A few centuries, a couple of changes and letter-shifting later, we have our modern Rainbow socks in a box.

From feet wrappers to socks as gifts

We know the origins of the name, but we still don’t know what inspired people to change a light shoe (socc) into an additional piece of fabric on a foot? Socks helped to keep feet warm and comfortable, and protected them from dirt, rain, and frost — that’s a reason enough!

The first prototypes were ankle-high, made of animal skin, gathered and tied around legs. Although improved in time, for centuries socks were the symbols of high status. They allowed people who wear them to express their affiliation with the elite and the rich — just like today, they allow people to express their style and character.

Time-consuming manufacturing and expensive materials made socks inaccessible for the poor, who wrapped their feet with loose pieces of fabric instead. Socks were yet to revolutionize the people, but they still had to wait a few centuries!

Although the poor imitation of socks — some pieces of cloth wrapped together — were still a part of Eastern European army garments until the 20th century, the real ones did shake the fashion of the Middle Ages. They stopped being only a necessity, they became visible!

Stockings, as they were called back then, covered the legs, mostly the calves, and they were worn with cloaks. Even later, when the trousers (luckily) were getting popular, they still had to make way for various types of socks.

Stockings were tight, colourful, and certainly essential in people’s wardrobes. They were secured with suspenders that kept them in place during the day. As the breeches of men were getting shorter, socks were getting longer. There was no way to hide them, so they became an accessory, sometimes beautifully ornamented, in various colours and styles. Our modern socks’ ancestors were born!

The revolution that came after the Middle Ages did not omit socks. As they were a vital, and visible, part of the garment, they were getting popular. The invention of the knitting machine in the 16th century made them a much more available product.

Socks were worn by kings and knights, by noblemen, and finally, by the common people. Today, everyone has a pair on their feet. If it weren’t for a knitting machine and the revolution in fabrics, who knows where the stockings would end!

The invention of nylon in the 20th century was a turning point in the sock-making industry. Easily available fabric that blends yarns makes the production of socks quick, effective, and economical, and no one has to freeze their toes off any more. Now, we buy socks in a box, as gifts, for ourselves and others!

All types of socks, through their history, travelled the world, fought battles, danced, ran, and accompanied people and kept them warm and comfortable. That’s why we love them so much. Of course, we wished to have a hand in their history.

How? We’ve added to the socks' history by revolutionizing the way they are packed and presented. We were the first to shape them into food, from burgers to sushi, and come up with crazy socks as gifts. Rainbow Socks were the food-socks pioneers and made a piece of clothing fun — for you!