Manchester-based underwear drawer staple SOCKSHOP (formerly Sock Shop) is celebrating 40 years at the foot of high street, and now online, fashion.
Founded in in 1983 by Sophie Mirman and Richard P. Ross with a single shop in Knightsbridge Tube Station, SOCKSHOP has been a leader in bringing high-quality, fashionable socks to the masses and, in doing so, “has changed the way people think about and wear socks, enabling its customers to ‘feel good from the feet up.’”
In 2006 SOCKSHOP became part of Manchester’s Ruia Group, and since then it has grown into an online giant within the legwear and hosiery sector, supplying over 240 countries across the world with their ever-growing product ranges, including owned brands Wild Feet, Heat Holders, Pringle, Glenmuir, Pringle, Blue Guard, Gentlegrip, Iomi, Lazy Panda and Stormbloc, and partner brands.
SOCKSHOP has created and championed a multitude of sock designs and iconic trends over the four decades, from 80s chunky leg warmers to 90s novelty socks. In the 2000s, SOCKSHOP embraced eco-friendly materials, launching bamboo and recycled cotton socks, even carrying through and updating the classic Colour Burst collection to become one of its best-selling bamboo styles.
SOCKSHOP also continues to innovate, pioneering and honing expertise in technologies such as heat retention, health and wellbeing, smooth toe seams and more, to ensure socks really make a difference to customers.
SOCKSHOP’s development and success since the mid-2000s has seen it advance into the “World’s Largest Sock Selection,” making socks available all over the world through its flagship store – SOCKSHOP.co.uk.
The brand also stayed true to its high-street roots through its Manchester Arndale store, as well as strong wholesale relationships with a number of retail giants, bringing the collection to high street shoppers across the UK and internationally.
To celebrate the 40th milestone SOCKSHOP will be launching a limited edition ‘Anniversary Collection,’ to encapsulate 40 years of sock trends and innovation.
Alok Ruia, director of SOCKSHOP, said: “We are immensely proud of what SOCKSHOP has achieved over the past four decades. It started with a simple idea – to make socks more exciting, and now it’s become a global brand that has changed the way people think about and purchase socks. We look forward to continuing to innovate and provide our customers with the best socks in the world for many more decades to come.”
