This is a community for sock wearers, sock lovers, sock makers, sock buyers, sock crafters.
Socks are the common thread that knit our society together.
Socks span across all ages, races, cultures and countries. Here, at The Other Side of the
Drawer we think socks rock and we think the people who love socks rock, too.
Stone Age
Socks were made of animal skin wrapped around the ankle, a necessity to maintain body warmth.
8th Century B.C.
Greek poet Hesiod wrote of piloi, socks
made from matted animal hairs.
2nd Century A.D.
Worn by the Romans, "udones" were the first
socks to be pulled over the foot.
3rd-6th Century
The real luxury began in Egypt where the
first knit socks were discovered.
Middle Ages
Europeans were in the midst of combining
breeches and hose to make tights.
1589
The first knitting machine was invented
when William Lee was tired of his wife knitting
all the time instead of paying attention to him.
Late 17th Century
Cotton makes its debut as the
next best sock material.
1920s
Argyle. Argyle everywhere.
This is the first time socks were
fashion-based and colorful socks were
all the rage in the Roarin' Twenties.
Present Day
Sock subscription services offer socks in the most convenient way in history, getting a new pair delivered to your doorstep every month.
1938
New socks made from nylon provided elasticity and 'stockings' became shorter, both in name and
style, leading to the socks we know today.
Where will they go from here?
What is the future of socks?
Dream on, sock people.
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Read our post about the history of socks on our blog page.