Did you know that socks are possibly the oldest form of clothing that continues to be used to this day? Yes, since the Stone Ages, socks were believed to be in use way before T-shirts and trousers came to existence.
Unfortunately, socks now seem to be that clothing item often overlooked and taken for granted just because people have no idea how to wear socks.
If you want to know how socks came to existence before the trend of funky printed socks became a thing, let’s take a quick look down memory lane.
The Beginnings of Socks
The very first socks cavemen ancestors during Stone Ages wore don’t look anything like the socks you can see today. Although there weren’t socks leftover from those times, there are a few clues of their appearance based on archeological finds and cave paintings. The rudimentary socks seemed to be made from animal pelts and skins tied around the ankles.
When the 8th century BC came, socks were first mentioned in the writing of Hesiod, a Greek poet. Hesiod mentioned pilot in the poem Works and Days. This is a type of sock made using matted animal hair being worn under the sandals.
Soon after, Romans wrapped their feet in strips of woven fabric or leather. Around the 2nd century AD, they sewed fabric pieces together to make fitted socks. These were referred to as ones, known to be the very first socks that look the same with what you wear today.
Through the centuries, these clothing items went through numerous changes and innovations.
During the Middle Ages, trousers have extended lengths and socks became tight brightly colored cloths that cover the lower part of the legs. Since socks then didn’t have elastic bands, they were kept from falling down by placing garters on top of them.
After breaches were made shorter, socks started to become longer and pricier. By the year 1000, woven and knit socks became a status symbol of the nobility all over Europe. They initially resembled leggings until feet were added during the 12th century.
Socks in the Modern Times
For the next several years, the fashion of socks continued to shift that dictated different lengths, starting from mid-calf, to knee-length, to mid-thigh. Instead of sticking to the embroidery added at the top, the fashion of socks expanded to include more stripes, decorations, and colors. During the 17th century, cotton became the popular choice for a lot of garments with sock included. As socks became shorter and trousers became longer, the word socks started to be used to refer to what used to be known as stockings.
The next sock-making revolution came in 1938 when nylon was invented. The elasticity and strength of socks made using cotton-nylon blends paved the way to a natural step to manufacturing. The blend continues to be used up to this day. Elastane was later on added to this blend, giving socks more flexibility, making them more suitable for more wearers.
Today, funky socks for men and fun socks for men are the latest trends and with the long and interesting history of socks, it won’t be surprising if more innovations will be made later on.
Comments
Post a Comment