Material, coloring, heel - this is how you recognize good socks
What are the criteria for good socks?
The quality of the material, textile seal, dyeing, processing, fit and other criteria determine whether you really feel comfortable in your socks. This guide text informs you about the most important criteria that make it easier for you to choose the right socks.
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1. The material of the socks
The material composition of the socks should support the wearing comfort. Cotton of the best origin with a small proportion of synthetic fibers is ideal if you want to avoid sweaty feet. Synthetic fibers such as polyester, with fine cotton, ensure a long-lasting sock. It is resistant to abrasion and does not absorb liquid. Socks made from bamboo viscose are becoming increasingly popular. The very light material with the silky surface is breathable and also anti-allergenic.
Bamboo socks from our label Yoshino
2. Textile seal
The Oeko Tex seal, which guarantees that no harmful substances are used during production, is now standard. The GOTS certificate is much stricter. GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. Socks that carry this seal are made from organic materials. In addition, the GOTS seal ensures fair working conditions, fair wages and an overall sustainable production.
3. The dyeing of the sock - piece dyeing or yarn dyeing
How else do you recognize quality in socks? What does yarn dyeing vs piece dyeing mean? The yarn coloring makes the coloring of the yarn special. This means that before the socks are knitted, the yarn is dyed because it allows it to take on the color better. The socks are thus evenly colored and impress with their absolute color fastness.
In contrast to piece dyeing, this makes the absolute difference in quality. When piece dyeing, the finished knitted socks are dyed. Although this process significantly reduces the price per pair of socks, it does not speak for the fulfillment of the best quality standards. When dyeing the yarn, women's and men's socks are better dyed through and shine with their color fastness. These radiant colors are convincing even after all socks have been washed several times. In plain language: In a game of yarn dyeing vs. piece dyeing, yarn dyeing clearly wins. When it comes to yarn dyeing vs. piece dyeing, good workmanship clearly speaks for the dyeing of the individual thread.
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4. The heel area
You can recognize the best quality socks when you take a closer look at the processing of the back part of the socks. There are two ways in which a "real" or "fake" heel can be incorporated into the socks. What makes the significant difference? This difference is small but subtle. It can be recognized by the L-shape of the socks and all seams (with stitches) of the socks in the heel area.
The real sole is incorporated as an intermediate step in the production process. This is done only after the bootie is finished. This "wrong" heel is only worked into the sock later by thermal post-treatment. Such a heel, on the other hand, does not enjoy excellent quality. It often thins out after just a few washes. The rear area of the sock is thus quickly worn out and causes holes in the heel area. Who can show lasting joy in such socks? Socks with the wrong heel will quickly end up in the trash. You can see whether you are wearing sensible socks by looking at the features of the socks in the heel area. Only these ensure the best wearing comfort.
How do you recognize quality in socks? Look at the soles and the stress zones, and you know how long you will happily wear these socks. The stress zones of the socks, more precisely the area around the toes and the heel area, must be softly padded and have a particularly high-quality finish. Especially with socks for children, the quality cannot be high enough.
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5. The sock waistband - piqué or standard
A basic distinction is made between the piqué waistband and the standard waistband. Depending on how tight the sock band can sit on the shin (for health reasons), different standards apply here. The piqué waistband is a bit finer and much more elegant because the threads are sewn in a honeycomb pattern.
The standard waistband, on the other hand, consists of alternating thick and very thin rows of stitches woven vertically. These rows of stitches are held together by a fine elastic band. You can tell the quality of the sock waistband when the relationship between pressure and durability is balanced. Theoretically, the material cotton of the best origin must be in the foreground, also for the sock waistband.
6. Sock toes linked manually
If the toe of a sock is linked (closed) manually, it is significantly finer than the machine horse seam. The advantage of hand-linked socks is that there are no pressure points when walking.
This is how you recognize good socks: the conclusion
If you want to focus on quality the next time you buy socks, pay attention to the material of the socks, the yarn dyeing, the mercerization and determining the right size. Would you like to order socks online? Then have a look at our online shop.
