Medias.
The sock or stocking is a garment worn on the feet, often covering the ankle or part of the calf. It serves to isolate the foot from direct contact with the shoe, but it is also used to maintain foot temperature (especially in cold climates). Another function of socks is to absorb perspiration since the foot is one of the highest producers of sweat in the body. Socks help absorb this sweat and move it to areas where air can evaporate it.
History.
The first socks may have emerged during the Neolithic, alongside the first footwear. These would have been very different from what we know today due to the rudimentary nature of the era. They were likely made of plant material (grass) to cushion the step and maintain temperature.
In Egypt, there is a record from around 256 BC that could be considered the oldest recorded sock. These were found in a child's tomb and were crochet-made. The peculiar feature is that, unlike modern socks, which are a single cylinder, they split at the tip, covering the big toe with one part and the rest of the toes with another.
The Romans, who had not used socks until then, incorporated them into their attire in the 2nd century AD. By the year 100, they used a sock called "udo" ("udones" in plural). The first mention of this garment can be found in the work of the poet and epigrammist Marcus Valerius Martial, who wrote that with the udones "the feet could shelter in a fabric made of goat hair." At this time, the udo was fitted to the foot and ankle, but a century later, tailors extended the udo to the knee or even above it, allowing them to be worn inside boots.
During the Middle Ages, the length of trousers extended, and the sock became a tight fabric of bright colors that covered the lower leg. Since the socks did not have an elastic band, garters were placed over the top of the socks to prevent them from falling down. When trousers shortened, socks lengthened (and became more expensive). By the year 1000, knitted socks had become a status symbol of the nobility throughout much of Europe. Initially, they resembled gaiters, and it was not until the 12th century that feet were added to them.
Although workers in Europe were certainly knitting their own homemade socks by the late 12th century, the socks of the nobility were far superior. Their socks were generally made of higher-quality woven fabric with a back seam and a slanted cut. By the 15th century, French and Italian aristocracies led the way with their fine handwoven silk socks. Men discovered that elastic silk fabric had two benefits: ease of movement and the ability to show off a well-shaped leg. Aristocrats in Britain soon followed their European neighbors, and handwoven silk stockings became all the rage among the British fashion elite. Around 1490, handwoven stockings were joined together to form a single garment, which would later be known as "stockings." These were made of colorful silk, wool, and velvet, with each leg in a different color.
In the 16th century, stockings, like other garments, were regulated by strict laws. In 1566, the city of London employed surveillance techniques to ensure that no one wore the wrong type of socks anywhere in the capital. The laws were enforced by the "sock police," four people who were positioned twice a day at the gates of London, checking the legs of those entering or leaving for inappropriate socks.
In 1589, the first knitting machine was invented by William Lee, an English clergyman. After receiving a pair of black stockings from William, Queen Elizabeth eventually refused to grant him a patent for his invention. She complained that his machine produced wool stockings that were too thick for royal ankles. She disliked the feel of the stockings and their coarse form, fearing that the machine would take jobs from her people.
However, King Henry IV of France saw the opportunity presented by William's invention and offered him financial support. The inventor moved to Rouen, France, where he built a stocking factory. Soon, the French spread the loom throughout Europe. Socks made for the lower classes were made of wool, while those made for the nobility were made of colorful silk. After the Industrial Revolution, stockings became easier and cheaper to produce, extending their appeal in European society. Many of the principles developed by William Lee can still be found in modern textile machinery today.
By the late 17th century, cotton became a popular choice for many garments, including socks. As trousers lengthened and socks shortened, the term 'socks' began to refer to what had previously been known as stockings.
The next revolution in sock manufacturing came with the invention of nylon in 1938. The strength and elasticity of socks made from cotton and nylon blends led to a natural step forward in manufacturing. This blend is still used today, including in our Shosett socks, which use a type of nylon called polyamide. Later, elastane was added to the blend to give socks additional flexibility and make them fit a wider range of users.
Modern Day.
Today, socks are an everyday garment, a basic part of daily attire that can even represent elegance and formality in clothing. They are made from various materials and serve different functions. Nowadays, socks not only serve to isolate the feet from direct contact with shoes, control sweating, or protect from the cold, but they are also used for more specific purposes. Some of their current uses are:
Sports: In addition to everyday clothing, sports clothing has also benefited from the use of socks, often worn long (although this depends on the specific sport). Their main function is to control perspiration, maintain the proper positioning of other gear (in football, shin guards are typically held in place by the pressure of the socks and also help cushion impacts).
Aesthetic: Particularly women have taken advantage of the aesthetic use of socks, as they are frequent accessories in fashion shows. Socks have been "recycled" countless times to dress women, with the well-known "pantyhose" being the favorites in this regard.
Medical: Socks have also found a particular use in the medical field, especially useful in the treatment of varicose diseases. "Compression socks" or "varicose socks" apply pressure on the legs to improve circulation and prevent or treat varicose veins (although their use and effectiveness are still debated and not universally agreed upon in the medical community).
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