National Sock Day on December 4th recognises the rarest of all lasting unities, the marriage of matched socks. When they find each other, wash after wash, dry after to dry, it’s time to celebrate!
WHY SOCK DAY?
Socks are a common necessity for everyone to keep protected in cold or warm weather places. Socks protect your feet from the harsh cold temperatures or shoe blisters. They also protect bacterial growth in your shoes thereby preventing smelly feet, among other functions!
With today’s technology and many brands out there, socks have evolved from being a basic need to a display of art and fashion. Well, the point of discussion today is not about differentiating between needs and wants.
Socks have been mass-produced to cater to all the population. Everyone from babies to old adults uses socks every day. You can find them in different material types from Silk, cotton, wool to polyester.
In 1589, the first knitting machine was invented that increased the production of socks by 6 times. Since then, the prices have been reduced and available for everyone.
By 1938, the blended socks were a crowd favourite, rather than silk and cotton. Socks offering comfort and sweat absorbing properties, were the need of the hour, and stole the limelight.
Today, socks are available in various designs, colours, and lengths. You can either choose the knee-high, low-cut, crew, or ankle socks that are available today.
This National Sock Day, we celebrate the love for hosiery that has been passed down from generation to generation as well as the innovation and research that has enabled us to enjoy all the socks out there.
DO YOU KNOW THE NAMES OF THE SOCK PARTS?
- Cuff – the top part of the sock
- Rib – the tube structure that is between the cuff and the ankle
- Angle – the bottom of the rib
- Heel – shaped to snuggly form to the heel
- Foot – the fabric between the ankle and the toe
- Toe – the tip of the sock encasing the toes
WHAT'S A SOCK HOP?
- A sock hop was a kind of dance event usually hosted in school gymnasiums or cafeterias. Dancers were often required to remove their shoes to protect the floor and dance in their socks.
Other phrases that include the word “sock” include:
- Pull your socks up – to improve your work, behaviour, performance, attitude
- Sock it to them or me – to use your full force, effort, or have a powerful impact on someone
- Put a sock in it – to stop being noisy, talking, arguing
- Knock (your, his, her, their) socks off – impress someone with a performance, gift, idea, skill
GETTING TO KNOW OUR STAFF
In keeping with the WINNS tradition, and trying to get to know our staff a little better, we asked them where they buy their socks from?
Nicola Haridimou, Supervisor Bird College
- Where do you get your socks from? JD Sports
- Would you like stocks for Christmas? Yes
- Do you own a pair of novelty socks? No
- What should the company keep doing? Communication
- Do you think the company's core values represent your lived experience? Yes
Keri Barfoot, Office Manager
- Where do you get your socks from? Primark
- Would you like stocks for Christmas? Not particularly
- Do you own a pair of novelty socks? No
- What should the company keep doing?
Keep doing the quarterly training days, I think they are really beneficial for everyone to understand the company goals and gives everyone a chance to have an opinion
- Do you think the company's core values represent your lived experience? Fair, respectful, transparent, innovative, inclusive Yes - the company does its best to make everyone feel included with how the company operates, through training days and the questions asked at cleaning audits
WINNS continues to make every effort to get to know their staff on a personal level as well as professionally. Building staff relationships is very important to us after all, a happy team is a successful team.