The Sock Drawer Test: How To Tell If You've Found A Great Sock

There are two types of socks in every drawer.

The first are the ones you actually wear.

The second are the ones that have survived several clear-outs. They've been folded, unfolded and moved from house to house (or drawer to drawer). Somehow they remain in circulation despite the fact that you never actively choose them.

You know the ones. They're not terrible enough to throw away, but they're not good enough to reach for either.

I've often thought that sock drawers are surprisingly honest places. Unlike most purchases, there's nowhere to hide. A pair of socks can't rely on a fancy logo, clever packaging or the fact they cost a fortune. Every morning, when you're half awake and about to start your day, you make a split-second decision about which pair you actually want to wear. And that's where the Sock Drawer Test begins.

Forget product descriptions, forget marketing. The true measure of a great sock is how pleased you are when it’s sitting there ready and waiting at the top of your drawer. You know that feeling when you're pairing socks and suddenly spot your favourites? Not because they're the prettiest or the newest. They’re your favourites because you know exactly how they'll feel when you put them on. Comfortable, dependable socks that do exactly what they're supposed to do.

And of course, great socks ruin other socks. That is one of the unexpected consequences of finding a really good pair - they start to expose the rest of the drawer. The pair that slides halfway down your calf by lunchtime, the pair that felt soft when you bought them but now feels suspiciously like cardboard, the pair that twists around your foot for reasons known only to itself. Once you've experienced socks that fit properly and stay comfortable all day, it's very difficult to go back. A bit like upgrading your mattress, you can't unknow what you've learned.

The Sock Graveyard

Every sock drawer has one. It's the section occupied by socks that aren't worn, aren't loved, but somehow haven't quite been thrown away either. Often they're there because replacing socks never feels particularly urgent. You’ve told yourself that they're perfectly serviceable and you keep them "just in case" (of what? Who knows!). And they stay there, doing nothing, taking up room. Meanwhile, your favourite pairs are in constant rotation, working far harder than the rest of the drawer put together.

Which raises an interesting question. If you only ever choose the same handful of pairs, why are you keeping the others?

A Great Sock Doesn't Demand Attention

The funny thing about truly comfortable socks is that you stop thinking about them altogether. You don't spend the day pulling them up or noticing them slowly slipping down your legs. You don't get home and feel relieved to take them off. They’ve simply become part of the background. That might not sound particularly glamorous, but when you consider how many hours a day we spend wearing socks, it's actually really important.

The best socks allow you to get on with your life without reminding you they're there every twenty minutes and that's a surprisingly underrated quality.

Why I Started Soleberie

The truth is, Soleberie wasn't created because the world needed another sock brand. It was created because I couldn't find the socks I wanted myself. I wanted knee-length socks that stayed up but were comfortable. Socks that felt soft from the first wear and still felt soft months later and that worked with trainers as easily as they worked with boots or wellies.

I wanted socks with a bit of thought put into them. The sort of details you don't notice when they're there, but definitely notice when they're not.

Things like extra deep cuffs for stability and clear sizing on the inside so you can make sure you’ve got the right pair when you’re a bit bleary eyed in the morning. Anatomically shaped left and right feet so the padding you need is in the places you need it. A structured arch support and padded footbed to feel like your feet are being given a cosy hug when you put them on. Birdseye knit at the ankle for stretch and movement where your leg actually moves and a reinforced sole - because if they're your favourite socks they're probably going to be worn quite a lot!

And equally I wanted socks that were ethically made in Europe. So Soleberie is designed in England and made in Portugal.

Most importantly, I wanted socks that passed the Sock Drawer Test.

The ones that somehow always seem to be in the wash because you've worn them again. And again. And again.

So, have you found a great sock yet?

Here's the simplest way to tell. Imagine every pair in your drawer is freshly washed. You have complete freedom of choice. Which pair are you looking for first? Which pair would make you think, "Excellent, those are clean"? If one particular pair immediately comes to mind, you've probably found your answer. Because great socks don't become favourites because they're expensive. They become favourites because they earn their place. I hope that Soleberie Socks will become your favourites.

Kathryn X