Like Dobby the house-elf, I’ve spent most of my life searching for socks. And I don’t mean the single dirty sock Malfoy unknowingly gives him. But I do mean the one that can free you. A really good sock. The one that won’t cut your blood flow and make your feet either unbearably hot or excruciatingly cold. The one that won’t shed microplastics when washed in the washing machine. The one that has no problem absorbing your nasty feet' sweat, and yet feels light on your skin. The one that an experienced fetishist would pay a fortune for on the internet.
I’m the worst sock shopper in the world. I still wear socks my mom got me at H&M in high school. And if I need new ones, I just steal them from my husband. I’m also a very dedicated and determined shopper. I buy things only when I really need them and never before I’ve done extensive research on the brand if I’m getting something new, or thoroughly checked the fabric and quality of a piece if I’m buying second-hand. I’m not going to buy socks second-hand, this is not THAT kind of a story, you pervs. And researching sock brands can be pretty pointless. You can read all the descriptions you want, but you can’t tell how the socks feel until they arrive. Also, good luck with returning them if they don’t suit you. (You could try selling them second-hand, though.)
So on my mission to find really good socks that will last I turned to experts. Harling Ross Anton, a former Man Repeller writer currently working as a brand consultant, stylist, and writer, wrote a couple of articles about socks during her career. She’s an avid supporter of the sock and sandal combo as well as matching the color of your socks with your outfit. Currently, she loves wearing the ones from the Japanese high-street brand Uniqlo and the ones from Comme Si, an Italian brand famous for its refined socks, she told me. But it was not until I talked to Luca Franchini, a fashion designer, and co-owner of the concept store Salt in Rovinj, Croatia, that I uncovered how good can socks really get.
“I can't recall when the love for socks started since I’ve always had a passion for good knitwear and good yarns and socks are part of this world”, Luca tells me. “Good socks to me are original but still hidden and never an exaggerated piece of clothing. They have to be seen with attentive eyes.” He found such socks in Japan where he lived and worked for a while. The Japanese vision of clothing is “essential, minimalistic but with an impressive attention to details and manufacturing”, just like Luca’s. The secret is a great yarn by a great manufacturer that, in his opinion, Japanese brands are best at. His favorite ones are Rototo, Anonymousism, and Merz. B. Schwanen if you’re looking for a vintage design and a soft feel. And if you’re looking for a classic look, he suggests a British brand called John Smedley.
At the very end, Luca reminds me that great socks are like a really good sweater. They should be treated with care and attention if we want them to stay so good for a long time. So there you have it. Great socks exist. Now it’s my turn to test them. It’s the only way to make Dobby free.