Socks are usually made from nylon or polyester (not biodegradable, uncomfortable and make your feet sweat) or wool (which vegans don’t wear). If you wear socks, choose ones made from organic or bamboo. You will find that most have a touch of elastane for comfort, so launder in a Guppyfriend to stop microplastics escaping the machine. Socks have been around since Roman times when soldiers would wear them with sandals (no-one laughed at them – they would have been thrown to the lions). The average family loses 60 socks a year, which is not just scatty but gets expensive. It’s believed that if they disappear into the washing machine, they get jammed in the drum. Others fall behind radiators.
Did you know that there is a creature called a deep-sea sock? He has no gills or eyes, and looks a bit like a blob floating on the ocean floor. He looks like a purple sock!
Don’t Leave Socks Around Near Pets
Many people forget that socks (to a dog) smell super! They smell of you. And even if you don’t have smelly feet, your dog can smell them, and thinks they are fab. So don’t leave them around, because socks can be choking hazard, if dogs start chewing them. For more tips, see Amy’s book to keep your dog safe.
Hope organic cotton socks are unique in that they are made from 100% organic cotton (most other brands contain polyester, so they could leach microplastics in the washing machine). In various sizes, these are made in Britain from lightweight organic cotton, and have a light soft finish, making them ideal for outdoors or in the city. They are made with eco dyes and made in an accredited factory using traditional methods and GOTS-certified organic cotton yarns.
A Kinder Pair of Socks
Rescued goat Marcia at Farm Sanctuary says ‘please don’t wear cashmere’
- Avoid cashmere This is from goats, and they often are shorn of their coats in winter, when they need it the most (the same can happen with sheep). Some goats uses for cashmere die of the cold, as they have little fat on their bodies.
- Although wool is natural, many sheep suffer a technique where they have chunks of skin cut off (without painkillers) to prevent flystrike. Others are killed, when they get old or wool production slows. Sheep do usually near shearing or could die from heat exhaustion or tip over in the rain (if you see a fallen sheep, put her upright and stay with her until the rain drains away). Sheep that are not sheared also can’t see predators.
- Nylon or polyester. It’s difficult to find any socks without a touch of these ,but go for what you can. These are made from petroleum (oil) so don’t biodegrade, and also cause smelly feet.
- Silk involves killing silkworms (some ‘peace silk’ leaves them too exhausted to eat, so they also die). Look instead for socks made with Cupro (looks like silk, made from cotton off-cut waste).
Better Materials for Socks
- Linen (above socks are a blend of linen and elastane) comes from the flax plant. It’s biodegradable and breathable.
- Cotton is good, choose organic or recycled if you can.
- Hemp is also good and can be grown locally. It’s only a distant cousin of cannabis, so won’t make you high.
- Bamboo is a fast-growing grass but not local.
- Tencell is a locally grown wood polp, that produces biodegradable cellulose.
If you have diabetes, you may need special socks, to keep your feet dry. Maggie’s Organics offers organic cotton socks for diabetics. They have maximum circulation without falling down, and extra stretch in the legs. Features no-feel toe seams and plush cushion foots.
How to Choose Good Socks
- Choose bamboo if you run, as they wick moisture better.
- Cotton and hemp are good for everyday wear.
- Choose socks with padding if you have extra weight or arthritis.
- Socks should feel snug, but not cut off circulation. People with eczema are best avoiding poorly-made rough seams.
- Ethical Wares sells good wool-free hiking socks (one organic brand) to go with their vegan hiking shoes and boots.
Where to Find Organic Socks
- Doris and Dude makes organic cotton, bamboo and recycled polyester socks in Portugal, in puffin or alligator designs. Sent in cardboard packaging.
- 40 Colori makes socks in Italy by a family using long-staple certified organic cotton thread. You can choose a gift box of 3 (choose from 11 options) or a build a pack of two socks instead.
- Hope Organic Cotton Socks are made by artisans in Britain. The lightweight cotton has a soft finish, good for the city or outdoors. Made using quality organic cotton grown in India. Also in navy.
- Natural Collection offers nice bamboo socks (rainbow stripe or save our bees). Thought Bamboo Sock Gift Boxes contain 4 pairs (strong heel and toe for long wear). Made ethically in China, box is made with vegan glue.
- Boody makes organic black bamboo socks for men, a bit longer than average, to keep your ankles covered, when crossing your legs in the office! Made ethically in China, packed in recycled cardboard.
- Eczema Clothing offers 100% organic cotton socks, mostly for children, with hand-linked toe seams, to avoid irritation.
Socks to Help the Homeless
Leiho offers bamboo socks in several designs and colours. Buy individual pairs or gift packs in cardboard boxes. Bamboo is odour-resistant and adapts to temperature nicely. One pair is made from organic cotton, but again blended with elastane. For every pair sold, they donate a pair to a homeless person. The company name is Cantonese for ‘how are you?’
All homeless shelters say clean socks are always the most requested item, especially as people living on the streets are unable to wash them. This can lead to damp and uncomfortable shoes, which in turn can lead to foot infections (which can be deadly for people with conditions like diabetes, or lead to amputations).
Socks to Help Endangered Creatures
Bare socks are made from bamboo, and profits help endangered species. It’s difficult at present to find 100% natural socks, as most contain a little elastane for comfort. For this reason, always launder in a microplastic catch bag, to stop microplastics exiting the machine and going into the sea. 10% of profits are donated to the animal featured on each pair of socks. There are also children’s socks and jungle socks, with profits helping to protect the rainforests.
The bamboo is sourced from a 3rd generation family factory in Turkey, where workers are given fair wages and hours, and always over the age of 18, dyes used are non-toxic, and socks are shipped where possibly by lorry, rather than plane. Bamboo is very soft and moisture-wicking and sold in cardboard packaging. The animals helped include:
- Orangutans
- Sea turtles
- Snow leopards
- Bumble bees
- Penguins
- Whales
- Elephants
- Rhinos
- Giraffes
- Rabbits
- Pugs
- Wildlife hospitals
- Sun bears
- Tigers
- Sloths
- Gorillas
- Frogs
- Lemurs
- Toucans
How to Wash Organic Socks
- Wash socks daily with biodegradable detergent (unscented for pregnancy/nursing or young children), and avoid fabric conditioner, as this avoids absorbing sweat. Lint does not accumulate much on natural fabrics.
- Wash socks ideally by hand in a little warm water and mild detergent, for a few minutes. You don’t have to scrub them. For the machine, turn them inside out and organise into pairs then wash in cold water.
- To whiten socks, avoid chlorine bleach. Just add 1 teaspoon vinegar to one litre of heated (warm) water, soak for 30 minutes, then wash as normal. Or use lemon juice (takes a few hours).
Make Your Socks Last Longer
- Organic socks last longer anyway, as fabrics are not treated with chemicals.
- Use a reusable make up pad set that has a mesh laundry bag. You can use this to put pairs of socks in, to avoid them getting lost in the machine.
- Never dry-clean socks, and wash similar colours. Wash inside out and don’t use too hot water (or bleach).
- Dry socks flat to preserve the elastic. Pat dry (don’t wring) and don’t iron them. To dry, place wet socks in a towel, roll into a tub and twist slightly, then air-dry.
- Buy socks that fit your feet, to avoid the heel breaking through.
- Buy good vegan shoes. A couple of good pairs (alternate daily to let the sole dry out) also keeps socks in good condition. Shoes that rub your feet will also ruin your socks.
- Marie Kondo (that tidiness-obsessed Japanese woman) says to place one sock on top of the other, then fold along imaginary lines, like folding a letter – stack ‘standing up’ in sock drawer.
- Look after your feet. Rough skin and jagged long toenails can break through a sock.
Should Babies Wear Socks?
Don’t let baby feet overheat. NHS say to remove extra layers like hats, coats and blankets when entering warmer temperatures (like a car), even if it means waking a baby. But keep heads and feet warm, in cooler temperatures.
