A little history for today's article, how about that? Obviously, the star is our star: the sock !
And of course, this one has been around for a long time. So let's retrace the life of this dear friend.
Several suspicions date the first appearance of the sock to 2000 BC in Syria. Unfortunately, there are no photos available of textiles from that time.
Then in ancient Egypt , several evidences were discovered showing the existence of woven socks. They are usually worn during theatrical performances as a costume.
It was in the Middle Ages that the appearance of the sock became a certainty. At the time, it was synonymous with luxury . Only the wealthiest had access to a shaded fabric tied around the leg. This fabric was woven and sewn, resembling a bag into which one put the foot . The "sock" was held at its highest point by what was called a " tie " because elastic did not yet exist.
There is also another way to hold the "sock" at this time. It is a tie integrated into the top of the fabric to tie the "sock" above the knee .
Around the 1490s , hosiery and panties were no longer separated, and they would become known as tights.
A century later, in the 1590s , knitted stockings appeared thanks to the knitting machine (attributed to the Englishman William Lee ). Thanks to its elasticity, knitting was much more suitable than classic weaving. It was much stiffer. But at the time, wool or silk stockings were still luxury products intended only for the wealthiest. As a little anecdote: Elizabeth I , Queen of England, was offered black stockings in 1561 , but she refused William Lee the patent for his invention. He therefore decided to set sail for French territory in 1589 where he built a stocking factory financed by King Henry V !
It was in the 17th century that cotton was finally used to make socks. Wool was then accessible to less fortunate people while silk socks remained on the feet of the rich .
Since the 19th century , socks have been as we know them today: their shapes, their materials, their elastics, etc. They were first created in the United States thanks to the progressive shortening of long tights. It is also the first garment that will be manufactured industrially on a large scale . There is no major change in the sock after this American evolution.
In fact, the word socks actually comes from the Latin “ soccus ” which means “ to lightly cover the foot ”.
Like a resemblance to our Ginza Black!
The Japanese many years ago, began to use the sock as a style accessory with the " Tabi " which are the socks adapted to the traditional Japanese shoes that we could call "flip flop". Sewn with very varied patterns, the Tabi are a way to complete an outfit for the Japanese.
But we will go into a little more detail on the subject in another article.
In the Western world, this popularization of the stylish sock is observed in a cyclical manner. In the 60s and 70s , very colorful knee-high socks were all the rage.
The sock demonstration disappeared in the 80s to return today . Models just as colorful but modernized. There are then in France several types of socks: stylish plain socks with simplicity and designer socks, with a worked design, which aims to really become an integral part of the outfit .
It is on this dynamic that the Atelier St Eustache was created, in order to offer different socks: transparent socks with an architectural design .
And there you have it! Now you know a thing or two about the fabric that covers your feet. Who would have thought that socks, so commonplace today, have such a fascinating history?
