Socks

Few things in a wardrobe go as unnoticed as a well-chosen pair of socks — we tend to notice them most when they're missing, or don't match the shoe or the occasion. The right choice comes down mostly to the occasion, the shoes they'll be worn with, and the balance you want between comfort and style.

THE HISTORY OF SOCKS

The story of socks goes back to Ancient Greece and Persia, where they were knitted from wool and worn mainly by soldiers. Through the Middle Ages wool remained the main material, though it gradually gave way to silk, while the favored colors — red and pale blue — stayed in fashion for centuries.

The real turning point came in the 16th century, when the English clergyman William Lee introduced industrial knitting production. By the end of the 17th century, knitted styles had fully replaced silk and velvet in the wardrobes of the time. Over time their role shifted increasingly toward women's fashion, until they became a defining feminine accessory. That didn't change their place in the men's wardrobe — just in a simpler, mostly cotton form.

The 19th century brought embroidery, beading and appliqué, with cotton — including finer, slightly glossy varieties — becoming the dominant material. The early 20th century saw the arrival of artificial silk, a forerunner of today's synthetic fibers, and in the 1930s the American company DuPont introduced nylon, a material that permanently changed the production of fine knitwear. In the early 1960s, nylon lycra added a new layer of comfort and stretch that made all-day wear more pleasant. A little earlier, in 1959, the American textile company Glen Raven Mills introduced the first modern pantyhose — an extension of the same nylon technology in a different direction from the classic single-sock format, but part of the same industrial evolution. Today, decades on, the industry offers a blend of both worlds — practicality proven over centuries, and decorative details once reserved only for special occasions.

TYPES OF SOCKS BY PURPOSE

The divide here doesn't always run strictly along gender lines — what matters more is the difference between sporty, elegant and all-purpose styles.

Sporty Socks

These cover a wide range — from specialized styles for professional athletes, with extra cushioning at the sole and snug compression, to the everyday cotton socks we all wear with sneakers. What they share is breathable fabric, a simple cut and a reinforced heel — logic that works equally well in both our women's and men's lines. It's precisely this simple cut that makes these styles pair well with almost any sporty or everyday shoe, whatever the occasion.

Elegant Socks

These are made for special occasions, where the look matters at least as much as the comfort. They're made from finer materials, often with a higher leg, and in some cases with decorative details like lace or satin accents. They pair best with elegant shoes and dresses rather than everyday outfits — which is why they remain mostly part of our women's line.

Unisex Socks

There are also styles that work in either a man's or a woman's wardrobe, pairing just as well with sporty outfits as with more elegant ones. These are solid-colored, clean styles in classic shades, finely knitted with a mid-calf length — a versatile choice where all you need to pick is the size, and the rest is already taken care of.

SOCKS AND BALLERINA SOCKS AT SIA UNDERWEAR

Since 2000, we've offered lingerie, ballerina socks and other sock styles with attention to every detail — from choosing the material to the final finish. That approach stays the same whether we're talking about a simple everyday style or a more luxurious, hand-finished one for a special occasion.

We work with proven materials — cotton, elastane, polyamide, tulle and lace — chosen to suit each style's specific purpose, rather than picked at random for a lower price. The result is a quality product we can stand behind with confidence.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do you have unisex styles, suitable for both men and women?
Yes — alongside our simple cotton ballerina socks, which are close to a unisex solution in cut and material, we also offer a dedicated line of clean, solid-colored, mid-calf styles designed to fit equally well on a woman's or a man's foot.

What's the difference between the sporty and elegant styles?
Sporty styles are built entirely around comfort and practicality — breathable cotton, a simple cut. Elegant styles carry more visual impact and remain mostly part of the women's line.

What occasions suit the all-purpose styles?
Thanks to their clean look, they work equally well for the office, meeting friends, or a relaxed night out — no need to plan the rest of the outfit around them.

Why are the women's and men's styles so different in style?
Expectations around comfort and cut tend to differ between women's and men's audiences, which is why the two lines follow a separate logic rather than one universal solution for both.

THE HISTORY OF SOCKS

TYPES OF SOCKS BY PURPOSE

SOCKS AND BALLERINA SOCKS AT SIA UNDERWEAR

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS