It seems I am not the only person to think "Socks are the new neckties". [Also see this]. Apparently the sales of socks are going through the roof this Christmas season. From the NatPost [ht Brian Ferguson],
Unwrapping a pair of socks is no longer met with suspiciously overwrought squeals of excitement and half-hearted thank yous. The stigma is gone: go forth and stuff your stockings with mountains of colourful socks. ...
Some thoughts on design from the article:
Aesthetically, designs should be bright, able to match with a variety of outfits and instantly recognizable.
“Bacon-print socks were very popular this year, but some of them aren’t at all identifiable. That’s a problem,” Wright says.
“We keep in mind that people on the street don’t see the entire sock — just that small space on the ankle. The colours in that area have to be to be bold and prints have to be iconic,” Cohen explains.
Moreover, patterns that appear great laying flat don’t always look so hot on actual feet and ankles. “The design process takes anywhere from three to four months. You have to get your head around the fact that the socks are going to be cylindrical.” Kogan says. “Making socks is unlike any other form of design.”
One of several photos from the article:
From my own collection:
and this: