The Best Cotton Socks (I've Found)

And a Dream of Opening a Store

I just love good stuff. And I especially love the best¹ version of completely ordinary things. (Today I’m talking about clothes — but this could be about most goods.)

The thing is, there are things that are luxuries, and made from luxury brands. But while these things are better than your ordinary wares, they’re not honest.

Especially in women’s apparel, it seems like you often have choices like the following:

• A $10 T-shirt, that’s actually a $10 T-shirt²
• or a $150 T-shirt, that’s actually a $50 shirt.

Or course the latter is better than the first — but I’d rather buy a $70 T-shirt that has that cost due to the expenses for actually making it as good as it is.

I would’ve loved to run a clothing store

And I wouldn’t mind just calling it Proper Stuff or something. The concept would be rather simple: Just stock basics, as timeless as possible, that are honest, sustainable, and of high quality. (I’d perhaps go for two tiers, to be able to have the absolute best while still having some more sensibly priced options.)

Standard & Strange’s tagline, “Own fewer, better things”, could be applicable. But “Simple excellence” would also encompass what I’d be going for.

One example would be the socks in the image above, which I promise I’ll get to. But here are some more examples, from one of my favourite stores:

I’m thinking things like simple jeans from Sugar Cane, T-shirts from Warehouse, hoodies from Whitesville, wool garments from Heimat, and canvas sneakers from Moonstar. Completely normal stuff, just made really well.

And I know that these things are much pricier than what most people buy. And I genuinely understand that things like that aren’t accessible to everyone — and that’s fine. But if you are able to afford it, I do I think it’s a good idea for more people to own fewer, but better, things. It’s better for the environment, and better in terms of ethics and the well-being of workers. However, I also think there is great personal value in having items you really treasure. Things that stick with you, and that you bother repairing.

Examples from my own wardrobe:

The best cotton socks I’ve found

Where something is made isn’t a perfect indication of the quality. The things that do make something good are:

• The quality of the materials,
• the choices in terms of construction,
• and the time given to, and the skill of, the labourers.

You have things like shoes from Grant Stone that are made in China, while also having terrific quality. There are also brands, like the Norwegian Fair & Square, that make sure all their workers have great working conditions.

However, a pattern some might’ve noticed, is that I’ve mentioned many things made in Japan in this post. To me, it seems like it makes no economic sense to make something there and not make the choices that lead to high quality. So “Made in Japan” will very often mean that something is good.

And my first recommendation is from a Japanese brand

The socks I have from Decka are the most comfortable and durable socks I’ve seen and owned. I also really like the way they look.

The reason they’re not my only recommendation, is that they’re quite thick — and this might be too much for some people. Mine are of the 80s Skater Socks variety.

They also have a selection called Summer Picks, which, I assume, are thinner. So have a look at that if that would suit you better.

Another thing, I really like, is that they come in two sizes. I have rather short, but tall, feet — so Size 1 is perfect for me.³ (One-size socks are usually too long for me.)

I’m sure you can find a thickness, height and look from them that suits you.⁴ And then you’ll love your socks — not just tolerate them.

But my favourite thinner sock is from another brand

I don’t have any of Decka’s thinner socks — so I’m not saying Upstate Stock’s thinner socks are beter. But they’re the only socks I have that I like as much.

I couldn’t find my own socks, for a photo — but they are McCarren Tube Socks, like in the image above.

Compared to my socks from Decka, these are thinner overall, while still having a bit of extra thickness at the bottom.

They do have fewer styles — but they are cheaper, and made in the USA.

I won’t claim that any of these socks will last forever. However, they will last longer than “regular” socks. They’ll also stay nicer for more of their lifetime, and I think they’ll make you smile when you put them on. And no one was exploited in the making of these socks.

As a Norwegian, I of course also use wool socks a lot — and I greatly recommend that as well! But I haven’t found any I like as good as these yet, so that will have to be a post for another day.