Niqkita's Sock Journal

Here it is! Our official logo, by the amazing Echo Chernik.
The socks are based on our Dreamy Knees, the arm warmers are these
…and the blue lotus in her hand represents Lola.
(you didn’t know Lola is short for Lotus did you?)

Our newest tights are from Foot Traffic. Although I was reluctant to give them a try at first, I decided to reconsider them when the long-beloved E.G. Smith tights starting having quality issues. So, before I go into more reasons we love the new tights so much, it’s time I tell you what I know about the E.G.s: For years they were the gold standard for cotton tights, nice fit, totally comfy, great quality and tons of colors. We sold oodles of them over the past several years with few complaints. We loved them so much before the problems started cropping up that they were included in part of our private label deal. Then, sometime during the holiday rush, we started seeing an unusual amount of returns on them for split seams or odd fit. At first it seemed like it was a small percentage with far more good than bad and when we couldn’t restock a few colors we offered our private labeled version in place of them, and as replacement pairs for the returned defects. Only to realize that they were, apparently, from the same faulty batch made by a mill that was over worked and under improved. When it came to my attention that more were coming back than not I took them off the site and informed the supplier that we could not send any more out to our customers in good conscience. Since people have come to expect a nice selection of quality cotton tights at Sock Dreams I reconsidered the Foot Traffic version. It isn’t made in the US, but they reassured me they’ve worked with the same mill in Taiwan for over 20 years and are confident that they are being produced in a conscientious and safe environment by healthy, happy adults earning decent wages. We all set about testing these new tights before ordering in enough for everybody and were indeed pleased! they are soft and comfy, all this talk about high needle count and combed cotton proved to be true. The waistband doesn’t fold over or twist…

The single seam is both flattering & durable and they are fairly opaque (notice how you cannot see the tattoo on my lower back through the ivory tights). And that single seam is a flat seam that won’t show through if you’re wearing a sleek skirt. They are adding more colors, but whether they will add a larger size remains to be seen. They tell me these will fit up to 6 feet and 200 lbs though they did not commit to it on their labels. I also love their new leggings, same great fit, just not feet. While we were pulling orders this morning I came across this note on an order for five pairs:
“These are as great as you said!!!”
…I hope everybody agrees ~=)

one of the first socks I bought and sold were the Pippy Longstockings.
Always a favorite, they are the ultimate comfort sock.
But even early on availability was sporadic at best with at least a couple of dry years when no amount of begging the folks responsible for EG Smith seemed to help. Then it did and they became plentiful, once again, sporadically. And all the while it has been my quest, to have them made in greater variety, longer, different patterns, textures, but no one, but one, seems able to do these just as they are, let alone better…
longer, better top stretch, colors? We have obtained and distributed an amazing variety of really cool socks, some of them pretty darned close…
but these remain just out of reach.

Last spring I was offered the real thing, made for us, longer, under our label and I jumped at it, along with the original length, leg warmers, stockings & tights.
The labels are gorgeous, by the way, wait til you see them.
As some of the most promising things in life go, we never did get that one item I wanted, the one sock that I made the whole deal in hopes of obtaining never showed up in a big box too heavy to lift. Lots of these did though, and leg warmers, OTK stockings (soon to be added) & Lemonade Stockings (we still need to cut those lemons & mix in the sugar, but the first batch will be up & ready for a picnic soon enough).
As of this past week I found out that we could not get the longer version afterall, the sample of the replacement version was not at all the same sock so I rejected it based on quality and cost. But this quest, and many other sock dreams, are far from over.
and now, a little flash back…

Has it been a week already?
Time has been flying by faster than ever it seems…
So there it is, or rather, was, since I took this shot Wednesday.
(if you click the image a larger version will appear)
In the center, the Pointelle Leg Warmers which I added Friday morning along with the thick & scrumptious new cable leg warmers from K.Bell both are pretty awesome as warmers go, a nearly perfect replacement to the Hot Sox Cable leg warmers of the past (no, sorry, no button ups available anywhere we’ve seen right now).
To the left of them is an assortment of lacy cotton anklets we’re eager to try, I love that they come tied with pretty ribbons. Above them, another romantic style that has little faux cameos and shiny bows on thigh high stockings.
Cotton leggings from Foot Traffic, have you tried their tights yet?
…They are a new fav around here, we’ll review those for you soon, there is much to be said about the tight situation we found ourselves in over tights.
A few leg warmers that are variations from current styles we offer, a legging from K.bell that came in place of a style I was trying to restock
…always *love* when that happens (yes, that is sarcasm you smell).
Our private label stockings (nearly ready to go at last, long story for later)
…with a couple of new sock garters sitting on them.
Three new argyles from Tabbisocks, and a fluffy little warmer from them as well.
Hanging from that shelf: baby argyles from B.ella, we need to borrow a baby for that, they’re a little larger than my baby dolls feet, so she’ll not be used this time. Those plaid skull patched warmers beside them are what I am editing this morning and will be adding by the end of the day. The rest are merely a few items I’d like to reshoot, a pair of slippers we use as props, and another private labeled item I have very unique plans for. So there you have it, a little chaotic as usual, just the way I like it.

I was sent a sample of these sometime back and wasn’t impressed. I’d probably never wear them myself, but others around the office felt differently. I snuck them into one of Raubynn’s many orders as a surprise and she absolutely loved them. Several months later I was ready to start ordering some off-the-wall styles, things I would consider more novelty socks. I think maybe we should rename novelty “fun”
…I like fun socks, fun socks are good.
These came in a few days ago and Dara adored them and called dibs so here she is in all their fuzzy-lipped glory. We noticed the pairs are not all identical, there are three variations, some have orange, some have fuchsia and some have pink among the other pink & red lipstick kisses, we’re not going to offer options, it’ll be a ‘you’ll get what we send you” kind of situation, but if you have a preference and we have them all available to grab from go ahead and specify.
I have one more fun item to add this morning…
(not to mention frogs and leopard slippers coming in a few days)
then I’ll be adding more sexy, comfy & unique styles.
We had a gift note on an order this week that said simply:
Better than flowers

…brilliant, we love it!

I’m not a fan of novelty socks. Reps rarely even show them to me anymore…
they’re there if I want to look and sometimes I do. They seem to appeal to a certain and rare mood I have and I had such a mood last week while I perused my K.Bell catalog. The Baking Day crew socks stood out from the colorful crowd on the pages I usually skip right past. I saw them and felt sudden joy. What do I love nearly as much as socks? baking! While working at Powell’s cookbook store I was in charge of the baking and related dessert-like book sections and would marvel over being paid to organize and order such a fun grouping of books. That was in the early days of my sock dreaming, long before employees, ‘back in the day’ I could fulfill all the sock orders and work a full time job that was a dream in itself.

I had my props ready days before the socks actually arrived and despite having literally dozens of new goodies to shoot and show you I managed to get these done, old style, just me and my camera at home. The rest of the girls and guys at Sock Dreams headquarters will be helping me with the rest of the new styles soon ~everything from equally goofy novelty-like styles to lace-trimmed anklets & awesome new leg warmers & tights & more. What’s the hold up? we are having quite a week here, I rearranged some schedules causing the natural re-adjustment period topped by not one, but two employees having family emergencies to attend to. And so it goes…