Logoed socks have been a part of well-heeled promotions for the last few years, and the trend doesn’t seem to be waning. A cozy pair of socks is akin to receiving a warm hug from a brand – and because feet aren’t front-and-center, bright colors and wild designs are not only welcomed, but often encouraged. Here are three hot trends to warm cold feet.

1. Try a tie-dye. Start with a white sock that has a black logo woven in, then dye it to match the brand colors. “This is definitely a new, cool look for socks, even if your client has ordered a lot of woven socks in the past,” says Chloe Ayres, director of sales and marketing at Sock Club Enterprises (asi/88072).

2. Go bold. Rather than stick with a simple logo, consider a repeating pattern of elements related to the company or chunky stripes in the brand’s colors. “Fun prints and patterns are definitely trending right now,” says Terrin Conway, account manager at Sock101 (asi/88071). “If you’re going to do a custom sock, why not go all-out?”

3. Be a heel. Add an unexpected kick to custom socks by putting the logo on the sole, rather than the ankle.

Socks ranked
67
among all ESP searches in Q2.

Source: ASI Research

Try These Decoration Ideas

The cotton crew (1001) is Sock Club Enterprise’s most popular style.

Custom knit: This is the premium decoration method, when the logo or design is knit right in and a machine produces the sock. “You get a softer sock and logos and artwork stay intact longer as opposed to a printed sock,” says Conway.

Dye sublimation: This process allows you to create elaborate graphics on socks made from synthetic fibers. It’s more affordable for small order sizes – think fewer than 20 pairs. But there are drawbacks. The artwork can distort when worn and may not last as long. “The yarn components of a sock aren’t necessarily intended for the extreme heat and pressure of the sublimation process,” says Charles Badgett, owner of Sports Solutions Inc. (asi/88876).

Direct-to-garment: DTG printers can produce elaborate graphics, similar to sublimation, Badgett says, but because the process doesn’t require as much pressure, it results in a better-quality sock.

These fuzzy socks with a slip-resistant tread (SockFuzzyEMB) are available from Sports Solutions.

Embroidery: For fuzzy slipper socks (a must in worker appreciation kits), consider direct embroidery or an embroidered patch as decoration.