Cotton Socks
Posted on 21. Nov, 2009 by admin in Socks
Cotton is the classic fabric to make a sock from. Although it is too absorbent to be used as an exercise sock, the natural fibers keep feet cool and fresh during normal daily activity.
The ideal cotton sock is one that has a little synthetic stretch in it. When these are slipped on your feet it is like you are wearing no socks at all.
For a long time, pure cotton socks fell out of favor. While the natural fibers let the foot ‘breathe’ they did nothing to prevent sweating. Sweaty feet aren’t considered the most attractive thing the human body is able to do, and the trend towards moisture-absorbing synthetic fibers continued. This is still largely the case, although there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of pure cotton socks, mostly due to the realization that ‘moisture-absorbing’ also means ‘odor-absorbing!’ While cotton socks mean sweaty feet, they also mean less smelly feet.
There is also an increase in allergies to synthetic and over-processed fibers. Cotton is one of the culprits, so purists are instead buying their socks from manufacturers who only make their socks from organic, naturally-dyed cotton. Good for the body and good for the planet.
They’re also good for people with sensitive skin. Although the feet show more sweat when wearing cotton socks than when wearing synthetic, air is more easily able to circulate and cool the skin, relieving the heat that aggravates common skin conditions like athlete’s foot and mild eczema.
Cotton socks are extremely popular in Europe. The summer months see cotton socks out in force, for it’s breathable properties and its cachet. For the Italians in particular, cotton is cool, in more ways than one.
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