Glossary

Sumptuous and sensationally soft, luxurious angora is a yarn originally made from angora rabbit hair and characterized by a woolly or lofty look. Great for warm feet. Now often simulated by the use of specialty acrylic fibres. The small amount of Angora used in the yarns of any Angora socks sold at SOCKSHOP.co.uk is procured from suppliers who guarantee animal welfare.

Ankle highs are a form of hosiery (like tights and stockings) which stop just above the ankle. They are ideal to wear under trousers and are cooler to wear during the summer months and are available in 12-15 denier and a range of shades from skin tones, to sheer black and even some bright colours.

Socks with arch support usually feature an elasticated section which fits around the arch of your foot and holds in place to provide extra support. Arch support socks are ideal for sports and activities.

Argyle is a multi-coloured knitted diamond pattern against a solid colour background.

Bamboo is a fibre which is 100% naturally grown, without assistance from man and it is 100% sustainable. It thrives naturally without using any pesticides or fertilisers and the fibre is 100% biodegradable. Bamboo also has many features that lend themselves perfectly to socks.

The cross-section of the bamboo fibre is filled with various micro-gaps and micro-holes, ensuring much better moisture absorption and ventilation than other fibres. This means that the bamboo is 2-3 degrees cooler in warm weather and also very warm in cold weather, because of the same micro structure. Bamboo never sticks to the skin, it’s 3-4 times more absorbent than cotton, wicking moisture away from the skin which then evaporates, keeping you naturally drier and more comfortable.

Socks made from bamboo have particular natural anti-bacterial functions, bacteriostasis and deodorisation value. Its test results show over 70% of bacteria perished when incubated on bamboo fibre. In addition, tests by the Japanese Textile Inspection Association found that, even after fifty times of washing, bamboo fabric still possessed these functions. Bamboo allows socks to help keep feet fresher for longer and healthier as the fabric naturally stops bacteria from spreading.

At a microscopic level, bamboo fibre has a round and smooth surface. Because of this, it’s very smooth and sits perfectly next to the skin. Bamboo is also a great choice for sensitive or allergy prone skin, made from fibres that are round and smoother than other fabrics causing less irritation.

Cable is a knitted pattern; usually made up of two vertically intertwined bands, often known as cable knit.

Cashmere is a luxuriously soft, expensive yarn made from the undercoat of the kashmir goat.

Socks with a comfort cuff feature a softer top which grips the leg more gently - enough to keep the sock up but not so much that it digs into the leg, cuts off circulation or leaves any uncomfortable marks.

Cleverly designed to wick moisture away from the foot allowing it to evaporate, Cool Max helps socks keep your feet cool, dry and fresh wherever and whenever you wear them. Especially effective during exercise and sport.

Cotton is a soft and heat-resistant vegetable fibre used in garments since 3,000 B.C. Cotton absorbs and retains moisture, and is readily washable.

In active sports socks, cotton moves sweat away from the foot, transporting through the sock top or to shoe surfaces where it can evaporate. This is important in strenuous sports use because sweat-soaked socks become hard and matted, ultimately causing discomfort and contributing to the possibility of blistering.

Cotton is the premier fibre in socks and is preferred by many consumers as it has abrasion resistance, excellent shape-keeping resilience and above all, it is a natural fibre.

Like other fibres, cotton has several family members, including mercerised cotton. Mercerisation is a process which removes stray yarns from the fibre, giving it a smoother feel and a sheen-like appearance.

Cotton lisle is loved for its superior strength and durability. Twisted an extra twist per inch than ordinary yarns in one direction with a second thread twisted at the same rate in the opposite direction, these two strands are then twisted together to create one combined cotton lisle thread.

What is Mercerised Cotton Lisle?
To create mercerised lisle cotton, the yarn is put through the mercerising process (exposing it to a caustic soda solution). This removes any removes any rough fibres giving the yarn a beautiful sheen finish and extra strength.

To ensure the highest quality, Pantherella use the finest quality long staple Egyptian cotton for their classic cotton lisle socks.

Cushioned, is any construction with a terry pile surface on one side and a ribbed or plain knit surface on the other.

In most cushioned athletic socks for example, the terry forms the inside of the foot portion of the sock. Some of the more sophisticated styles feature added layers of cushioning under certain areas of the foot, depending upon the sports activity for which the socks are intended.

Cushion constructions are often used in men's and women's athletic and casual socks of all types. While terry cushioning normally fulfils a functional purpose of reducing shock of running or jumping, the same terry-knitting procedure is followed in producing some novelty sock with a terry or velour outer surface.

Cushion constructions in a sock increases the thermal qualities. The cotton-cushion-soled sock is the most versatile all weather purpose sock.

Embroidery is the application of designs or decorative trim by machine or hand sewing.

These maintain the sexiness of stockings without the inconvenience of having to wear a suspender belt. Cooler in summer, they have a silicone band at the top of the leg which holds them in place against the skin. Beauty products, talc and body lotions should be avoided when wearing hold-ups, as these lessen the grip between the silicone and the skin, which is key to keeping the product secure and in place. They are available in 8-100 denier and also some fashion styles.

For those who are allergic to silicone products we offer an alternative, our classic nylon stocking.

Knee highs are a form of hosiery (like tights and stockings) which stop at the knee. They are ideal to wear under trousers and are cooler to wear during the summer months; available in 12-60 denier (and also in opaque with fashion designs) and a range of shades from skin tones, to sheer black and even some bright colours.

Tights without feet, this hosiery is a great alternative to traditional tights. Often referred to as footless tights or leggings, these styles can be ideal for warmth and our selection of leggings even includes pieces designed for sports and workouts.

(Also known as pearl cotton)

Mercerising is a treatment that the yarn is put through which removes any stray or rough fibres and gives it an extra strength and gorgeous sheen finish.

Although the mercerising process was devised in 1844 by John Mercer, it was not until 1980 when H.A. Lowe improved the process did mercerising become popular. 

The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep.

A pair is an article consisting of two joined or corresponding parts not used separately. For example a pair of trousers or a pair of scissors.

Composed of vertical ridges or 'wales' of varying width, ribbed is a traditional sock construction method, popular not only because it has a visual and tactile appeal, but because it gives a sock needed elasticity. The diagonal rib is a design treatment not unlike a herringbone.

Smooth toe seams are seams at the toe which have been joined by a single thread, causing them to feel practically seamless. This results in a less bulky toe which feels smoother and is less likely to cause abrasion or irritation.

Stockings are the most traditional form of hosiery, with two separate legs worn with a suspender belt to keep the item in place. These run from 8-100 denier in a range of shades, from skin tones to sheer black.

The most popular form of hosiery, available from 8 - 120 denier, tights are most commonly made from nylon but some styles are made from cotton, wool and even bamboo, with specialised styles including maternity tights and shaping tights.

The welt of the sock is the top of the sock, more commonly known as the cuff. This can be standard knit, using elastic, or a specialised honeycomb knit which uses no elastic and grips the leg more gently - this is referred to as a comfort cuff.