Menswear
Affordable British-Made Men's Socks — Voted by the Community
This directory lists 7 affordable brands that make men's socks in the UK. They are most often based in Leicestershire. Ranked by community upvotes.
Arbon Socks
Arbon Socks is a Frome-based British brand specialising in luxury alpaca and wool socks, crafted by traditional UK knitters using natural fibres.
- Casual
- Country
- Outdoor
- Casual
- Country
- Outdoor
The Bradford Sock Company
The Bradford Sock Company crafts high-quality socks in one of West Yorkshire's oldest mills, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern machinery.
- Casual
- Country
- Casual
- Country
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J. Alex Swift
Knitting socks since 1895. J. Alex Swift is a fourth-generation family business in the heart of Leicestershire, with every pair made in our own British factory.
- Casual
- Classic
- Country
- Casual
- Classic
- Country
Community Clothing
Community Clothing is a British brand founded in 2016 by Patrick Grant. They produce affordable, high-quality, seasonless staples in the UK, supporting local factories and minimising waste.
- Casual
- Classic
- Ethical
- Casual
- Classic
- Ethical
Mars Knitwear
Mars Knitwear is a Leicester-based manufacturer producing high-quality knitwear since 1994. All pieces are designed, made, and inspected in-house by experts.
- Casual
- Timeless
- Casual
- Timeless
- Pittch
Pittch
Pittch offers luxury Merino wool socks designed by Elisabeth Braddock and made in England.
- Casual
- Country
- Casual
- Country
Campbell's of Beauly
Campbell's of Beauly, established in 1858, is a Scottish family-run country tailor and outfitter known for bespoke tweeds, traditional clothing, and fishing equipment reflecting Highland heritage.
- Country
- Heritage
- Highland
Shop to visit- Country
- Heritage
- Highland
This independent directory lists UK-made clothing brands, and marks those that make only some items here.Why choose British-made?
A Brief History of British Made Socks
Socks and stockings have a long history in Britain. By the reign of Elizabeth I, English hand knitters were making stockings in wool and silk, and the Queen herself was given a pair of knitted silk stockings around 1560. William Lee of Calverton, near Nottingham, is traditionally credited with inventing the stocking frame, the first knitting machine, in 1589. Framework knitting grew first in London and then in the East Midlands, where Nottingham, Leicester and Derby became the centres of the hosiery trade. By 1750 England had around 14,000 frames. In 1759 Jedediah Strutt and William Woollatt patented the Derby rib machine, which let frames knit ribbed stockings that had previously been made by hand. The frame reached Scotland around 1771, and a large stocking trade grew in the Lowlands. By 1844 more than half of Scotland's frames were around Hawick or Dumfries. British sock makers today continue this long tradition of knitting, from plain and ribbed designs to cushioned socks for walking and work.