Menswear
Formal British-Made Men's Socks — Voted by the Community
This directory lists 11 brands that make formal men's socks in the UK. They are most often based in London and Northamptonshire. Prices run from premium to luxury. Ranked by community upvotes.
Peper Harow
Peper Harow is a quintessentially British brand founded in 2013, creating unique, fashionable socks and luxury accessories inspired by Surrey’s Peper Harow Parish.
- Athletic
- Bridal
- Casual
- Athletic
- Bridal
- Casual
Sanders & Sanders
Sanders & Sanders is a British footwear brand founded in 1873 by brothers William and Thomas Sanders in Northamptonshire. They remain family-owned, producing handcrafted shoes in their original factory.
- Casual
- Classic
- Contemporary
Shop to visit- Casual
- Classic
- Contemporary
See these brands on the map29 places from 10 brands, 21 of them shops you can visit.Open the map
Foster Barry
Foster Barry sell men's luxury shirts, ties and boxer shorts that are genuinely made in the British Isles.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Turnbull & Asser
Turnbull & Asser is a distinguished British shirtmaker founded in 1885, renowned for timeless style, exceptional quality, and sartorial elegance.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
John Lobb
John Lobb is a British bootmaker founded in 1866, renowned for its handmade bespoke footwear crafted with traditional techniques and royal heritage.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Pickett London
Pickett London, founded in 1988 by Trevor Pickett, is a British brand known for handmade luxury leather goods crafted in England with artisanal expertise.
- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Heritage
Bodileys
Bodileys of Northampton is a British shoemaking brand established in 1919, known for its century-long family heritage and traditional craftsmanship in English footwear.
- Classic
- Formal
- Classic
- Formal
Marwood
Marwood is a British fashion brand founded in London in 2010, known for unique designs and high-quality garments crafted locally with expert British craftsmanship.
- Contemporary
- Formal
- Contemporary
- Formal
Grenson
Grenson is a British footwear brand founded in 1866, renowned for handmade shoes using traditional craftsmanship and the Goodyear welt method.
- Classic
- Country
- Formal
Shop to visit- Classic
- Country
- Formal
Ede & Ravenscroft
Ede & Ravenscroft, established in 1689, is London’s oldest tailor, specialising in bespoke tailoring, ceremonial robes, legal attire, and ready-to-wear menswear with traditional British craftsmanship.
- Classic
- Formal
- Vintage
Shop to visit- Classic
- Formal
- Vintage
New & Lingwood
New & Lingwood is a British menswear brand founded in 1865, known for bespoke tailoring and outfitting Eton College with a heritage of quality craftsmanship.
- Formal
- Timeless
Shop to visit- Formal
- Timeless
Shops run by brands that make formal men's socks
7 of the 11 brands that make formal men's socks have a shop you can visit: 7 in London, others in Cambridge, Edinburgh, Eton and 1 other town.
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.