Acrylic and nylon yarn have become popular in recent years due to being soft to the touch while less expensive than wool, but what's the true cost of this environmentally harmful synthetic fabric? Let's take a closer look.
Many sock brands today advertise as being "wool," but in fact are usually a blend of a small percentage of actual wool and the rest acrylic and nylon. This is done by manufacturers to cut costs and increase their margin, so they sell you an inferior product while becoming richer at the detriment of the world, which suffers from the pollution caused by acrylic production.
It is well known that most plastic is made from fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, which release toxic emissions when extracted from the earth. Worse still, every time an acrylic garment is washed in a machine, it releases microparticles which end up in our oceans, poisoning marine life.
In the short-term, acrylic fibers are susceptible to pilling after the very first wash, so that cheap pair of socks you thought were a good deal, end up falling apart quickly and cost you more in the long run. On the other hand (or foot), pure wool socks will last much longer if properly cared for. It's for the same reason that wool and cashmere sweaters can last decades with care.
Wool is naturally warm and temperature regulating, which is why it has been used for thousands of years in garment making. It was recently discovered that even the ancient Egyptians wore wool socks! More impressive still, these 1,700 year old wool socks were discovered intact a hundred years ago and now reside in the British Museum of London.
Additionally, unlike its synthetic counterpart, wool is naturally water and odor resistant. The reason for this is that wool wicks moisture away before the bacteria that causes odor can form. This is why pure wool socks are the best choice to keep feet warm, cozy, and smell-free.
Shop our 100% pure merino wool socks for the best Fall and Winter socks for men and women.
