Producing socks in China

A motif on its own does not describe a sock. Material, construction and fit decide. Many everyday socks are mostly cotton, combined with polyamide for durability and a little elastane so that the sock sits close. Sports socks often get a terry sole that cushions and absorbs moisture, while business socks are knitted smooth and fine.

How fine a sock looks depends on the needle count of the knitting machine and on the yarn count. More needles give a denser knit and allow finer motifs. Then come shaft height, from trainer socks to knee length, the type of cuff, the heel and the toe closure. A sock with a flat linked toe seam presses less than one with a thick, overlocked seam.

We write these points down before comparing producers. The producer has to be able to knit your construction and your size system, for example 35–38, 39–42 and 43–46. A catalogue item that only looks similar is not enough.

DS Trading is a German firm based in Hamburg. Co-founder Felix Sander lives in China and works there with a team that comes from sourcing and knows more than 100 producers personally. Whether a knitting mill can handle your jacquard motif at the fineness you want, or has enough machines free for your date, the team can find out directly on site.

For many buyers, importing from China is a black box. With us, one European contact goes through the whole project with you and makes it happen, from the first motif draft to DDP delivery. That person gets in touch without being asked, including when something does not go to plan, for example when a yarn shade is not available. We set realistic delivery dates for your socks and do everything we can to keep them. Trust is our most valuable asset. If there is a quality problem, we speak to you at once and come to you if needed.

As a rule you pay less with us than with your own sourcing or through other sourcing agencies. We organise China and Germany ourselves, compare on both sides and choose the cheaper option each time. With the knitting mill we negotiate the best possible price. Your socks arrive DDP, and the invoice is issued in Germany.

Socks are made on circular sock-knitting machines that knit the sock from cuff to toe in one piece. After that the toe is closed, the sock is shaped on a form, paired and packed. A clothing factory that sews T-shirts and hoodies usually does not have these machines.

That is why we do not let socks run in the same factory as the rest of a collection. We ask knitting mills that specialise in socks. Our team in China sees clear advantages in quality and price at such producers, because their machines and yarns are set up for exactly this product.

There are two ways to put a design on a sock. Knitted-in motifs are created during knitting; how many colours per row are possible depends on the machine. For photo motifs and colour gradients, an all-round digital print works, and it holds best on socks with a high polyester content. A small logo can also be embroidered.

For a knitted-in motif, your artwork is translated into a knitting program, stitch by stitch. Very fine lines and small lettering lose sharpness in the process. The sample shows how the motif really looks, how it stretches on the foot and whether colours and position are right. At the same time you judge fit, cuff pressure, toe seam and the feel of the yarn.

Retail packaging for socks usually means a paper band, a header card or a hang tag, often in multipacks of three or five pairs. Not every producer includes these parts in the sock price. The quote therefore states explicitly whether packaging, labels and hang tags are included.

Before every sock series, we have a sample pair knitted in your design. Sample and shipping are charged, and you know the amount before we place the order. The series only starts once you have approved the sample pair in writing. The approved pair and the specification remain the benchmark for production and for every reorder.

Our own team in China checks your socks twice, directly at the producer. During production it compares the first pairs off the machine with the approved sample: yarn colour, knit, length and motif. At this stage deviations can still be corrected in the machine settings.

Before shipment comes the check of the finished socks. Depending on the sock, it covers foot and shaft length, pairing, an even knit, heel and toe seam, how well the cuff springs back, motif position, labels, packaging and quantity. Wash or laboratory tests are agreed separately when needed.

Common faults on socks are dropped stitches and small holes, two socks of different length in one pair, hard knots at the toe seam and colour differences between two yarn lots. In multipacks, a wrong size on the paper band can be added to that. We discuss these points with the producer before the start, make sure an order is knitted from one yarn lot wherever possible, and look for them specifically at both checks.

Fibre composition and construction determine the customs tariff for socks, and we check it for the exact article. Our quote brings together producer price, sample, inspection, freight, customs clearance and delivery.

Socks are small, light and pack densely. For larger quantities, sea freight with 50 to 65 days to delivery is usually the economical choice, while urgent reorders travel by air in about 15 days. Production itself takes a few days to about four weeks, depending on motif and quantity.

We deliver DDP to the agreed address, and you receive the invoice from Hamburg. You pay 60% on signing the contract and 40% when the bill of lading or air waybill is issued. Orders start at 300 pieces per article; the quote states clearly whether the producer counts single socks or pairs.