Industry Terms

acrylic fiber

A man-made fiber that is generally warm and lightweight and is used in casual, dress and athletic socks. Acrylic keeps its shape and properties including resilience, softness, easy care, low-shrinkage, rich colorations and wisking.

anklets

Hosiery with a top designed to cover the ankle bone and extending less than one-third of the way up the largest part of the calf.

argyle

Geometrically knit pattern that produces a balanced design of multi-colored diamond figures against a solid color background.

athletic socks

Hosiery designed for active sports, often having a ribbed striped top and plain foot construction. Usually knit of acrylic cotton, wool, or combinations thereof.

band

A paper construction used to package half-hose; usually coated with special pressure-sensitive textile adhesive.

bird's-eye

A small, evenly spaced pattern in a diamond design.

bobby sox

A heavy cuffed anklet that was predominantly a girl's fashion of the '40's and which enjoys period revival.

booties

Soft, fluffy knitted foot coverings for infants. Designed for children of pre-walking age.

brand

The name used to identify a product, such as hosiery or fiber, which comes from a particular manufacturer. a) Branded hosiery is that which is marketed and usually advertised nationally, under one name which guarantees the same quality regardless of where it is purchased. (See unbranded.) b) Name used to identify fiber from which stockings or pantyhose are knit. For example, Glospan/Cleerspan.

brushed

Brushes used to produce a napped surface in socks.

cable

A knitted pattern usually made up of two vertically intertwined bands.

calf-high

The name used for short-length stockings that come up to the calf of the wearer.

colorfast

Fabric with dye retention such that no significant change in shade takes place during the normal life of the sock.

combed cotton

Cotton which has been processed through a "comber" which removes short fibers and trash components to achieve higher uniformity and tenacity.

control top

Pantyhose with spandex in the top for soft girdle or "control" effect.

cotton crotch

A cotton panel sewn into the crotch area of pantyhose.

cotton fiber

A soft and heat-resistant vegetable fiber used in garments since 3,000 B.C. It absorbs and retains moisture, is readily washable, and is available in a wide variety of types and qualities. Long staple combed cotton is generally considered to provide the finest quality cotton yarn for socks.

crew socks

A designator of length, synonymous with "mid-calf" in men's socks. One of the most popular men's styles, available in wide ranges of colors and patterns.

crochet

A knitting process that creates a fabric by a series of interlocking loops rather than rows of stitches. Needlework that is used to form an ornamented design on the hose whether it is sheer or "wool-like" in texture.

cuffed

Socks folded over at the top, usually just above the ankle.

cushioned

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, the terry forms the inside of the foot portion of the sock. Some of more complex constructions 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 used in men's and women's athletic and casual socks of all types. While terry cushioning normally fulfills a functional purpose of reducing shock of running or jumping, the same terry-knitting procedure is followed in producing novelty socks with a terry or velour outer surface.

decitex

The metric measuring system used to indicate weight per unit length of yarns in Europe. (It is numerically equal to the weight, in grams, of 10,000 meters of yarn.)

denier

Denier is the weight-per-unit-length of the yarn. (It is numerically equal to the weight, in grams, of 9,000 meters of yarn.) The lower the denier, the lighter and finer the yarn, and the sheerer the garment. Hose knit of higher denier yarns tend to be more durable.

dress socks

Light to medium weight men's and boy's styles. Lengths may vary from mid- to over-the-calf.

electronic patterning

Use of an electronic device to control certain needles in knitting to create a pattern. Also called Computer design.

embroidery

The application of designs of decorative trim by machine or hand sewing.

executive length

Men's over-the-calf dress styles.

fair isle

Any Nordic or snowflake patterning.

fancies

Men's socks of any length bearing multicolor designs such as stripes, herringbones, argyles and other fashion styles.

fiber

Natural or man-made units of matter which can be spun into a yarn or made into a fabric by various methods including weaving, knitting, braiding, felting and twisting. The essential properties for fibers to be spun into yarn include a length of at least 5 millimeters, flexibility, cohesiveness, and sufficient strength. Other important properties include elasticity, fineness, uniformity, durability, and luster.

fishnet

Knitted knee-highs, stockings or pantyhose with a very wide open knit resembling a fish net. Very stylish and fashionable, but very porous providing little warmth or protection or cosmetic covering.

flat knit

The second most widely used construction. Sock fabric knitted on a single cylinder machine and producing a fine, smooth surface with a jersey-like appearance. Used for casual socks of all types, some varieties of work socks, for children's hosiery, and in socks where the distinction is achieved by the yarn or by treatments such as embroidery, appliques, or small neat patterns.

footed sock

A sock knitted to conform to foot shape - as contrasted with a tube sock.

footies

Short, below the ankle bone hosiery of varying weight and fiber content. Often called slipper socks and have varying uses such as athletic wear, casual wear, and come in different sizes for all age groups.

gussett

A term that means crotch panel in pantyhose. The "gussett" can be all nylon, or can be cotton/nylon. It can be any shape from diamond to full back panel, but always means there is an extra piece sewn in at the crotch area.

jacquard

An intricate process for knitting patterns, designs, or textures into the sock fabric, and the method by which is produced the decorative patterns. Jacquard equipment is necessarily slower than conventional knitting machines and the lower productivity is of course reflected in the cost.

knee-highs

Short hosiery that comes up to just below the knee. They are styled with elastic tops and stay up without the help of garters. They became very popular with the advent of women's slacks.

lace

Ladies sheer hosiery knitted with a pattern resembling lace and/or hosiery with lace seamed to the top of the leg or waistband.

leg warmer

Originally popular with dancers, leg warmers have become a fashion item. Knitted from wool or acrylics, leg warmers are long socks, often without feet, that can reach above the knee or higher up the thigh. Bold geometric patterns and colorful stripes are often used.

leotard

A one-piece garment, originally worn by dancers, that covers the torso. Today's leotards often double as swimsuits or fashion accessories, and are available in a variety of styles and designs.

link jacquard

Type of stitch used in a patterned sock.

longfold

Step in hosiery production where merchandise is stored and prepared for final packaging.

Lycra Spandex

A registered trademark of the DuPont Company for their spandex fiber, which is commonly used in sheer hosiery, socks and half-hose for its stretch and recovery properties, providing better fit and shape retention, comfort, and/or support.

mercerized

A cotton yarn which has been treated with a solution of caustic under conditions of caustic concentration and temperature which effect a permanent or irreversible swelling of the cellulose.

microfiber

Microfiber is a generic term used to indicate yarns made of filament weighing less than one denier per filament (DPF), most commonly used in creation of nylon and polyester products.

mid-calf/crew

Hosiery with a top extending beyond ankle length but not beyond the largest part of the calf.

novelties

Women's non-basic styles characterized by unusual patterning and/or coloration.

nylon

Man-made fiber introduced in 1938. It is the first and the oldest of the true synthetics. Chemically, nylon is a man-made polyamide fiber derived from coal, air, and water. This fiber is famous for its strength, abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, soft hand, elasticity, and easy-washing and quick-drying characteristics. There are two basic types of nylon used in hosiery. They are Type 6 and Type 6,6. Type 6 nylon is softer and has less memory when textured than Type 6,6. Most of the yarns used in ladies hosiery are made of Type 6,6 nylon to impart the maximum memory to the fabric. In socks, it is used primarily in men's dress socks, novelties, and as a reinforcement with other fibers. Another use for nylon in socks is the stretch filament nylon plaited with other fibers to obtain multi-sizes.

over-the-calf

Men's and boy's socks that extend above the fattest part of the calf. Often termed as OTC.

pantyhose

A garment that combines both panty and stockings into a one piece waist-high garment that extends above the crotch, but not above the waist, to the toes.

patterned

Socks or sheers having a design knitted into the garment or impressed on the side, front or over-all surface. (See Textures)

peds

A generic term for a broad range of hosiery products including socks, pantyhose, tights, knee-highs, slippers, foot covers and shoe liners of varying weight and with multiple uses. Usually refers to low profile socks with top just within the ankle area.

polyester

Polyester is a man-made fiber which has abrasion-resistance, excellent washability, and is fast-drying. It is readily heat-settable and dyeable. Polyester is used in men's and boy's dress socks, in decorative applications such as cross-dyeing and jacquards, and as a reinforcement.

pom

A women's or girl's footsock, or footie, with a pom-pom sewn on at the back.

private label

Merchandising hosiery products under the name of a retail operation, as opposed to manufacturer's brand names. Private label programs, sometimes called private brands, can include all varieties of men's or women's pantyhose, stockings, or socks.

queen size

Stockings, pantyhose, or knee-highs sized to fit the heavier woman. Queen size is usually considered an extension of standard garments into a larger size. Outsize, on the other hand, is considered a separate category of merchandise altogether (see Outsize).

rayon

A generic term for filaments made from various solutions of modified cellulose by pressing or drawing the cellulose solution through an orifice and solidifying it in the form of a filament. Rayon has a soft hand, high moisture absorbency and retention, and good dyeability and washability.

reciprocated

In the usual knitting process, the sock is begun at the top and knitted toward the toe. Upon reaching the heel, the machine begins to move more slowly in a semi-circular ("reciprocated") fashion to produce the heel pocket. It may be adjusted to reciprocate again at the toe to form a toe pocket. All socks do not have reciprocated toes and heels. For example, the basic tube styles have neither. The "fishmouth" toe closure is non-reciprocated but may be used on a sock with a reciprocated heel.

ribbed

Vertical pattern of alternating ridges in socks and sheer hosiery. Design may be formed through differences in weight, in knit stitch or opacity.

seamed

Hosiery manufactured in the old full-fashioned manner with a seam running up the back of the leg. In the past, these garments were manufactured by cutting fabric and sewing it together. Today these products are generally made on a full circular knitted two bases and a fake seam is added up the back for a particular fashion look. Some tights are seamed on the inside of the leg but these are generally not produced by hosiery manufacturers.

seamless

Stockings knit in one operation on circular machines (one continuous operation) so that no seaming is required up the back. (See Full Fashioned)

sheers

Dress sheers are hosiery fashioned generally of 15 or 20 denier yarn - to be worn for daytime glamour. Evening sheers are hosiery fashioned of wisp-weight 10,12, or 15 denier yarn - to be worn for special occasions.

silk

The filaments obtained from the cocoons of various types of silkworms.

slipper sock

Casual in the house or bedtime sock that usually has a bonded sole of rubber, leather or extra cushioning or padding on the bottom. This sole can be bonded, sewn or heat transferred to the knitted sock.

slouch sock

Fashion sock with an elongated top designed to be pushed down and worn gathered around the ankle.

spandex

A generic term denoting a man-made elastomeric fiber used in place of rubber. Spandex was developed by DuPont in 1959, offering the unique capacity for stretch and recovery. It can stretch to over five times its relaxed strength and fully recover. Spandex is used in support and light support products to provide the energy to shape and compress the leg. Spandex yarns are often covered with nylon yarns to protect the spandex. Spandex is widely used in sock tops and pantyhose waistbands for its stretch/recovery properties and "stay up" holding power. It is increasingly used in corespun yarn and as plaiting yarn to replace textured nylon for better size range, improved fit, and comfort.

stocking

A knitted, close-fitting covering for the foot and leg.

stretch sock

Socks which are made from stretch yarn such as Ban-Lon, Flexcel, Fluflon, Helanca, Superloft, or Synfoam. A stretch sock can be adapted to fit a range of foot sizes.

tartan

Any traditional plaid design.

terry

A looped pile construction used inside most athletic socks and some work socks.

textures

A general term that includes all knitted-in patterns. Typical textures include cable, herringbone, basketweave, fisherman and pointelle.

thermal socks

Winter-weight boot length socks favored by skiers, skaters, or anyone who spends a great deal of time outdoors in cold weather. They can be made of heavy duty Orlon acrylic, wool, Thermax, silk, polypropylene, or Hollofil yarns, or a blend of fibers.

thigh-highs

Stockings that just reach the thigh and are held up by elastomer bands.

tights

A heavy, opaque one-piece garment from hip to toe worn with leotards for dance, exercise, etc. It is usually made with 40 denier yarn and over and is sometimes made of yarn other than nylon.

toe socks

Knitted hosiery of various weights designed with individual toe covers, like a glove only for the toes.

toelets

Knitted hosiery of various weights that is designed to cover the toe portion of the foot only. Designed to be worn with special types of shoes such as clogs.

tube socks

Hosiery knit in the shape of a tube, usually on multi-feed machines. Tube socks are nonreciprocated - without a knit-in heel - and are primarily used as men's and boy's spectator athletic socks.

unbranded

Applied to hosiery that is not marketed throughout the country under a recognizable name. Usually not nationally advertised. (See Brand).

waistband

An elastic band either knitted into or sewn onto the top portion of the pantyhose, to hug the waist and hold the garment up.

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