Socks are not only importantly important as a main clothing item, but also very important for the health of persons. The socks are used at most and are the most long-lived pieces of clothing.
From the antique time to today socks in the everyday life and in the Anatolian tradition represent an indispensable article of clothing and the traditionally examined socks had an enormous importance for the user.
In the history of the socks the first findings of socks were discovered in the years 500 - 600 before Christ. The excavations at the edge of the Altai Mountains show socks made of felt. The first writings in the 8.th century before Christ it was discovered that the Greek poet Hesiod spoke of a shoe fodder made of animal hair. With the excavations in the year 1920 in Egypt knitted socks were discovered, which are assigned to the period between 3rd. and 6th century before Christ.
It is also known that since the 2nd. Century before Christ. flexible sock-like clothing from felt or animal skin was tailored. Similar sock examples can also be seen in the Anatolian culture and also at migratory groups of peoples in Greece and in Turkmenistan and in the Balkans countries.
The word “Gorab” (sock) has its root in the French and was taken over by the Arab with the word „Curap “and afterwards by the Turks with the word „Çorap “from where it flowed to the languages of the Balkan countries.
In Turkmenistan the word sock means „Ceşka “. In English it is called sock. This word comes from Latin and is called „Soccus “. The Latin word “Soccus” has the meaning of “shoe with low heel”.
The Romans took over this word from the antique Greeks. The “Sukkhos”, which carried the Greeks in the Roman time at their feet, (light shoes made of skin tied to the feet) found its place on the island with the invasion of the Romans in Britain. The Anglo-Saxon took over this tradition of the socks, which one could carry in the boots.
The Hun king Attila wound his legs with multicoloured cloths. In 16th century the high society wore multicoloured, shining and striped socks. This was a mean to express oneself individually. Hand knitted socks took their form in 17th. Century. William Lee, who lived in Nottingham, developed a mechanical device by observing knitting women. (movements of the hands during knitting).
With this system the mechanical production of the socks began.
Starting from 1930 the sock was not any more a protective clothing, but a fashion product.
With the discovery of the Lycra in the year 1959 the sock experienced its second boom. Since this time socks have the upper hand on the market.