No Shoes, No Shirt, Just Socks
Pity the lowly sock, forever doomed to sit at the bottom of the fashion food chain. Other accessories have their moment in the sun: the tie that completes the outfit, the belt that sports a vintage buckle, even underwear gets to star on the occasional billboard. Laurie Mallet, president of Ozone design, has had enough. "For too long the sock has been ignored by the world of fashion. We are going to change that."
It's big talk, but Mallet has never been one to aim low. Raised in a fashion family in Paris, Mallet moved to the U.S. as a young adult and in 1976 she went into business with Willi Smith, a young African-American designer. The pair went on to build Willi Wear from a $4,000 investment into a $40 million business and won acclaim for their innovative sportswear and integration of fashion and art.
Mallet's latest venture is Ozone Design, which she founded with her partner Peter Rittmaster, a world champion yacht racer and industrial designer. Rittmaster brought a unique perspective to the work of sock design. "I'm used to building ships," he said. "So when designing a sock, I built a 3-D model, and I started drawing right on that."
The result was a designer sock that will strike any business traveler as obvious, and brilliant. The sock has a dress shoe printed around the foot, so while the rest of the world is repeating the awkward ritual of passing through airport security in stocking feet, you can follow procedure and keep your style intact. Just be sure to alert the guards to you clever ruse.
Ozone has also continued the Willie Wear tradition by producing several dress socks that combine fashion and art. When Chrsito did the Gates project in Central Park he came to Ozone for specially commissioned socks. The polka dots on Ozone socks are not just a pleasant pattern, but a adaptation of John John, now on display at the MOMA, by Damien Hirst.
Along with high art, Ozone also does the American vernacular. Inspired by the custom motorcycle builder, Ozone has created a set of dress socks that work as well on a bike as in the boardroom. At a recent Harley-Davidson rally in Cincinnati, Ozone sold out of both pairs. "These bikers came up to us, and they wanted the socks, but they didn't admit it," says Mallet. "They would wander off, then come back in a hour and buy a pair 'For the wife.' Of course, they always bought them in men's sizes."
When Mallet talks about her dreams for socks, people often ask her what all the fuss is about. Most of the time no can see your socks anyway. "Fashion is something you do for yourself," says Mallet. "Of course, when other people get a glimpse, that is exciting. But I prefer the idea that socks are your secret weapon." --BEN POPPER
Bravo! It is about time men’s socks receive the attention they deserve. It is really hard to find a pair of fun men’s socks!
I am an American Executive traveling several times a year to Japan on business and cannot tell you the amount of compliments I have received on my Ozone shoe socks when I removed my shoes at home and restaurants. These are a must for every American traveling in Japan.
A friend of mine in Chicago showed me a pair of Ozone Riders socks with a knitted gun and holster on them, are these the same socks? If so where can I find them?
Those socks are amazing! This is the first time I've heard of Mallet - I wonder how their socks stack up next to these top picks:
http://www.3luxe.com/category/Fashion_Accessories/Mens_Socks
I definitely agree that socks are generally an afterthought, even for otherwise stylish men. It's kind of funny - they will spend thousands on a gorgeous suit but wear cheap and/or boring socks with it.