Compression socks
Graduated pressure from ankle to calf, knitted to a stated mmHg profile.
A sock with a number attached to it.
A compression sock applies measured pressure, strongest at the ankle and decreasing up the calf. That gradient is the product. It is stated in millimetres of mercury and it is the one property a buyer can test independently.
This makes compression different from every other construction in the catalogue. Elsewhere the specification describes how the sock is made; here it describes how the sock must perform, and the knitting is whatever achieves it.
Who orders compression socks.
Three buyers with very different regulatory expectations of the same product.
Pharmacy and clinical supply, where the pressure class and the claims on the packaging are both regulated.
Lighter support sold on comfort during long flights and long shifts, with no medical claim attached.
Calf sleeves and full socks sold to athletes, usually at the lower end of the pressure range.
What to settle before we quote a compression sock.
Start with the claim you intend to make, then work backwards. The claim decides the rest.
The pressure class. State the mmHg range at the ankle. Everything else in the construction, including the yarn and the machine, follows from that number.
Which standard, if any. Different markets recognise different compression standards and different testing regimes. Tell us the destination market before sampling, not after.
Sizing by measurement. Compression socks are graded on ankle and calf circumference. A sock sized on shoe size delivers the wrong pressure on most wearers, which defeats the purpose of buying one.
Open or closed toe. Open-toe is standard in clinical supply and rare in retail. Decide early: it is a different foot pattern, not a modification.
Specification.
What applies to every order of this construction. Anything not listed here is set by your tech pack.
| Minimum order | 200 pairs per colour and size range. From 120 pairs on request, at a higher price per pair. |
| Size range | Women 35–40 and men 40–45 as standard, split into more sizes on request. Children’s sizes to your size chart. |
| Sampling | 10 to 20 days. USD 100 per design on a first order, credited against the order if it goes ahead. |
| Production | Delivered within 60 days of sample approval. Urgent small runs in 20 to 40 days. |
| Knitting machines | Our workshop runs 60 knitting machines, from 120 to 200 needles. |
| Yarns available | Cotton, wool, cashmere, silk, bamboo, mercerised cotton, modal, viscose, lyocell, Tencel, polyamide, polyester, acrylic, elastane, copper, silver |
| Branding | Knitted-in logo in up to seven colours a row, silicone print, under-sole transfer print, embroidery, header cards and packaging to your artwork |
| Certification | Facility certified to ISO 9001, 10002, 14001 and 45001. Yarn from Oeko-Tex, GOTS and GRS certified spinning mills. |
Related constructions.
Buyers who brief us on compression socks usually weigh these against it.
Sport and performance socks
Zoned cushioning, mesh ventilation panels and arch support to specification.
Knee-high socks
Full length to below the knee. Formal wear, school uniform and team kit.
Non-slip and hospital socks
Silicone tread applied to the sole for grip on hard floors.