Knee-high socks
Full length to below the knee. Formal wear, school uniform and team kit.
The length that has to hold itself up all day.
A knee-high finishes just below the kneecap. Unlike every shorter length, it crosses the widest part of the calf, so the same sock has to be loose enough to pull on and tight enough not to sag by lunchtime.
That balance is a grading problem, not a materials problem. The leg is knitted with progressive tension that changes along its length, and the top band does far less of the work than buyers usually assume.
Who orders knee-high socks.
Three markets that rarely overlap, buying the same length for opposite reasons.
Long repeat programmes where colour matching across seasons matters as much as fit.
Football and rugby socks worn over shin guards, which changes the calf measurement the sock has to fit.
Fine-gauge knee-highs so no skin shows when the wearer sits down, a standing requirement in some corporate dress codes.
What to settle before we quote a knee-high.
The leg is the product. The foot is almost an afterthought by comparison.
Calf circumference, not shoe size. Two people with the same feet can differ by ten centimetres at the calf. A knee-high graded only on shoe size will fail on one of them.
What goes underneath. A shin guard, a boot shaft or nothing at all. Team socks are knitted wider through the shin for this reason, and a formal sock knitted to the same pattern will fall down.
Top band construction. Wide soft welt for comfort, or a firmer band for hold. A band that grips hard enough to stop a sagging sock will leave a mark on the leg, so the hold should come from the leg tension instead.
Elastane distribution. State whether you want it even along the leg or concentrated below the knee. This single choice is most of the difference between a sock that stays up and one that does not.
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 knee-high socks usually weigh these against it.
Over-the-knee socks
Above the knee, knitted with graduated elastane so they stay up.
Sport and performance socks
Zoned cushioning, mesh ventilation panels and arch support to specification.
Dress socks
Fine gauge, flat knit, mercerised cotton or wool for a smooth close finish.