A little care goes a long way
Keep your favourite socks feeling their best with a few simple care habits. Our woollen and cotton socks need slightly different treatment. Follow the guide for your pair below.
Love your woollen socks
Please never wash your woollen socks at 40°C.
30°C maximum · Wool cycle
Hand washing is best for our woollen socks. If machine washing, follow these simple steps.
1. Wash with care
Choose a wool cycle at 30°C or below, with a slow spin. Use a specialist wool detergent.
2. Reshape and dry flat
Reshape while damp, flatten on a towel and air dry away from direct sunlight or heat. Do not tumble dry, iron or place on a radiator.
3. Store with care
Keep dry and folded in a drawer.
Bless your cotton socks
40°C maximum · Gentle cycle
A little care helps keep your cotton socks soft and long-lasting.
1. Wash with care
Turn inside out to protect colours. Machine wash on a gentle cycle at 40°C or below.
2. Air dry when possible
Dry flat or hang, away from direct sunlight. If tumble drying, use low heat only.
3. Store with care
Keep dry and folded in a drawer.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Whyte & Smith socks so special?
Our socks are designed by Thomas Woolley, whose family has been part of Whyte & Smith since its beginnings in 1861. With over 60 years’ experience as a designer in the business, Thomas has a sophisticated eye for colour, pattern and the details that make a sock feel right.
That experience runs through the collection, from the choice of yarn to the knitting and finishing. Expect soft natural fibres, distinctive colour combinations and thoughtful details, including hand-linked toes on our Baba and Argyll ranges.
Why do your socks cost more than most?
Our prices reflect the quality of the materials and the skill involved at every stage, from the first design to the final finishing.
Designing a good sock takes an understanding of how yarn, colour, pattern and construction work together. Bringing that design to life calls for specialist knitting machinery and experienced hands.
The toes of our Baba and Argyll socks, for example, are hand-linked. A skilled operator joins the individual stitches to create a smooth, virtually invisible seam, a precise craft that is increasingly difficult to find these days.
Where do you source your yarn?
For our cashmere and Merino blends, we use yarn from Zegna Baruffa, an Italian spinner whose history stretches back to 1850. We also use its Cashwool® yarn in our Merino and nylon socks. Made from extrafine Merino wool, Cashwool is known for its softness and extensive colour palette.
Our contrast cotton socks use combed cotton, chosen for its quality and feel.
How and where are your socks made?
Our socks are knitted and finished by hand in Charnwood, Leicestershire, not far from where Whyte & Smith began in 1861.
Our cashmere and Merino socks are knitted on traditional six-gauge Bentley double-cylinder machines, producing a flexible, comfortable knit. We also use San Giacomo single-cylinder machines for our intarsia designs, choosing the machinery to suit each style.
What’s the story behind Whyte & Smith?
Whyte & Smith began in 1861, when Thomas Whyte and Thomas Smith established a hosiery business. The family connection runs from those beginnings to Thomas and Ben Woolley today.
Today, Thomas and Ben are continuing that family story. You can explore the people and events behind the name on our Our Story page.
If you have any questions about our socks, please do get in touch via our Contact page or email hello@whyteandsmith.com
