BOOK CLUB

Socks with Sandals

A yearning for Kimberly Shannon’s quirky hometown of Seattle inspired her first book

What inspired the book?

I was feeling homesick for Seattle and reminiscing about all the quirky things I missed; the weather, the music scene, family, friends, and more. I decided to create a book which incorporated all of these elements in either the text or illustrations.

Who is the book for?

The story is written with kids under six in mind, but it’s also an entertaining read for adults who grew up in the nineties, or anyone who can relate to living in a climate that has ‘socks with sandals’ weather. There are subtle throwbacks to the nineties hidden in the illustrations that we hope adults can find and think “Wow. That’s cool.”

What’s your relationship with Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is my favorite city in the world. I moved here with the intention of completing one teaching contract and five years later, I’m still here. I met my husband here and I’ve made lifelong friends. The people, the energy, the food, the vibes – I could talk all day about the reasons I love Hong Kong.

Why do Seattleites wear socks with sandals?

Layers are crucial in Seattle because the weather is so unpredictable. It is very common for people to wear socks and sandals together and actually since we published the book, people in Seattle have been sending us photos of them wearing socks with their sandals as they go about their day.

What’s your favourite socks and sandals combo?

In Hong Kong, I wear socks with sandals every day around the house. To go out, I wear a chunky open-toe heel with stockings.

Can you compare the fashion sense in Seattle to Hong Kong?

This question makes me giggle. I feel the two cities are so opposite in their fashion sense. The fashion in Seattle is a mix of utilitarian and grunge. Hongkongers are much more purposeful, and you see more luxury brands on the street. They do find common ground in thrift shops. I loved thrifting in Seattle and was so pleased to see that Hong Kong has some great second-hand stores.

What do you think of people’s footwear choices in Hong Kong?

I love the footwear here. There is so much walking to be done in Hong Kong that most outfits can be paired with sneakers, and I’m all about comfort in my fashion choices. I also see a great deal of socks with sandals which always makes my day.

How did you find an illustrator who understood your vision?

My husband and I had a couple of illustrators in mind. At the eleventh hour we were so fortunate to find Shann Larsson whose illustration style and design sensibility felt like an extension of the story. Shann is incredible. She has quite the resume. She’s not from Seattle but she loves grunge music and a lot of the bands from Seattle, so we connected right away. She’s someone we hope to continue working with on other projects.

How did you find the process of publishing a book in Hong Kong?

It’s been a daunting task, but we have enjoyed it and learned so much in the process. We did a lot of research and settled on a local printer for their quality and customer service. We also wanted to support local businesses, while the book is about Seattle, its foundation is in Hong Kong.

Socks with Sandals is priced at $155 including shipping and available to buy from sockswithsandals.store or via Instagram @sockswithsandals.store.