retail buyer’s guide
RETAIL BUYER’S GUIDE
S O C KS 2 0 2 2
STINKY
Whatever your sports of choice, you’re probably going to wear socks at one point or another, at least while you get there. Find out what 2022 will bring to the shelves in our Retail Buyers Guide by Anna Langer.
TRENDS “Customers are willing to invest in accessories, apparel and fashion that lasts. The pandemic has moved a whole raft of customers away from throw away, single use fast fashion and allowed them time to focus and invest in their core basic, those staple lines,” says Rich Philip, Marketing Director at Stance. Merge4 notice a “big shift in consumer preference towards sustainability” which has always been a priority for them. Arvin also focus on “impact reduction by making stylish low-impact basics that
never compromise on performance, comfort, quality - or ethics. “To leave our world better than we found it, we actively partner with those who share this commitment. The root meaning of our brand ‘Arvin’ says it all: Friend of the people.” Plain classic looks are also what Stinky Socks have their focus on this year: “the crazy designs and printed socks are more for the mainstream now, where the trendsetters are wearing simple, plain socks, that still stand out in a unique way,” says Founder & CEO Risto Petkov. Stance serve this trend with clean lines, on-trend colours and simple, understated designs. Many Mornings on the other hand find that “people seem to be more and more interested in products that allow them to express themselves or to break the routine. In our case that can be done by adding colourful, mismatched socks to your suit for example to brighten up your day” says Przemek, Customer Relationship Manager, adding that the “general interest in colourful socks is increasing”. American Socks’ Brand Manager Olek Burek agrees that “socks is already a really saturated market and we’re seeing a lot of e-commerce 103
