Ciao from Italy! We (Anastasia and Becky) just got back from a whirlwind trip to our factory in Castel Goffredo - and let’s just say, socks have never been so exciting.
We kicked off the trip at Malpensa Airport where we met up with our colleague Sisira. From there, it’s nearly a two-hour drive to Castel Goffredo, winding from buzzing highways into peaceful countryside. Think vineyards, rolling farmland, and picturesque little towns - basically the perfect transition into creative mode.
Our home base for the trip was Desenzano del Garda, perched right on the southern edge of Lake Garda. It’s not only stunning, but also strategically located near our factory. Plus, it’s smack in the middle of Brescia, aka the hosiery capital of Italy. For Becky, this was a familiar journey - she's been coming here for years. For Anastasia, it was her first trip, and she was buzzing with excitement to finally see everything come to life.
That evening, we kicked things off with a classic Italian dinner with our long-time partners: Livio and Lara (our manufacturing partners), their two kids, and our head of label production. It was a sweet reunion, filled with laughs, wine, pasta, and local charm in a little town called Borghetto. These get-togethers always feel like family dinners, relaxed and full of warmth, even though we know the next few days will be a sprint.
The Factory: Where the Sock Magic Happens
The next morning, we headed out early to Castel Goffredo. It’s just a 20-minute drive, and by the time we arrived, the factory was already in full swing. They operate 24/7, and the energy is electric. Machines being reloaded, socks flying through production, labels being applied - it’s like stepping into a living, breathing organism powered by thread.
Livio greeted us in his office and walked us through some exciting updates, especially on our newest machine. This one’s a game-changer - more color flexibility, higher speed, and sharper designs. It’s part of how we’re continuously upgrading our process to deliver top-tier custom socks.
Then came our favorite part: the production floor. If you’ve never seen socks being made at scale, imagine a symphony of movement - thread cones spinning, tubes puffing, toes being sewn shut. Each machine had a Sockrates design printout clipped to the front, and we watched our creations come to life in real-time. Watch the video below for a glimpse into how our socks are made.
Once the socks finish knitting, they head into the steaming room - quieter, but just as important. Here, every pair is steamed into shape, quality checked, folded, and labeled. We walked through each step, chatting with the team and soaking it all in.
Innovation & Inspiration (With Tortella Amaro, of Course)
Production is only half the journey - we’re always looking for ways to refine and innovate. Over lunch (yes, it involved tortellini and Tortella Amaro, a Castel Goffredo specialty), we sketched out a plan to adjust steaming temperatures, explore new elastane options, and coordinate a visit to one of our yarn suppliers.
One of the things we love most about working with this factory is their deep local roots. The same family has been running it since the '80s, and their relationships with other local manufacturers give us direct access to the latest materials and rapid prototyping.
Wrapping It All Up
Over the next couple of days, we saw our small tweaks and big ideas come to life - even as orders were being packed up and shipped out. Watching our socks go from digital sketches to real products is something that never gets old.
We documented as much as we could, and we can't wait to share the behind-the-scenes with our team back home - and eventually with all of you. There’s something really special about seeing the process in person. It’s not just about making socks - it’s about making socks that mean something.
Until next time, Italy. Grazie mille!
Anastasia & Becky 🧦✨
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