One problem that entrepreneurs have in the fashion industry, especially in socks, is the size. It is something that I want to help you with as a sock manufacturer.
I remember that one of my clients, John, made a large purchase order of socks from China for his boutique. He did not know that there were size variations in what seemingly was an article of trivial clothing like this.
What happened was the socks he received socks were too small. As such, he suffered heavy losses. He couldn’t move that inventory.
To correctly choose sock sizes for your inventory, here are some tips:
- Take a look at the table of international standard sizes
- Learn how to measure the different parts of the sock.
Read on to get the full details of my tips. This way, you will never go wrong in ordering socks again, even if the supplier is from another country.
Why Are Sock Sizes Different?
Before we even begin, it is worth knowing why sock sizes are different from one country to another. If you think about it, there are many civilizations in the world. While one society made socks, another one was making their own.
Because people from different parts of the world have different heights and physical features, local manufacturers created standards for their respective regions. It is why Asian socks are different from European ones.
After the Second World War, manufacturers from around the globe created the Organization for Standardization, which is now called ISO. These experts developed standards at an international level.
It only happened after World War II because of the economic changes that the war brought. There was a growing interest in international trade, so people had to do something about standards.
However, many countries kept their national standards. These countries are mainly from Asia, Europe, and North America. It is why there are still variations in sock sizes today.
What is the International Sock Size Comparison?
My client John made one mistake. He never looked at the tables for standard sock sizes. All he did was order socks for his target customers in America, not knowing that there is a variation between how Chinese manufacturers make their socks.
I do not want you to make the same mistake, so please refer to the tables below for different sock sizes.
Booties for Babies
Size\Age | 0-6 months | 6-12 months | 12-24 months |
UK size | 0-1 | 0-2 | 3-5.5 |
Euro size | 11 to 14 | 15 to 18 | 19 to 22 |
USA size | Small | Medium | Large |
China size | 10.5-12 cm | 12.5-14 cm | 14.5-16 cm |
These are socks for newborns. The way you use it is simple. As a merchant, you have to pay attention to some details to order the correct sizes.
Here is an example:
- Your target customer is in the USA
- You want to sell socks for parents with babies 0 to 6 months old
In this case, you have to first go to the column that says “0-6 months”. Under that column, you have to order the product as “10.5-12 centimeters,” but take note that you will only do this if your manufacturer is from China.
So, your order will look like this:
“100 pieces of baby socks, China size of 10.5-12 cm.”
Once you receive your order, the size that you get is for babies 0 to 6 months old, and you can label it as “Small.”
I think this is where one of my clients did something wrong. He ordered a different measurement, considering that the Chinese manufacturer would use the USA equivalent.
Here is what I think happened: he ordered Medium US size for a European market, thinking it would be 15 to 18. Then, when he got the order, it was only 12.5-14 cm because it was the Chinese equivalent.
Take your time in analyzing these tables. If you get it wrong, you will not be able to sell your socks. Sure, your inventory will move, but it will move slowly.
Children’s Socks
Size\Age | 1-2 years | 2-4 years | 3-7 years |
UK size | 3-3.5 | 6-9.5 | – |
Euro size | 19-22 | 23-27 | 27-30 |
USA size | 5-6.5 | 6-7.5 | 7-8.5 |
China size | 14.5-16.5 cm | 16.5-18.5 cm | 18.5-22 cm |
(The same principle applies here as with babies.)
For Ladies
Size | S | M | L |
UK size | 4-5 | 5.5-5.7 | 7-8 |
Euro size | 37-38 | 38.5-41 | 42-43 |
USA size | 6.5-7.5 | 8-9.5 | 9.5-10.5 |
China size | 22.5-23.5 cm | 24-25.5 cm | 26-28 cm |
For Men
Size | S | M | L | XL |
UK size | 5-6 | 6.5-8.5 | 9-11.5 | 12-14 |
Euro size | 37.5-38.5 | 39-42 | 43-46.5 | 47-49 |
USA size | 5.5-6.5 | 7-9 | 9.5-12 | 12.5-14.5 |
China size | 23.5-24.5 cm | 25-27 cm | 27.5-30 cm | 30.5-32 cm |
Whenever you place an order from a Chinese manufacturer, the size you have to mention is the Chinese size under the specific column you want.
For example, let us say that you want to order small sizes for women in the UK; the common mistake that entrepreneurs make is that they ask for “4 to 5.”
It is a mistake. What you should order from the Chinese manufacturer is “22.5-23.5 cm.” Once the manufacturing process is over, the socks will be equivalent to the UK standard size of 4 to 5.
How to Measure Sock Sizes for Customization
The other method to make sure you do not go wrong is to customize the sock size. It would be great if you want socks that are exclusive only for your brand.
Take a look at the image below:
This diagram explains how engineers measure and manufacture socks. The long B line is called the “PS Measurement.”
Read on for further guidance.
1.Welt width – the welt is the gartered part of the sock. It is the part that typically has ridges, and it is stretchy. The welt width refers to how “long” it is on one side.
2.Foot length – the foot length is from the ball of the foot t the tip of the toe.
3.Sock width – it measures how the sock would expand cross-wise so it will fit on foot.
4.Welt height – this is the measurement of how “deep” or high the welt is.
5.Boot height – the boot height refers to the measurement from the ball of the foot to the area where the welt starts.
6.Sock width stretch – the total width of the sock if pulled and stretched cross-wise; this gives allowances for people who have awkward foot sizes.
7.Foot length stretch – same with the sock width stretch, but for the length of the foot.
If you want a custom sock, you will have to provide the measurements to the manufacturer in centimeters. If you decide to do this, prepare for conversations about the kind of cloth used.
Not all fabric materials are stretchy. It means that the stretch for items F and G will depend on the material you use.
What are the four common measurements of socks?
The four common sock measurements are:
- Cross
- Center
- Angle
- PS
PS stands for Petite Small. It is a measuring standard if you are manufacturing socks for children. The other three, however, are standards for adults. We will no longer discuss the PS in this section as we have already covered that earlier.
- Take a look at this photo to understand it better:
These three socks look similar, but there are differences. The difference for Center, Cross, and Angle, is the foot length from the tip of the toe.
- For Center, it is from the tip of the toe about 45 degrees from the ball of the sock.
- For Cross, it stops just a little past the ball of the sock.
- For Angle, it tops at the middle of the ball of the sock.
The difference between the letter B here and the first one is that here, the B is the height of the boot. In the PS measurement, it is the foot length.
These differences are significant because there are different manufacturing processes. If you want customized socks, you have to follow these standards in detail carefully.
Also, these variations have something to do with how the target customer will use the socks. As you know, office socks and sports socks are different from each other. The manufacturing process is not the same. Sports socks should not slip from the athlete’s feet as they may affect the athlete’s performance.
Summary: How to Properly Choose Sock Sizes for Your Inventory
Sock sizes are not confusing at all, thanks to the ISO. What you have to do now, as an entrepreneur, is to take a look at the tables I showed earlier and make sure you are ordering the correct size measurement from your manufacturer.
One best practice is that you ask for sock samples from the manufacturer. If the sock size you ordered is Small for the UK, but they gave you Small for China, there is an apparent disconnect in how you communicated.
The last option is to draw a diagram and put the measurements yourself. However, it also means more hard work, as you need to have a background in tailoring to get this done right.
