Our Account Manager Taylor recently interviewed Adam about his trip to Italy. Here's what she had to say:
There's no denying the last two years have been...*interesting* to say the very least. Does anybody else feel like it's still 2020?! Needless to say- our Friday Sock Co. owner, Adam Thompson -was finally able to make it back to the land of fashion and food after a two year travel hiatus. I thought you guys might like to know a little more about what goes into our socks (who doesn't like a good behind the scenes?) so I sat down with Adam andย grilled himย ย asked him about his trip!
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Tย :ย How was the trip?
Aย : It was great! It was so good to be back as we hadn't been able to visit for 2 years. The last time we went was in January of 2020 right before the pandemic hit. So it was a long- overdue trip and really awesome to see the people who make our socks again!
Tย :ย Why is it important to go?
Aย : We're a small family-owned business and we rely on our relationships with the factories who make our socks, who are also small family-owned businesses. It's really good to reconnect with these individuals and get a glimpse into their day-to-day life. Also, it's invaluable to see what possibilities we might have for the upcoming year, new yarns that are coming out, etc.
Tย :ย What was your favourite part?
Aย : Well, I mean it's Italy...They have such amazing food and culture so just being in that place was the highlight. But really truly it's making the human connection with the family owned factories and learning more about them. It was common for us to go out for a bite to eat and (through translation!) really get a good sense of who they are and what they are all about. Also, this time around we hired a videographer and will be making a video telling the story of Friday Socks! I'm excited to share an inside look.
T: How many factories did you visit?
Aย : We currently are partnered with five different factories. This trip we were able to visit everyone that we currently work with, and also three additional factories who we may expand into or develop a relationship with for future product lines. There's also one factory that specializes in boarding the socks which is basically steaming them to shape and then packaging them with the hang tag. Everything in Italy is very specialized which I absolutely love.ย
Tย :ย Did you uncover any challenges while you were there?
Aย : Yes for sure. There are increased electrical costs in Europe which has to do with the war in Ukraine. The issue is that higher electricity prices are working its way into not only the cotton but the factories themselves as they need electricity to run the machines. So we're seeing pricing go up in the supply chain across the board and it's having an impact for sure.
Tย :ย Any inspiration for possible new designs or socks?
Aย : For sure. It's always a really interesting place to be. I also went to Milan for two days and did some trend-spotting which is always really neat. For us, I think we may be developing something for a full line. This week I will be meeting with our design team and going over some potential possibilities using 80% wool. So, I guess that's one of the main things that we may have coming up for fall and winter other than new designs.
Tย :ย What's your favourite thing to eat in Italy?
Aย : That's a really hard one to answer! There is so much good food there it's unbelievable...This trip, I had a very very nice spaghetti with only a few ingredients but it was amazing. They know how to do al dente! And of course, always tiramisu.
There you have it! As I'm writing this I'm just reflecting onย how much I want tiramisuย ย how cool it is to know exactly where your products comes from and who makes them. I feel like that's not something we get to see/be a part of very often. We really are committed over here to giving you top quality, ethically made socks and we're thrilled to bring you along for the ride! Keep your eyes peeled for the video detailing Adam's Italy adventures and what Friday Sock Co. is all about.ย
