Saredo Japanese Socks | Men’s

Saredo/されど socks are made in Nara/奈良 from recovered cotton discarded from other production processes and knitted using wider yarns than most other socks. The socks are made using a rare-vintage 64 needles 2 cylinders machine at a socks factory in Koryo-cho, Kitakatsuragi-gun, Nara prefecture, and finished by links stitch (texture pattern). Old-fashioned knitting machines are a welcome trend that seems to be catching on due to the better longevity resulting from some of these older, slower processes. These socks are made of thread dyed using a special technique called speck-dyeing that produces a blur-like effect of a speckle that occurs by design due to the handwork. Therefore color differences are one-of-a-kind, with marble-like unevenness due to the difference between the dark and light dye areas.   About the maker: The Saredo company was conceptualized around 2012 and started production activities after 2014. It was founded by Ariatsu Kayazawa and Ryoko Kayazawa, who focused on photography and the all-important knitting. Ariatsu’s father runs the Kayazawa company that makes threads and yarn used by the sock industry in Nara, so this is indeed a family affair. Saredo means “nonetheless” or “but,” and it is actually a kind of acronym, as described by Ariatsu and Ryoko Kayazawa: S – Sustainable, meaning that the process can be continued indefinitely without destroying the environment and maintaining the status quo. A – Alternative, Another (Better) Choice RE – Renovation, Innovation, repair. The value that existing things have at the time of completion. Creating new value while respecting, regenerating, and reconstructing. DO – Domestically made in Japan, self-made in accordance with the DIY spirit. What story do your socks tell?