Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
I came across this English firm, who appear to make quality hose/socks suitable for kiltwearing at a low cost.

https://www.jalexswift.co.uk/product/british-wool-tot/

Does anyone have experience with these socks? They look very nice.

I do wonder about the fit for big-calf people like me.

These look pretty good to me, although they are being sold as wellie socks (a country-wear sock suitable for pulling on over thinner socks, and worn with Wellington boots or gum-boots) they should adapt well for with the kilt.

Their range also includes a kilt-hose line of fairly 'standard' styling.

The village of Hathern (I know it well, from being based in the area about 30 years ago) on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border has a long history of hosiery-making. In the way that Northampton is known for top-quality shoes, Sheffield for top quality steel, Leiceter is the centre of hosiery in the UK. This is one of the few firms that seems to have survived the mass-closure of such small, specialist producers in the 1980-90s.

As for quality, I would say that 90 per cent wool is probably better than 100 per cent, as the ten per cent nylon adds a certain amount of durability, stretch and shrink-resistance, and the price seems about right.