Wouldn't blame you if you reached for your wallet and got cold feet - cashmere can cost six times more than everyday wool. Not many of us would consider spending more than $15 on a pair of socks. Even if the fabric does originate on the underbelly of mountain goats in the Chinese Himalayas. Even if the yarn is sent to the same machines that, a century ago, spun out long, protective socks that men rolled over their knees before crawling through the cold, damp mines of Wales.
But what if the combination of fabric and factory produces a Zen magic? What if you could have socks as soft as slippers? What if you could get them fitted to the precise dimensions of your foot (not the "One size fits 9 to 12" you see in most stores)? Or what if you could have your initials sewn into a pair in any of forty colors?
Corgi of Ammanford in South Wales sold its first hosiery in America through Brooks Brothers in 1946, and it wasn't long before Eisenhower was seen wearing a pair that sported golf designs around his woven nickname. Ten years ago, the company was granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment to the Prince of Wales. Now you can buy a regal pair through Jay Kos in New York for roughly $150. Oh, and if the price tag does give you cold feet, relax and splurge. The socks are sure to warm them up.
