Just had a couple of their socks delivered yesterday! The durable socks are really great: I've had zero holes with pairs that are several years old. The colors and combinations are great, too. Also the packaging is just so nice: it's fully personalized with a little note and all. They seem like great guys, too. Great video, Kirby. Thanks!
A sock shop. A shop that just sells socks. There used to be many around city centers and that was not a big deal. Now, in American cities, you can't find a single newsstand or bookstore. So, don't even bother to look for socks anywhere. Even at Macy's, you won't find a pair of socks that is 100% cotton. That is retail in America.
Well, ruining American retail/craftmanship was the choice Reagan and followers for the benefit of corporate America with their neoliberal policies, trickle down economics.
Hard to find 100% cotton anything anymore it seems…Sheets, towels, socks, shirts, underwear, etc. Everything has become synthetic! Same with how aluminum has replaced stainless steel in many products and plastic has replaced wood.
It seems to be a little bit better here in the UK. Most towns will have a bookshop - some just have the 20 bestsellers but others have a good selection. Coffee shops and charity shops are the only expanding retail forces. Why? Well, I’m part of the problem on that I rarely shop in real shops. It’s probably a defining circle because I don’t go to shops as the prices are high (rental prices are high over here) and the range stocked is generally small; so the shops have to react by reducing stock to the very best sellers or cheaper items; I don’t go because i don’t want cheaper quality….and it goes on. Except for very niche items or where the shopping is a great experience (for example in Jermyn Street, St James, etc) retail in physical shops is contracting. Again, I’m part of the problem because I can go onto Amazon from the comfort of my house and look at a wide choice of goods. I select with payment being so easy. Next day, it arrives. Don’t like it or it isn’t the quality you expected? Send it back. Strangely, even perversely, Mr Allison also contributes to the “problem” with his online shop. But is it a “problem” or a natural evolution? All those who decry the decline of the High Street (as we call the retail centre of most towns and cities) have to understand the simple economics. If more people wanted to buy from the High Street, they would - but they don’t and so the High Street is declining. I don’t see any great difference between the decline in the High Street retail scene than in the decline of the local blacksmith or the local leather maker or candle maker - our lives evolve and that means the end of some things and the start of others. It’s worth asking what would make shoppers return to the High Street as only genuine demand, and no artificial incentives, will last. Of course, there will be a lot of different answers from ease of parking, choice, cost etc. and I genuinely don’t see what the High Street could do.
I visited the store for the first time in June this year when visiting Paris. I had known the online shop for a long time and it felt great finally visting the store. The service - as expected - was perfect.
I LOVE Mes Chaussettes Rouges! When I started rebuilding my wardrobe a couple of years ago, I wanted some great OTC socks to go with my new and great shoes... Even in NYC, it's almost impossible to find OTC socks. Went online and accidentally found Mes Chaussettes Rouges. So far I've made two separate purchases from them for about 8 socks and the service has been nothing short of fabulous! I get my order in 5 business days to New York City. Their packaging is first rate. I've mostly bought Bresciani socks from them and one of them looks like the blue with copper lines that you talked about in the video. I thought it was my Brescianis. I've bought a couple of Manzarin but prefer the Bresciani. I did a blog posting on the experience. Definitely doing another order soon!
I love this video. I have never heard of a shop only for Socks. The skill it takes to thread up that machine is incredible, it looks so complicated. I like seeing all of the variety of socks they offer. The question about Bespoke Underwear was hilarious, it would take some very special skills to measure for that job. lol! Jeff
I immediately looked them up online expecting to see $100-$300 price tags. But no, $30!? That’s basically the price of a bag of socks at Walmart now. It makes all other socks look like a ripoff.
There are other brands out there like calzesabas. (22€ for 100% silk) But meschaussettesrouges has the best customer service and the nicest patterns available.
Buying from them for years since Marks and Spencer (UK) stopped selling UK made socks and their replacements were terrible quality-wise. Searched the internet and found an article about the Cardinal Red wool socks that were only available to order online from Paris. Took the plunge and ordered some knee high socks in wool, cotton and silk. Since then My Red Socks have greatly expanded their range while maintaining their standards. Each delivery comes scented with a suitable message on a post card as your orders mount up. There aren’t many sources for knee high socks with hand linked toe finishes with such a variety of materials. Highly recommend this shop. Great to see Kirby’s visit here and get a preview for visiting their shop in person some day.
Fantastic, and not a bad price. We do have our own Corgi socks here in Wales... and the King wears them, so they must be reasonable.. he's a bit spoiled, to say the least.
I have socks from them made bespoke first during Covid and I like them but the response timing from them is terrible . They don’t reply to emails or messages well. I found another sock maker called Nobile in Italy where the quality is good and they respond quickly and keep you up to date.
Dear Sir, I'm sorry for this bad experience. The Covid period was complicated with a lot of orders and a particular context, but everything is back to normal! Greetings from Paris Vincent
At nearly three quarter of a million subscribers, Kirby must be doing something right. If it's not for you, I suggest you move on. At least, that's what I would do rather than leave a snarky comment..
