innovation WELCOME TO THE FUTURE OF FASHION .
Michelle Huie , founder of VIM & VIGR compression legwear , HELPS US UP OUR SOCK GAME .
Are all socks created equal ? There are a ton of options out there when it comes to types of socks , even when comparing different types of compression socks ! The key is research . Make sure you ’ re actually buying a true graduated compression sock because technically , anything tight could be classified as “ compression ,” but only graduated compression socks provide the health benefits that are documented in clinical studies , so not all socks in this case , offer equal health benefits .
A few things to keep in mind when buying a true graduated compression socks :
First , make sure the producer is actually using medical knitting machines when creating the socks . Adding extra spandex to a regular pair of socks does not provide the same health benefits , and you will notice the difference after wearing a pair of these socks for the afternoon .
Second , check that there are compression levels listed . For example , VIM & VIGR has two compression levels for our legwear , 15-20 mmHg and 20-30 mmHg because different bodies require more or less assistance . If there is not a compression level clearly marked , I would question why this isn ’ t listed .
The last item is to look that the company has listed their products with the Food and Drug Administration .
What should you own in terms of the perfect sock wardrobe ? Much of this depends on your own lifestyle . If you open a woman ’ s sock drawer , most of us will have different fabrics and type of socks depending on what we ’ re doing and what we ’ re wearing . We designed VIM & VIGR with versatility in mind . When I head to the gym , I often wear my nylon or moisture-wick nylon socks because I like a thinner sock for workouts . However , during the winter , I love wearing the wool collection because of the added warmth . We created different patterns available in four different fabrics so that our customers have styling and color options to fit their needs and preferences . A priority of mine in creating VIM & VIGR was that there was a stylish compression option for all year round use .
Do sock gremlins exist ? Yes ! We ’ ve had customers ask if we could sell just a single sock because one of their socks mysteriously walked off . Before we launched the Men ’ s collection , we had women tell us stories of how they could never find their VIM & VIGR socks , and later they realized that their husbands were stealing them ! Luckily , we now have a Men ’ s Collection to keep the peace at home . You never know what or who is taking your socks !
What function can socks play in our lives in terms of health and well-being ? You would be amazed at how a pair of the right socks can positively impact your health . What makes VIM & VIGR special is that we play at the intersection of fashion and function , which helps more people feel comfortable wearing compression socks and reap the benefits compression has to offer ( reduced leg aches and fatigue , speedier recovery after tough workouts and / or sports-related injuries like shin splints and more energized legs ). In the past , compression socks were all about function ; the health boosts were undeniable but because they didn ’ t prioritize on some of the less medically focused wishes of the consumer , the socks looked like they belonged in a hospital . This left compression as always associated with illness , injury or old age , and alienated many people . By creating a compression line that is stylish and available in a variety of fabrics , we ’ ve opened up the benefits to a variety of people who would have been disinterested in compression beforehand . Also , there ’ s something to be said when you accessorize your outfit with a killer statement sock .
How did you become involved with the sock world ? I never thought that I would start a compression legwear company . It all came about really from my own personal need , which is how I think many new brands begin . When I moved to Missoula , Montana from New York City , I found myself sitting for long periods of time at my new job as a pharmaceutical rep , leaving my legs achy and sore , and with new questions about my health . I mentioned my new sedentary situation and accompanying discomfort to a physical therapist and he recommended I try compression socks . But what I found was that the compression industry swayed toward either athletic gear or socks geared around medical use and was unable to find any type of compression legwear that I could seamlessly incorporate into my daily lifestyle . Thus , VIM & VIGR was born as a high-quality compression legwear line with stylish designs to be worn all day , any day . Now I think about socks so much , sometimes I feel like the woman who lives in a shoe .
What are the most interesting technological advances when it comes to sock design / manufacturing ? One of the most exciting things we ’ re seeing more of in the apparel industry is the introduction of 3-D printing . This allows you create designs and fabric combinations more immediately , which VIM & VIGR takes advantage of . We use some of the concepts of 3-D printing in the development of our designs by using the medical knitting machines that provide a circular knit , which mimics 3D printing technology . In terms of compression specifically , the medical knitting machines have become much more sophisticated over the past several years . The impressive strides in technology have allowed us to incorporate more fun and detailed designs while still achieving a graduated compression sock . We ’ ll have even more patterns coming out this fall , stay tuned ! — VimVigr . com
HEAVEN HAS HEELS summer 2016 | @ HHHEELS