WORDS Katie Vega
When you think of socks, you think of Fort Payne, Alabama, right? No? Yeah, me neither.
That was the case until I talked with Gina Locklear of Zkano, a down-home business with a serious passion for making socks. Believe it or not, around 15 years ago, a very large percentage of socks purchased in the country were made in the quaint little town of Fort Payne. Here’s what Gina had to say about life, making in Alabama, and socks.
Tell us more about your family’s history in the sock making industry?
GL: This one is going to be a bit lengthy, but it’s the only way I know how to explain how it all came to be. My hometown has a rich textile history and we were known for making socks. We were even once referred to as ‘The Sock Capital of the World.’ I was around 12 years old when my family started the mill, and after seeing them start this business on their own from nothing and watching it develop into a success over the years, I naturally wanted to be part of it in some way. Things drastically changed when NAFTA was signed. A small town that was once booming in the hosiery business began to shut down, seemingly overnight. I saw family and friends lose their sock mills, all because they couldn’t compete with the low prices of manufacturing overseas. In the last 10 years, my family’s business has changed and at times, the future has been uncertain. We are fortunate to have stayed open, but it has been a struggle. All of this just made me want to jump in and do something to help in some way. I realized I could do this by creating a brand of our own. I thought, if we can produce and market our own socks, rather than producing them for other companies like we always had, it could possibly save this family business. Zkano was born.
We love when makers like you decide to keep it in Alabama.
Why did you decide to produce here?
GL: Our business’ roots are here, as well as Fort Payne’s textile history. There is nowhere else we’d consider making socks. I love that we are helping to keep this small town’s hosiery tradition alive, even if it is in a small way.
Why did you decide to use organic cotton?
GL: Other than my concerns of the harsh environmental and social impact of growing conventional cotton, I wanted to use organic cotton for the same reasons I’ve been living an organic lifestyle for the past nine years. Like organic food, organic cotton is free of chemicals and synthetic pesticides. Another benefit: organic cotton makes an amazing product. The difference between an organic cotton sock and a sock made with conventionally grown cotton is incredible. The organic cotton makes a much softer and much more durable sock.
Do you ever wear any socks besides Zkano?
GL: Nope, I only wear Zkano. I have so many. I need a new sock drawer. I love our socks. They are kind of part of me and wearing them makes me happy.
Do new ideas about socks float around in your head all the time?
GL: Yes…all day and all night. I often wake up in the middle of the night thinking about new sock designs and color combos we can use. I even dream about them on a regular basis.
Besides socks, tell us some of your other passions.
GL: Other passions…my family + friends. I also love traveling and I’m a bit of a foodie.
Tell us about your new collaboration with Billy Reid.
GL: We are pumped about this collab. This project has been in the works for 6-8 months, and I’ve enjoyed working with his team very much. We partnered with them to create a limited men’s collection of organic cotton socks for the holidays. They are sold on Billy Reid’s website and in his retail stores.
Where can we buy your socks?
GL: Other than our website and Whole Foods, our socks can be purchased at a handful of small boutiques and natural foods stores. Our Alabama stores include Alabama Goods, Theadora, Molly Green, Manna Grocery, Werner’s Trading Co., and Alabama Chanin.
Check out zkano socks at www.zkano.com and meet Gina (and her lovely socks) at Southern Makers in Montgomery on 05.03.14.
Oh, and guys, head on over to www.billyreid.com to get your hands (and feet) on a pair of these sweet socks.