Probably the most important tip, you should be passionate about the socks you’re making rather than just trying to figure out what would sell best. Think about the socks you own, really like and start from there – this doesn’t mean copying as you should come up with your own designs. If you don’t have design skills, hire a designer as custom socks manufacturers only take care of production and do not provide design services. Also check what models are trendy and popular, which you can do by looking at Amazon or sock booths at the mall.
You should also follow guidelines based on the type of model you want to make, whether it’s in terms of style or length (no-show, ankle, quarter, crew, knee-high, thigh-high). For example, standard dress socks are mostly mono-color while novelty socks have pretty funky, colorful designs. Even sport socks vary widely – for example, baseball, basketball and cycling use different lengths and style.
Last but not least, do your homework and learn about sock manufacturing – I’m recommending consulting our custom manufacturing sock guide here which features knitting techniques, patterns, templates and a glossary.