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Sock News

National Self-Confidence Day is March 26th. Get Excited!

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Update: check out the official website for National Self-Confidence day!

Do you remember how you spent National Self-Confidence Day last year? That’s a trick question. We just invented National Self-Confidence Day this year. It’s happening on March 26th. It’s going to be awesome. Everyone’s invited. You’re definitely invited.

#selfieconfidence

You probably have lots of questions. Well, we make expressive socks and underwear to fill you with colorful confidence. Over the years, we’ve been lucky to witness firsthand the kind of transformative power self-confidence can have on people. Feeling comfortable in your own skin, believing in yourself, is something to celebrate! That’s why we started this long-overdue holiday.

How do you get involved with National Self-Confidence Day?

First, be confident in yourself. This holiday is all about spreading confidence to everyone, but let’s start with you. Everyone has at least one thing that should inspire self-confidence. What are you good at? What do you like to do for fun? What makes you proud? These are great places to start. Maybe you’re an amazing mom. Maybe you hiked to the top of a really steep hill last weekend. Maybe you’re so smart you swept an entire category in Jeopardy! The list goes on and on. Whatever your reason, it’s reason enough to look in the mirror and say, “I believe in you.”

Confidence is contagious. Let’s spread it to as many people as possible. There are so many ways to do that. Call or text a friend and let them know you believe in them. You never know when someone needs to hear something just like that and how big of an effect it can have on their confidence.

We have lots of fun and inspiring activities planned throughout the day.

We want you to send us #selfieconfidence photos! Take a picture of yourself and tell us a bit about what self-confidence means to you. Be sure to post it online with the hashtag #selfieconfidence because we’ll be sharing our favorites all day long on our website.

Show us your #selfieconfidence!

The Sock It to Me team will also be on the ground in our hometown of Portland, Oregon, spreading confidence one personal interaction at a time. We’ll be sharing stuff throughout the day, with stories and ideas about what self-confidence means to people on an individual level.

Self-confidence is so important in so many ways. It lurks in the background for every decision we ever make. But here’s the thing: it’s not that some people are born with the gift of self-confidence while others are cursed to doubt themselves at every turn. It’s a skill. Even if you’re not a natural at it, you can get better. And we’re here to help however we can. March 26th, the first-ever National Self-Confidence Day, is one more step on that journey.

Sock News

You’re Never Too Old to Glow in the Dark

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You’re Never Too Old to Glow in the Dark
by Mortimer Q. Stockings

Sure, I can see why you might think glow-in-the-dark socks are for kids only. There are plenty of awesome Sock It to Me glow-in-the-dark kids’ socks and glow-in-the-dark toddler socks, like Stellar Whales or Arch-eology. But, as I recently learned, you’re never too old to enjoy something glowing in the dark.

I remember getting a glow-in-the-dark yo-yo for my fifth or sixth birthday. I was so excited—I immediately took it to the bathroom and turned off the lights, just to see it glow. For weeks afterward, I practiced in the bathroom in the dark, perfecting my tricks, wondering what caused that eerie green glow. When you’re five or six, it seems like something akin to magic.

I practiced until I was confident enough to go outside one night and try to impress the older kids on the block. I did a pretty good Rock the Baby and Around the Corner, but it was my Walk the Dog that left everyone gasping in astonishment.

There was one kid who seemed jealous of my tricks. He went around the group telling anyone who would listen that the only reason it glowed was because it had been dipped in special paint. “Anything can glow if you dip it in the special paint.” It didn’t take long for him to convince the other kids that there was nothing magical about my glowing yo-yo.

With the other kids losing interest, so did I, and ever since I’ve told myself that there’s nothing cool about glow-in-the-dark anything. “Anything can glow if you dip it in the special paint.”

Well, I recently bought a pair of Men’s Laboratory crew socks. They’re great looking socks. I love the beakers. I wear them… periodically!

Then I saw the label, “These socks glow in the dark!” At first, I was annoyed. Did I pay extra for something I don’t need? (As it turns out, no, they’re the same price as non-glowing socks).

I put them on the following morning and I didn’t give them a second thought until I was walking home from the bus stop later that night. I noticed an eerie green phosphorescence emanating from my ankles. I lifted my pants cuff to get a better look.

I couldn’t help it. I chuckled. And I couldn’t stop grinning for the entire walk home.

I realized, you can enjoy glow-in-the-dark socks as an adult. And, amazingly enough, I enjoyed them for the same reason I loved my yo-yo when I was a kid. Because they stood out. Because they’re different and nobody else I know has them. Because they’re soooooo cool and you can have fun with them.

The socks made me feel like a kid again. The biggest difference is that I didn’t rush into the bathroom and turn off the lights to get the instant gratification of seeing them glow. I recommend doing what I did: putting them on in the morning, going about your long day, and setting yourself up for a surprise when it gets dark.

As soon as I got home, I went to sockittome.com and ordered Speed of Feet, so that I could have two pairs of glow-in-the-dark socks.

Sock News

Where does Kendra Dandy find inspiration? (Full interview)

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Sock It to Me presents Artist Collaborations. Fresh and stylish new looks designed by artists Ryan Bubnis and Bouffants & Broken Hearts.

Kendra Dandy, the artist behind Bouffants & Broken Hearts, was kind enough to answer some questions for us, about where she gets her inspiration, designing for different kinds of apparel, and much more.

Sock It to Me: How would you describe your artistic style? Where does your inspiration come from?

Kendra Dandy: My style is fun and colorful. Vintage is one big source of inspiration. I love the funky patterns and color from the 60s. Beauty and fashion are some others. And nature and fruit. Fruit is one of my favorite things to draw. There are so many ways you can draw an orange. Whole or sliced. With or without leaves. I like to say that nature is the best designer and it’s true.

SITM: How should people feel when they’re wearing your SITM designs?

KD: Happy.

SITM: What’s the biggest difference between making art for a sock versus making art for other kinds of apparel?

KD: For me there isn’t much of a difference that I’ve noticed. It’s the same process of trying to come up with ideas that inspire me and put them down in my sketchbook. As the designer you have to trust your instincts, whether it’s for socks or a t-shirt or something else.

SITM: How do you overcome self-doubt and stay focused on your goals?

KD: I’ve chosen to make this my career so I have no choice but to overcome it. It’s uncomfortable but it’s normal. I just try remember my successes and remind myself that I enjoy art.

SITM: Why do you think you and SITM make such a great pair?

KD: Sock It to Me loves to collaborate and so do I. I’ve worked with them in the past. And because fun designs look great on socks!

See more from Kendra at theebouffants.com or follow her on Instagram @theebouffants.

Sock News

How does Ryan Bubnis squash self-doubt? (Full interview)

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Sock It to Me presents Artist Collaborations. Fresh and stylish new looks designed by artists Ryan Bubnis and Bouffants & Broken Hearts.

Ryan Bubnis answered some questions for us, about the differences between making art for a sock versus a mural, how he stays focused on his goals, and a whole lot more.

Sock It to Me: How would you describe your style? What inspires you?

Ryan Bubnis: My work is fun, playful, flat, graphic and deceptively simple. Some sources of inspiration for me have always been nature, skateboarding, music. And of course, hanging out with friends and family, and checking out the latest work by other image makers.

SITM: How should people feel when they wear your socks?

RB: I hope that people feel good, positive and optimistic when wearing them. Connection is a big reoccurring theme in my work. I love the idea that someone would connect enough with my work to wear my images on their feet.

SITM: What’s the biggest difference between creating art for a mural versus creating it for a sock?

RB: Working on a large-scale mural is very physical. Your whole body is involved in the process. Working on a smaller scale or designing graphics for something like socks, the execution of imagery is mostly done with your arm, wrist and hands. It’s a different kind of motor control. There’s also a concern about readability when working between these two extremes. A detailed image might work well on a wall, might not work when shrunken down…

SITM: How do you overcome self-doubt and remain focused on your goals?

RB: There are times when thoughts of self-doubt creep in. There is a certain amount of vulnerability that goes along with being an independent artist. It’s encouraging to hear that some of the most accomplished people struggle with these very same issues. I try my best to remain optimistic and use the adversity as motivation to keep pushing.

SITM: Why do you think you and SITM make such a great match?

RB: I’ve been a fan of Sock It to Me for some time. A few of my illustrator friends have worked with them. I think what it comes down to is that the designs are fun, playful, accessible and inclusive and those qualities are very much in line with my own.

Check out more of Ryan’s work at his website, ryanbubnis.com.

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