Darn Tough Vermont Brings Poppy Styling to OR Summer Market

Northfield, VT — Darn Tough Vermont, the family-owned hosiery company known for making the only premium, performance socks with an unconditional lifetime guarantee, will continue to lead the specialty sock market in combining comfort, fit and durability with fashion-forward design and color palates in 2012 through a collaboration with renowned outdoor designer Poppy Gall. Gall began working with Darn Tough in 2011 by refreshing its women’s socks. Because of the overwhelmingly positive feedback to those designs, her influence will extend across women’s, men’s and kid’s styles for 2012. Additionally, Darn Tough’s True-Seamlessâ„¢ knitting technology is being used to produce all women’s lifestyle socks in 2012 for enhanced fit, comfort and performance.

“The challenge for me as a third-generation sock maker is to consistently produce a sock that outperforms everything else on the market. And who better to knit these socks than the men and women at our family mill here in Northfield, Vermont,” said Ric Cabot, owner and founder of Darn Tough Vermont. “As a lifelong sock maker, it’s very rewarding knowing our fans choose Darn Tough socks based primarily on quality and performance, and not necessarily on how trendy looking they are. But many of our fans have been asking for socks that are fashionable, too, and we’re incredibly fortunate to have Poppy Gall, a renowned designer and Vermont native, help us achieve that goal. I guess you could say our new women’s stuff is ‘pretty’ Darn Tough.”

With Gall’s creative direction, Darn Tough Vermont’s product line is more stylish than ever before, but Cabot emphasizes that the socks have not been detuned in any way. “From our running socks to our women’s lifestyle socks, everything is knit around a single needle here in our Vermont mill, using the same high-density knitting and fine-gauge Merino wool yarns,” he said.

Noting that not every sock is an entirely blank canvas, Gall said, “Darn Tough has its own aesthetic based on performance features and fibers. My goal is to design and color socks that highlight the technical features of the socks as well as create a sock that is stylish and different from what other brands are selling.”

From the vibrant designs of socks like the Tulip Shorty (#1601), which feature ornately knit tulips on the sock’s cuff and toe, to the refreshingly simple colors of the Solid Crew socks (#1479), Gall’s creative influence can be seen throughout the entire line. Even staples of Darn Tough’s line, such as the Hiking Boot Sock (#1403), will be available in vibrant new colorways for 2012.

Gall resides in Vermont where she runs the Poppy Gall Design Studio, just down the road from where Darn Tough socks are knit. “It is important for me to support local businesses,” she said. “Darn Tough takes a lot of pride in making socks in the U.S. It can be seen when you walk the mill floor and interact with the employees who knit the socks. It is a pleasure to be a part of that process.”

While it is the performance characteristics of comfort, fit and durability that make Darn Tough Vermont socks the top choice for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes, Gall recognizes the value of her creative contributions. “Putting colorfully patterned socks on in the morning is an easy way to add a little bit of joy to your day,” she said.

Darn Tough Vermont socks will be on display at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011 in booth BR321. Contact Tom@PeopleMakingGood.com for more info or to set up a booth appointment.

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Darn Tough Vermont is a manufacturer of premium, all weather outdoors socks, with headquarters in Northfield, Vermont. Darn Tough Vermont offers products in six active wear categories: ski/ride, hike/trek, run/bike, lifestyle, hunt and kid’s styles. The company’s product is distinguished from industry competitors by: 100% USA manufacturing; small needle knitting which results in more stitches per inch and exceptional durability and cushioning; an exclusive blend of either Coolmax® or ultra-fine merino wool for softness, fit, durability and moisture management; and a unique unlimited lifetime guarantee policy. For more information, visit: www.darntough.com.