Kids

What is combed cotton in kids' socks?

Four Cottons kids' socks are made from combed cotton, the most select variety that can be obtained from this natural fibre.

Not all cotton is the same, and knowing how it is made helps explain why we choose it for little feet.

How combed cotton is made

It all starts with ginning: once harvested, the cotton is cleaned of leaves, stems and other particles so that only the fibre remains.

Next comes carding, in which machines called cards untangle the fibre, discard the shortest filaments and begin to shape the yarn. Once drawn and twisted, the result is what is known as carded cotton.

To obtain combed cotton, we go one step further: the yarn passes through a series of combs that remove any remaining dirt and separate out the short and medium fibres. Only the longest fibres remain, which are also the strongest.

Softness and strength for children's delicate skin

This gives us a fine, soft and strong yarn, ideal for children's delicate skin and for keeping up with their play, running around and frequent washing.

We also knit the socks in rib, a stretchy stitch that adapts to the leg without pinching and stops them slipping down or bunching.

A hand-linked toe

Finally, we close the toe by hand using the hand-linked technique. This join leaves the seam practically invisible, so it doesn't bother or rub while they move.