Brooklyn-based brand Thursday Finest is turning the traditional manufacturing
process upsidedown by letting customers take control of the design stage and tailoring
Merino wool socks specifically to individual feet, according to The Woolmark Company, which
recently partnered with the brand.
Using next-generation Shima Seiki SWG041N flat knitting machines to make custom order
on-demand wool products direct from its New York studio, the company aims to reduce
the manufacturing time to a matter of minutes.
Thursday Finest¡¯s Merino wool socks, scarves and ties are designed by the customer and
then made-up by the company¡¯s Shima ¡®3D-knitting machine¡¯, allowing for total
transparency and zero waste, according to the partners. ¡°3D-knitting generates fully-fashioned items that don’t need to be cut and sewn ¨C each item comes out of the
machine as a full, holistic object,¡± explained Thursday Finest co-founder Veronika Harbick.
¡°And because these items are generated from digital files, they can be digitally manipulated
on a per item basis.¡±
¡°Put those two together, and we’re able to generate custom-fitting and personalised goods in minutes with extreme precision and quality. We are excited
to pair this new technology with the wool ¨C the original technical fibre ¨C to deliver amazing,
one-of-a-kind products for our customers for years to come.¡±
Expanded range
Using 16.5 to 18.5-micron Australian Merino wool for a range of scarves and men¡¯s ties, Thursday Finest has
expanded its range to include seamless Merino wool socks, with two styles available. The no-show ankle socks and the full-length socks are designed by the customer,
who picks the design, colours and even a personal message and are shaped to follow the
natural slope of your toes.
¡°Socks used to be something you’d hide under your pants and not think much about. Now,
they’re the top accessory for men and women. You actually want your socks to show; you
want them to reflect your personality and your sense of style,¡± said Ms Harbick.
