Seconds stock: Atmospheric physics socks

These socks are almost perfect, but due to a mix-up at my sock manufacturer the background yarns for the stratosphere and mesosphere are so similar in colour that they look like one stratum. Not *quite* as scientifically accurate as I'd like!

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One pair of atmospheric strata socks, designed in France and made in the EU.

Link for UK customers: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1597431472

New for 2021: I’m so proud to be able to offer this new design in a wider range of sizes. They’re made in small batches in the EU by my new favourite family-owned company.

During my undergraduate degree I had the opportunity to take a course on atmospheric physics and meteorology, which I found fascinating! As it happens, I also took a Spanish course, but that wouldn’t make such a good pair of scientifically accurate socks. Anyway…

The Earth’s atmosphere has been categorised by scientists into five different layers, or ‘strata’, each with distinctive characteristics. I designed these socks to show a cross-section through these layers, with examples of some of the things you might find in each zone. The altitude of each layer is 100% accurate; I’ve used a log scale to make sure your socks are a sensible height…!

Troposphere: The layer closest to the Earth’s surface is called the Troposphere and extends to about 12km above sea level. This is where you’ll be if you’re flying in a commercial aeroplane because it has the perfect combination of sort-of-thin-but-not-too-thin air to make flight efficient.

Stratosphere: Stretching from about 12km - 50km above sea level, the Stratosphere is probably best known as a synonym for ‘that thing that’s really, really high up’. It’s also the layer of the atmostphere in which Concorde flew.

Mesosphere: The Mesosphere is often grouped with the Stratosphere under the very creative title of ‘the middle atmosphere’. Scientists, eh?! You’ll find weather balloons around the Stratopause, which is the boundary between the Stratosphere and the Mesosphere. The Mesosphere is also home to around 40,000 tonnes’ worth of meteors each year - take a look at the back of the socks!

Thermosphere: This is where the really cool stuff is; the Thermosphere is between about 80km and 700km above sea level. This is where you’ll find the International Space Station, which orbits at a height of around 410km. There are also plenty of low-Earth orbit satellites in this zone, and you can see an example of one on the back of these socks!

I designed these luxury socks in my solar powered French studio, and they are manufactured by a small independent company in the EU. Their high cotton content means that they’re super soft and of the highest quality. The toe is seamlessly joined and the cuff features a wide, soft rib to keep you comfortable all day long.

Find the ‘cloud types’ companion to these atmospheric physics socks here, and find the matching washi tape here.

Approximate sizes:

S-M: UK 5-8 (unisex), EU 38-42, US 6-10

L-XL: UK 8-11 (unisex), EU 42-46, US 10-13

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Materials:

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80% cotton, 15% polyamine, 5% elastane

Care tips:

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To keep your socks looking tip-top for as long as possible, wash on a cool, gentle cycle and hang out to dry.