Socks do not have a single invention date; early foot coverings appear in prehistory, but the oldest surviving socks are from ancient Egypt around the 4th–5th century CE, made with a looping technique and a split toe for sandals.
Earliest forms
Humans used primitive foot coverings long before textiles, including wrapped leather and matted animal hair in antiquity to protect feet from cold and abrasion, a precursor to the sock concept rather than a tailored garment. Such early materials rarely survive archaeologically, so most evidence about true socks comes from later textile finds in arid regions where preservation is better.
Oldest surviving socks
The best-known early socks are Egyptian examples from the late Roman/Byzantine period (about the 4th–5th century CE), worked by nalbinding and designed with a split toe to be worn with sandals; pairs are held by museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum. These Egyptian pieces demonstrate purposeful shaping and durability, marking a transition from generic wrappings to fitted hosiery resembling modern socks.
From handwork to machines
While hand techniques like nalbinding and knitting produced socks for centuries, machine-knit socks emerged only in the late 16th century, vastly increasing output and consistency. Broader industrialization later made socks widely affordable, embedding them as everyday garments rather than elite or specialized items.
