The London Sock Exchange has launched its new TfL Collection – a range of socks developed in collaboration with Transport for London, celebrating the city’s iconic transport system through the medium of yarn.
The deal was secured by TSBA Group, TfL’s global licensing agency.
The team at London Sock Exchange has worked closely with the TfL brand and design team to create six distinct pairs of socks. These have been knitted using the company’s signature 200-needle knitting process and are available in single pairs (£12) or special edition giftboxes (£30 or £60).
The six pairs are:
- The Tube – inspired by the London Underground trains
- The Routemaster – inspired by the famous double-decker red bus, with an all-over pattern made of buses rendered in isometric 3D form
- The Platform – inspired by the platform safety graphics including the yellow and white lines and the ‘Mind the Gap’ mantra
- Tickets, Please – inspired by London’s Oyster cards, travelcards and railway tickets
- The Gingerline & The H&C – inspired by Harry Beck’s map of the London Underground, the socks feature repeat patterns made up of interchange stations as represented on TfL’s line diagrams.
A promotional campaign featuring photography shot on the TfL network is set to run across national and social media.
“TfL owns a unique, vibrant and rich history, represented by iconic design such as the roundel and tube map,” commented Jo Edwards, head of global licensing at TSBA Group. “At their British studio, The London Sock Exchange took these assets to create exclusive designs which feel playful, contemporary and full of charm.”
Dan Zell, co-founder of The London Sock Exchange, added: “Transport for London is such an icon of design, and working with the team over the last year on these socks has been a dream come true. We’re really proud of the socks we’ve made – they’re full of the colour, detail and ingenuity you’d expect from a TfL service, distilled into sock form. I can’t wait to spot them in action on the tubes and buses of London soon.”
Ellen Sankey, brand licensing manager at Transport for London, continued: “This creative collaboration showcases the instantly recognisable and historic design of London’s transport network showcasing classic British heritage with a twist.
“By using eye-catching designs such as the iconic Routemaster bus, as well as modern designs like the Oyster card in the range, these new products are a great way for people to take a little bit of London with them wherever they go.”
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