Anonymous Ism couldn’t be better named. The Japanese sock manufacturer has little social media presence – no Facebook or Instagram accounts, just a Twitter page with one lonely Tweet. Their company website isn’t even working. I finally tracked down their North American rep a few weeks ago and asked if I could get more information. He replied: “what would you like to know … and why?!”
It seems the company would like to stay as anonymous as possible. The only information I could get is that they’re owned by Gallet – a 32-year old Japanese company that has traditionally done private label manufacturing for high-end brands and shops. Anonymous Ism is their house line, and it’s proudly made in Japan, but they apparently don’t like talking about it.
Nonetheless, the company makes some of the best casual socks I’ve come across. I’ve been wearing them for the past year and was so impressed by how well they’ve held up that I bought a dozen more this past sales season. Some of their offerings include quarter-length and no-show socks, although I only wear their three-quarter length designs. Typically made from a blend of cotton, acrylic, and polyester, they stay up surprisingly well throughout the day – letting you avoid that dreaded sock pooling that can happen around your ankles mid-afternoon.
Like other Japanese brands in this space (e.g. Chup and Kapital), most Anonymous Ism socks are vintage inspired. They make a ton of sporty stripes and jaunty Fair Isles, although I find their basic color blends to be more versatile. Conservative enough to not be campy; interesting enough to be stylish. Wear them with boots or sneakers when you’re kicking around in jeans for the day. You can find them at J. Crew, East Dane, Unionmade, Mr. Porter, End, The Bureau Belfast, and Need Supply.
