You made the rather smart move of investing in a pair of Winter Socks to keep those toes toasty over the coming months. Good call.

Now you've taken that first step, it's time to make sure your toe companions go the distance. Here's our handy little guide to keep them in top condition.

Yes, they look rather good. Yes, you're chuffed with them. But that's no excuse for padding around without proper shoes. The more you use them as glorified dust cloths, the shorter their lifespan.

Indoors, we suggest pairing them with a decent set of slippers; outdoors, tuck them into your shoes before hitting the streets.

Underwear is among the most frequently washed items in your wardrobe, so it's worth getting this bit right. This is especially true for these Winter Socks, which contain 67% Merino wool – a material with a reputation for being somewhat delicate.

After each wear, we recommend popping them in a laundry bag (to avoid the classic case of the missing sock and reduce microplastic shedding) and running a wool cycle at 30°C, not exceeding 800 rpm. For detergent, go for liquid, eco-friendly and without bleaching agents.

And as always, steer well clear of the tumble dryer.

Rather than the tumble dryer, opt for a clothes horse and a couple of pegs. Leave them to dry in the open air, preferably away from direct sunlight, and check back a few hours later to find your companions bone dry.

We can't explain why, but some humans actually iron their socks. We know this for a fact because certain members of our team belong to this hot-plate cult. If you're one of them, know that less is more when it comes to heating. Your iron's wool setting will do the job nicely.

For storage, we'll leave that to you, as everyone has their own little rituals. However, you'd be wise to pop a lavender sachet in your drawer to stop moths from tucking into your Winter Socks like they're a late-night kebab.

Since 1st January 2024, the AGEC law requires textile industry players to provide transparent information to promote conscious and informed consumption. While we didn't wait for legislation to get on board with this, we think it's a step in the right direction and we're delighted to share some additional information about your Winter Socks:

• They're not recyclable. If you stop wearing them for whatever reason, you might want to consider making someone else happy by passing them on to a friend, family member or donating them to a charity. The best way of reducing an item of clothing’s impact is by keeping it in circulation.
• They contain plastic microfibres. Due to the synthetic materials we've integrated into the knit to ensure durability, the Winter Socks release microplastics during washing. These tiny plastic particles have harmful effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, so we recommend washing them in a microfibre-catching bag like the Guppyfriend.
• They do not contain any hazardous materials. They’re manufactured in compliance with strict standards aimed at eliminating the use of harmful substances and other chemical nasties.
• They don’t contain any recycled materials. We try to incorporate recycled materials whenever we can, unfortunately, it hasn’t been possible to do so with the Winter Socks.

So there you have it, you now know everything there is to know about looking after your Winter Socks.

We'll be back in touch in a couple of weeks to see how you're getting on.

Until then, if we've missed something or you have any questions hit us up in the comment section below or here support@asphalte.com or on our IG profile.

The Asphalte Team