Cloud type socks, nephology socks:

One pair of cloud types socks, designed in Paris and made in the EU.

Link for UK customers: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1006079621/

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...

Meteorologists, or Nephologists (people who study clouds) categorise clouds into five main forms: stratus, cirrus, stratocumulus, cumulus, and cumulonimbus. If one of these types of clouds occurs high up in the atmosphere it gets the prefix 'cirro-', whereas the prefix 'alto-' refers to mid-level clouds. I designed these socks to show a variety of different cloud types at different atmospheric heights (the atmospheric altitudes are to scale, of course!), with a huge cumulonimbus cloud spanning all strata up the back of the sock.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Stratus: 'Stratus' is a Latin word which means 'layer', and this is a great description for this type of cloud. If you grew up in the UK you'll recognise this as the type of cloud that made an appearance every playtime, drizzling just enough to soak you through, but not enough for the dinner ladies to declare 'everybody inside!'. If you did *not* grow up in the UK, imagine the sort of weather they depict in TV shows about Victorian London.

• Cumulus: If you were going to draw a cartoon of a cloud, this is the type you'd probably want to base it on. Flat-ish at the bottom and fluffy on top, just like me.

• Stratocumulus: Stratocumulus clouds are usually responsible for the 'corona' effect you sometimes see around a full moon; ice crystals diffract the light and make it look extra spooky.

• Altocumulus: These are usually found between 2km and 6km above sea level and look fluffy and cosy but they're not; they're cold and wet and you'd get a chill if you tried to nap in one.

• Altostratus: You know when the sun's light is being diffused by a large blanket of dull cloud? That's an altostratus!

• Cirrus: The word 'cirrus' comes from the latin word for a curled ringlet of hair; my hair often looks like a cirrus cloud when I wake up in the morning, so I shall henceforth use this more gamourous description.

• Cirrocumulus: Cirrocumulus clouds contain tiny water droplets in a supercooled state, and don't usually hang around for very long.

• Cumulonimbus: The big name in cloud types. You want rain? Get yourself a cumulonimbus. You want lightning? Cumulonimbus. You want a tornado? No? Well you'll want to steer clear of that cumulonimbus over there!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 ‘atmospheric physics’ companion to these cloud types 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

--------------------------

Materials:

--------------------------

80% cotton, 15% polyamine, 5% elastane

Care tips:

--------------------------

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