” A 30 something newly married husband, getting dressed for the office one morning stares into his wardrobe.  It is a sea of grey, devoid of any colour or inspiration, his biggest decision, whether to put on his navy suit or his grey one.  It is a sad fashion moment, a realisation that there is no life in this man’s wardrobe, no choice but the mundane, and he is bored.  He’s tired of the same corporate uniform. He wants something more. He looks to his new bride, she understands his plight and together they decide to do something about it.” – This is the story of Rock My Socks

I bumped into Crystal and Sean, the creator’s of Rock my Socks, in the CBD on a Sunday afternoon some weeks back. They were running around Melbourne’s hot spots, shooting the lookbook for their debut collection, and after chatting to Crystal about their new venture I could not wait to feature them on the blog and get my hands on some of their awesome socks.

Although I do wear my fair share of black, I am a sucker for striking pattern and colour, and the Melbourne duo have really nailed it in creating a  super funky collection which ticks both boxes.  The use of some trusty classic designs such as spots, stripes, and houndstooths (to name just a few) in an incredible array of bold and fashionable colours, make for a really foolproof and fun way to inject some   colour into any guy’s wardrobe.

And the launch comes just in time for Spring Racing!!! Which if you ask me is the perfect time to add a bit of Melbourne style to your outfit. So…..

Rock My Socks have kindly offered to give away a $30 voucher to one lucky guy (or gal, I’ve already claimed a pair).  So if you want to add a bit of fun and colour into your next outfit all you have to do is Like the Rock My Socks Facebook page HERE and share this post on your Facebook timeline. Competition ends next Thursday 17th October 2013 and will be announced on the blog on Friday morning.

And now to the interview…

HOW DID ROCK MY SOCKS COME ABOUT?

Sean came up with the idea during the morning ritual of putting on the corporate uniform for the office. He decided there was no way to individualize his work wear and he was bored wearing the same clothes everyday, blending into the sea of suits walking the city streets.  When he lived and worked in London a few years ago, the local guys styled their suits with bold, colourful, patterned socks, but that concept was largely missing from Melbourne. So we thought why not design a range of great men’s socks and give guys a subtle way to set themselves apart from the rest and enjoy getting dressed in the morning.  As a newly married couple we also wanted to create something together that we could build and develop.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEW COLLECTION?

The collection has been inspired by Melbourne and everything that is great about this wonderful city, it’s vibrancy, artistic surrounds and graffiti laneways, which was where much of our campaign and Lookbook was shot. In our debut collection we have focused on respecting traditional designs such as spots, stripes, and houndstooth as these tried and tested classics have stood the test of time and remain a constant in fashion. Our twist was then to re-invent the classic with vivid colour, both combinations that clash and complement each other.

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK INVOLVE FOR YOU?

While we are building the brand both of us still have jobs, so our days are very hectic! Everyday we monitor fashion news, blogs, and the latest photo’s from runway shows, celebrity events to see what is happening and how our brand and products fit in with what’s trending. We update our social media with new pictures, style inspiration and fashion tips. Then there are the nuts and bolts – packing and posting new sock orders to our valued customers!

HOW WOULD BOTH OF YOU DESCRIBE EACH OTHER’S STYLE?

Crystal’s style is a combination of classic and modern, with some colour mixed in.  Sean’s style is traditional, but urbane with plenty of navy!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE 5 ESSENTIALS IN A MAN’S WARDROBE?

–       A great pair of jeans

–       Collared shirt

–       Quality leather shoes (it’s the first thing girls look at! Chocolate coloured are great at the moment.)

–       A bespoke blazer – it’s mans best friend

–       And of course, some coloured, patterned socks from Rock My Socks!

WHAT IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO SHOP IN MELBOURNE?

‘Captains of Industry’ – (level 1, 2 Somerset Place, Melbourne).  They have made to measure menswear, bespoke footwear and leather accessories, men’s grooming products, traditional haircuts and razor shaves, and they offer breakfast and lunch everyday!

WHICH OTHER DESIGNERS/ARTISTS ARE YOU MOST INSPIRED BY?

Crystal – I love Australian labels such as Zimmerman, Life with Bird and White Suede, for their great colours, playful designs and quality garments.

Sean – I am an avid fan of Australian industrial designer Marc Newson and his ability to reimagine the design of everyday products.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR THE LABEL? WHERE DO YOU SEE IT GOING IN THE FUTURE?

We have always wanted the brand to be global, so over the next year our focus is to build up our stockists in Australia and break into overseas retailers. Getting our socks into Barneys in New York would be a dream! We also want to expand our range and possibly move into women’s and kid’s socks and maybe underwear as well!

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO START HIS OR HER OWN BUSINESS IN FASHION?

I think the most important thing is to not rush into it, but take the time to get your designs and product quality right. Have grand plans but start small so that the business is manageable and not overwhelming and you can grow it organically at a pace you can handle.  Starting a fashion brand certainly isn’t easy, there will definitely be setbacks, so you need to be passionate and determined to see it through, you need to be prepared to put in the time and effort and work through the tough times. It’s tremendously satisfying though when you seeing someone wearing some socks from your range.