As socks become more of a fashion statement, people will become more discerning about which types and brands of socks they want to accessorize their wardrobes with. Their selection may very well come down to a few sock design elements.

What you wear sends a message, whether you intend to send a specific message or not. Clothing can tell the world everything from “I’m ambitious” to “I don’t care.” And every bit of your wardrobe from head to toe is part of that message—including your socks.

Socks are becoming an important element to modern pop culture. Today, there are entire blogs devoted to showing celebrities in their colorful socks. Famous people talk about their socks in the same regard as they do their movies and books.

What if I told you there was a $5.6 billion industry that had experienced healthy sales growth over the last three years yet still had ample opportunity to connect with an underserved market segment? Interested?

Many cultural trends and icons never go away completely. They may take a hiatus lasting a decade, generation, or century, but ultimately, popular items and movements come back into vogue. For example