These water-resistant socks can revolutionize the sock industry, proclaims 5 Water Socks' creator. And with the 5 Water Socks' Kickstarter campaign successfully funded, the sock industry may indeed have to rewrite it's rules.
What are water socks? They're a new line of socks that have been fortified with what inventor Jaspreet Singh calls RainArmor technology. The RainArmor tech helps the socks resist low-pressure water, which allows them to breathe and repel water.
"With our revolutionary RainArmor technology, we were able to fuse hydrophobic nanoparticles with our premium yarn," the campaign states. "This gives our socks a thin and undetectable water-resistant barrier which repels low pressures of water!"
The socks aren't waterproof, but they're designed to fend off light amounts of saturation to keep feet dry. If they happen to get wet, Singh says they'll dry about 50 percent faster than socks based on the traditional model.
Along with resisting water, the machine washable socks are also "naturally" antifungal and antimicrobial, both qualities that help reduce odor and itch, according to Singh. "So you can finally kick off your shoes and enjoy the breeze without suffocating everyone around you."
The cotton socks also include some nylon and a bit of spandex for stretch. The athletic socks come in ankle and mid-calf lengths and have mesh tops, reinforced heels and toe areas, as well as arch support.
The name 5 Water is a reference to both Singh's native home just west of the Himalayas, in Punjab, and to the five Great Lakes that surround his current home, Detroit, where he is a student at Wayne State University. Singh says he would like to do something to address the socio-economic battles of the people in Detroit and Punjab.
"In addition to providing a top-quality brand of water-resistant socks that will keep feet drier and comfortable, 5 Water Socks is committed to increasing awareness about the socio-economic challenges that people are facing in Punjab, while investing in and growing Detroit," states the campaign.
And with more than $16,000 poured into a Kickstarter campaign that sought $10,000, still with eight days to go, Singh may now be in a better position to forward his cause. But that could spell trouble for sock market. "The sock industry may never be the same," says Singh.
The U.S.-made socks are scheduled to start shipping in October.
