Socks that create a chain of inspiration: My special reasons for recommending Taiko socks

I first learned about Taiko socks through a fan's post.

I am often influenced by creators on note.

In the past, I was influenced by an article written by imo-enpitsu, which led me to run to a stationery store and have an irreplaceable experience.

And this time, it's about "socks."

"Wow! They must be such great socks if you want to support them!"I could keenly feel the love for these socks, which resembled the love for a favorite idol, from this article.

Those socks are from a series called AMITABI, manufactured by a company in Nagano Prefecture called Taiko Co., Ltd.

To my shame, this was the first time I learned that a company manufacturing such beloved socks existed in my local Nagano.

Socks I met by chance

A few days after reading the article, I went to a shoe store to buy new shoes for Black Friday.

I caught sight of familiar packaging and colorful, cute-looking socks on display.

"Wait, aren't these the socks recommended in that note article?"

I checked immediately on the spot and confirmed that the real thing matched the screen on note.

I felt so excited, thinking, "I can't believe I found the creator's recommended socks so soon!" Then, I picked up a pair of autumn-colored socks and checked the price on the back of the package,

──1,600 yen

For someone like me who lives in a world where I usually love wearing 3-pair-for-990-yen socks bought at MUJI, a pair of socks for 1,600 yen is a luxury item.

"Okay, I'll pass."

Just as I thought that, a staff member appeared wearing a uniform that reminded me of a dentist, complete with stylish glasses.

A firm confidence in the product seeped through the staff member's words.

"These are so comfortable that I've been repeating them myself," the staff member explained in a relaxed, calm voice.

The word "repeat" swayed my heart.

Perhaps due to their high level of enthusiasm for AMITABIAMITABI, the staff member continued.

"We carried these socks at the store I was at before, and I brought them with me when I transferred."

"The company, Taiko, also manufactures socks for famous outdoor brands. This product is made by combining the yarns used for those OEM socks."

Unlike the autumn-colored socks from earlier, these colorful and bright two-tone socks caught my eye. I heard that this staff member selects the colors and designs for the socks on display from a wide variety of options.

Furthermore, they told me with as much passion as if they had manufactured the socks themselves, "Once you wear them, you'll be hooked, so a customer even bought 10 pairs in bulk just the other day," and "There are many repeat customers."

Also, although they are available in the online shop, opportunities to actually hold them in your hands are rare, and they only appear in pop-up shops occasionally.

In other words, having these socks right in front of me now is a precious experience.

Completely captivated by the words coming from the staff member's own experience, "This is a fated encounter!" I felt my hesitation about the 1,600 yen per pair price tag from earlier vanish.

I took the pair I chose, heart racing as I wondered, "Which design should I pick?" to the register.

"Once you wear them, you won't be able to let them go," the smiling staff member said, their firm confidence in the product seeping through, contrary to their soft demeanor.

Functional aspects of AMITABI

AMITABI, as the name suggests, is shaped like a tabi, so it is apparently recommended for people with bunions. I've been having pain from bunions lately, so I'm grateful for that.

I am writing this article while wearing AMITABI, and the soft texture and the tabi shape fit my big toe gently.

At this time of year, when the floors are cold and it's become hard to walk around the house without slippers, I'm walking around in just these socks. They really do seem different from other socks.

What makes them comfortable is this thickness in the toe area.

For someone like me who dislikes winter, the warmth of this thick fabric is comforting, and I feel like it eases the gloom of the coming bitter cold.

It's only my first day using them, but I feel like I've spent my money in a way I can be satisfied with.
I was introduced to good products on note and in the store.

When you have something you truly want to recommend, that passion really comes across.I felt that way, too.

I went to buy shoes, but ended up buying socks and insoles.

And these insoles, for me, were at a price point I wouldn't normally pick up...

However, these insoles were also something the shoe store clerk carefully recommended, and I felt the difference instantly, realizing how much they changed the comfort of my shoes, thinking, 'These are great!'

To quote the article by imo enpitsu mentioned at the beginning, it said something like this:

It goes without saying that my QOL has improved with this purchase.

Encounters with good things enrich your life, it was a wonderful experience that made me feel that way.

Two months have passed since I started wearing AMITABI.

In the morning, I walk barefoot on my tiptoes through the cold hallway to the closet. When I open the clothing case filled with many socks, the ones I always reach for are AMITABI.

Since AMITABI came into my home, they have been my undisputed first-string choice.
'It's reassuring to have them'—they have become an indispensable presence.

There is a comfort and warmth there that only those who have worn them can understand.

About a month after my first purchase, I gave a pair of AMITABI socks to each of my parents for their birthdays. After that, I gave them to colleagues who had helped me as they retired.

Furthermore, I bought two more pairs for myself and gave two pairs to my husband as a gift.

“They make you want to give them as gifts to the people you care about most.”That is what Taiko Co., Ltd.’s socks are like.

Turning the massive amount of thread waste from sock factories into art

Because of an attachment to socks I had never felt before, I became interested in the company called Taiko Co., Ltd.

While new products are created every day, I heard that a massive amount of thread waste is discarded as trash at sock factories.

In the midst of this, they are holding workshops to transform thread waste into art instead of trash, and are using crowdfunding to produce picture books to convey these new values.

When I looked at the site introduced for the picture book production, there were indeed massive amounts of thread waste that were so colorful and beautiful it felt like a waste to throw them away.

“It might be fun to try weaving a basket with handicrafts,” I thought, feeling excited and inspired even as an adult. If it were a child, they would probably start playing in ways adults couldn't even imagine.

I bought the picture book along with the socks the other day with the hope that Taiko will continue to make these socks, and that my daughters will look at things from various perspectives.

The reason I think “I want to give these as a gift to someone special” is because I want to share the comfort.

The other day, a colleague I gave the socks to contacted me saying, “I want to give those socks to my mother, where are they sold?”.

I couldn't help but feel happy reading that message. This happiness likely comes from the relief of knowing they liked the gift, and the feeling of being able to share the greatness of something I love with someone else, thinking, 'I knew it was good!'

As I replied on LINE with a grin, a message came back immediately: 'This is something you can't understand until you wear them.'

Socks you want to give to someone special.
This is about gifting the comfort that you can only understand by wearing them.

While the socks themselves are attractive, the fact that they create a chain of thoughtfulness for others—the desire to have someone special experience that same comfort—is the special reason why I want to recommend Taiko Co., Ltd.

To everyone at Taiko Co., Ltd.

Thanks to you, my feet are comfortable every day.
I can give them to my loved ones with confidence, and the family and friends I've gifted them to are also delighted.

I discovered AMITABI because of a chain started by users who already loved them.

I hope I can be one of the people who continues this chain.

Please keep making wonderful socks. As a fan, I will continue to support you from the sidelines.

Everyone has their own criteria for choosing things. Is there anything for you that you keep buying because you resonate with its story?