Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Deeg.
Can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My business partner, Molly Milbert-Hinz, and I grew up together and have know each other since we were both in seventh grade. We never set out to start a sock company, it sort of just happened. What ultimately lit the fuse for us were the political events of late 2016 and the Women’s March on Washington in January 2017. At risk of sounding too corny, it was the uncertainty and angst of that time that made us want to bring some goodness, light and humor into the world. We initially thought of designing “pussysocks” inspired by the hats the marchers wore. The concept for what would become For Goodness Socks came out of the realization that there was more work to be done. Expanding on our original idea, we conceptualized a social action fashion brand featuring socks inspired by social causes and designed to make a statement.
We had the basic concept for For Goodness Socks down but then the hard part came. How to make this happen? We really had no idea what we were doing, just what we wanted to do. Neither of us had any experience or expertise in the textile industry. We did however have a rudimentary knowledge of knitting and passion for art and design. We were persistent. It was really just putting one foot in front of the other to make our vision a reality.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Our road has been somewhat rocky, definitely winding and filled with detours, but somehow we still seem to be heading in the right direction. Our biggest struggle initially was finding a stateside hosiery mill that would be willing to work with a small start-up like ourselves. Eventually though, we were able to find a small, family-owned mill in Hickory, North Carolina that could take us on and that shared our committment to quality. Then, of course, launching a business just as a worldwide pandemic started was not without its difficulties. The one thing COVID has taught us is to take everything in stride.
Please tell us more about your business or organization. What should we know? What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for? What sets you apart from others? What are you most proud brand wise? What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
For Goodness Socks launched as an e-commerce venture in December 2020. We can also be found locally at various artisan markets, benefits and community events such as Twin Cities Pride and The Animal Humane Society’s Walk for Animals. Starting this November, our products can be found in several brick and mortar shops in the metro area. Truly purpose driven, we donate a portion of our profits to charities and organizations that work to create positive change in the world and our own community.
I think what sets For Goodness Socks apart from others is our “why” and “how”. Our “why” is that we are genuinely trying to bring good and lightness into the world with our products. We don’t want to have a sock business just to have a sock business. It’s easy to make socks with tacos, sushi and unicorns, etc. on them. It’s harder to make a statement. We’re doing this because we want to make a difference.
Our “how” is staying true to our original vision and mission. We are fully committed to reducing our environmental footprint by manufacturing our quality products here in America using sustainable materials and eco-friendly packaging products. We intentionally minimize packaging, avoid using plastic and use responsibly sourced materials for our socks.
Our design process places a premium on uniqueness, originiality and sometimes the bizarre. We design to make a statement. All our socks start as hand drawn original artwork that is digitized and then formatted into a circular sock knitting pattern. We essentially create wearable art that empowers people to support the social causes they believe in.
Looking back, I think we are both proudest of the fact that that we were able to pull this off all by ourselves. Building a company from scratch is not an easy undertaking. We did it all and we did it our way.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Socks are hot and there are a lot of sock companies out there right now. I imagine there will be more purposed-based companies like ours as time goes on. Also, It seems that as much as eCommerce continues to grow, brick and mortar seems more important than ever for smaller artisans like us.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.forgoodnesssocks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4goodnesssocks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4GoodnessSocks/
