Funky, colorful, vibrant, and memorable are just a few of the words that Leonard Underwood uses to describe his new dress sock clothing line Upscale Socks.
Funky, colorful, vibrant, and memorable are just a few of the words that Leonard Underwood uses to describe his new dress sock clothing line Upscale Socks.
With a mission to "suit as many soles as possible," Underwood launched his sock line on December 18.
While the entrepreneur said he would like to appeal to millennials and Generation X, Upscale Socks ultimately offers a variety of choices that appeal to all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
"I think I have something for everyone," Underwood said. "I have more traditional styles and patterns for the corporate person. Then, I noticed some politicians and sports commentators are getting more colorful and having more fun with their accessories, so I have those styles as a well. Each season I would like to have a Christian collection also with some scriptures, crosses and other things that represent my faith."
Although he did not have prior experience within the clothing industry, the Upscale Socks founder said he attended workshops and seminars until he had the confidences to move forward with his business plan.
According to Underwood, his idea for a sock business came to him in a dream two years ago.
"It was very specific, that I owned a sock line. It wasn't that I owned a pocket square or lapel pin company or anything like that. It was very focused, and I rarely remember dreams," he said.
The business has already received a strong and positive reception, starting with his launch party at the Springfield Country Club at 1375 Elm St., which had about 200 people show up.
Following the initial launch of Upscale Socks, Underwood said that he has received countless calls from people looking to make purchases, including one person who called to order 48 pairs.
"It's been pretty overwhelming actually," Underwood said. "My phone has been exploding with positive feedback and love."
He added that much of the support and his customer base has come from the clientele that he has built over the past 12 years through his photography business, Underwood Photos.
"People liked the product that I provided in the past, so they know and trust that something else will be of good quality in this new venture," Underwood said.
Aside from his faith, Underwood has drawn inspiration for his sock designs from his work in photography, featuring a sock he calls "Brownstone" which came from one of his favorite spots to hold photo shoots, Mattoon Street in Springfield.
Some of his sock designs have also come from a sock-designing contest that he runs at Putnam Vocational-Technical High School where he teaches.
"I had an idea and said 'well I'd like to get a perspective of a younger individual--teens--to see what they like and what their flare's like,' so I went to Putnam Academy," he said. "I went to graphic design and design and visual shops and proposed the idea to the teachers if they could ask their students to design some socks."
According to Underwood, he received over 100 different designs from the student contest. He then picked his favorite designs and had them manufactured and added to his sock line.
Underwood said that he presented the winning student with a pair of their finished project, titled "Paintball Party," during his launch party.
While Upscale Socks is in its infancy, Underwood feels that this is only the beginning of something he feels will grow.
"I really want to get to know and be confident in the sock industry, because there are so many ways I can go about it," he said. "Eventually, I would like to look into other accessories, so maybe matching underwear, maybe ties as well or pocket squares. I'd like to stay in the accessory family."
For more information, visit the official Upscale Socks website at http://www.upscalesocks.com/.