• In Lyon, Foucaud Magnon-Pujo and his brother Théo founded the committee to fight against the orphan sock in order to solve the problem of socks that mysteriously disappeared.

  • The solution ?

    Magnetic pairs

  • The two brothers worked more than 10 months on this most serious project.

Researchers have tried to unravel the mystery with the utmost seriousness.

Why do socks disappear before they even have a hole?

Whether in the washing machine, on the way to the wardrobe or on vacation, there are more and more orphan socks.

They are estimated at 80 million each year in France while 300 million pairs are consumed.

But it was not these figures that convinced Foucaud and Théo Magnon-Pujo to found the committee to fight against the orphan sock in Lyon.

Last of a family of five children, the two brothers drew on their family history.

“The idea came to us naturally after a discussion with our mother, explains the first.

At home, she has an orphan sock box.

There must be about forty of them.

Sometimes, she managed to recover them or repair them, but in the end, the box did not empty much.

»

The solution ?

Magnetic socks

“Touched by these stories of separated twins”, the two brothers, who have been running the Lyon brand of ethical clothing Maison FT for six years, first had fun making a micro-sidewalk with 150 people.

At the end of the day, a clear result: “Nine out of ten people have been confronted with this daily problem” of losing socks, reveals Foucaud.

This encouraged them to solve the problem.

If the duo relies on humor to launch their project, they nevertheless seriously worked on an ideal solution: magnetic socks made from lonely socks.

“The recovered cotton threads are used to make new pieces, explains Foucaud.

The magnet is placed on the outside of the sock to avoid any contact with the skin.

» It is fixed with a heat-sealed cotton patch, a tricolor cockade which is easily clipped.

More than ten months of research

No wooden buttons.

Nice, aesthetic but not easy to attach.

Not to mention that they can break or tear off quickly.

The snaps?

“It weakens the cotton and damages the socks” even if it is an ergonomic solution.

The magnet, on the other hand, preserves the fabrics and does not require any sewing.

"It doesn't look like that, but the research required design, time and several prototypes", explain the two brothers who initially thought it would take them "three weeks maximum".

In the end, they worked ten months to find the right attachment system and three months to find the right magnet strength.

A power “strong enough to stick but not so strong as to not get stuck in the drum of the washing machine”.

Nor to end up with both calves tied under the dining table.

Four models with various colors and patterns were made by FT.

There is only one step left: start the production of socks.

For this, Foucaud and Théo Afin have launched an operation on the ulule platform hoping to collect nearly 18,000 euros.

Company

Lille: They have the solution to avoid the hassle of orphan socks

Planet

Fashion: Ecological fiber stamp with its socks and tights made from recycled material

  • Company

  • Unusual

  • Economy

  • start-up

  • Garment

  • Lyons

  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

  • Waste