Knitido® - We make toe socks.
Dissatisfied with conventional socks
Knitido® was the first company in Japan to produce toe socks. Why? Because we are dissatisfied with normal socks. Sure, they are quick to put on. But anyone who wears normal socks knows: on cold days your feet are too cold, on warm days you sweat. Toes rubbing together collect dirt and moisture. Stuck together in a single chamber, over the years they merge into a sensory unit, leading to malpositions and pain. You can do better.
From the idea to the first toe sock
That's what Takahiro Idobata thought in the 1970s. Socks with an extra-large toe for traditional Tabi shoes, as still worn by Japanese carpenters today, were known at the time. However, these were not intended for everyday use. He stumbled upon the solution when a pair of toe socks from Spain fell into his hands in 1974. The quality was poor, and the manufacturer no longer existed. But the idea never left him. He contacted a well-known Japanese knitting machine manufacturer. Together, they began experimenting and developed a knitting machine that could knit toe socks.
Conceived in peace.
Machine prefabricated.
In 1981, Takahiro Idobata founded the companyKnitglove. Production initially took place in his own garage. The product initially met with rejection from the Japanese. It looked unusual, seemed very difficult to put on, and was more expensive than normal socks. Over time, however, the advantages of the strange socks were discovered, and a small, enthusiastic following developed who didn't want to live without toe socks.
Because toe socks revealed unexpected advantages: Business people reported that toe socks helped them get their foot odour under control and that they no longer attracted unpleasant attention at meetings after work. It is still the custom in many Japanese restaurants to take off the shoes at the entrance. Women who tended to have cold feet, on the other hand, reported feeling pleasantly warm in toe socks. Not because they were warmer, but because the feet got something to do again. The individually wrapped toes improved foot perception so much so that all toes were involved in the gait again. The foundation of movement came back into order, and this had a positive effect on the whole body.
Knitido® toe socks - This is us today
In 1998, a new, larger knitting factory was opened in Wakayama and in 2006 Knitglove was renamed into Knitido.
The brand name Knitido® is, by the way, composed of the English word to knit and the first part of the family name Idobata of the founder and is pronounced "Nittido".
The company is now run in the second generation by the Idobata family and produces toe socks for Japan and the whole world in Japan with 56 employees under fair working conditions and together with a network of regional companies. Knitido® has been represented in Germany since 2007 and supplies the whole of Europe from its location in Berlin.
We work every day to perfect our toe socks. Our goal is to create toe socks that protect the feet as much as possible and restrict them as little as possible, so that they remain healthy into old age and can move around unrestricted and naturally.
Our vision for the future - Knitido Plus®
Our vision is to make toe socks a building block for a healthy, fulfilling, and balanced life. Knitido® in Japan is currently transforming from a pure toe sock brand to a holistic concept for a balanced lifestyle under the label Knitido Plus®.
Knitido® Japan is therefore opening a trailer garden with a yoga studio, a healthy snack bar and sales of toe socks and wellness products in Kainan, Wakayama Prefecture, as a pilot project in mid-April 2022. Click here to go to the Instagram channel of the Trailer Garden.
