Putting Alaskan Fish on Vermont Socks

For many seasons now, we've relied on Darn Tough socks paired with our fishing boots. In Alaska, wool socks aren't just a wintertime necessity for snowy, cold conditions; they're a year-round essential to keep feet warm and dry during long days spent fishing, hiking, skiing, and working outdoors.

Growing up in a family of commercial fishermen, having the right gear has always been crucial for enduring the long days spent on the water, regardless of the season. A few years ago, we had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Darn Tough Vermont on a pair of merino wool work socks specifically designed for fishermen's feet — the Stanley K and Emma Claire socks — marking the beginning of an exciting friendship and a shared dream of fish-themed socks!

Darn Tough Comes to Alaska

In 2022, the Darn Tough crew visited our hometown of Homer, Alaska, to meet with us and photograph the Stanley K and Emma Claire socks.

Together, we braved the chilly spring weather and embarked on a boat ride to Emma's house in Peterson Bay aboard our fishing boat, a twenty-minute journey from the Homer boat harbor across Kachemak Bay.

Upon arrival, we shed our rain gear, cooked salmon in the outdoor kitchen, stoked the wood fireplace, and cozied up with our dog while wearing our beloved wool socks.

Back in town, we introduced the Darn Tough team to the Homer Boat Yard, where our family’s 58-ft fishing boat, the Stanley K, was undergoing winter maintenance. As we explored the industrial landscape of Homer’s bustling waterfront and captured photographs, an idea began to take shape: could we design a pair of Darn Tough socks featuring a special Salmon Sisters design inspired by our Alaskan landscape and way of life?

While such a collaboration had never been attempted before, the team at Darn Tough embraced the idea and advocated for a partnership between our respective family-run businesses. Emma collaborated with Jenny, Darn Tough’s sock visionary, to develop a unique pair of Salmon Sisters x Darn Tough fish socks.

Dreaming & Sketching

Throughout the summer salmon season, we brainstormed and dreamed aboard our boat, envisioning the socks we would create. Upon our return from sea, we set to work sketching our ideas and creating a mood board to share with Jenny and the Darn Tough design team.

Jenny guided us through the intricate process of sock design and production, from initial concept to sketches, artwork refinement, prototype knitting, fitting sessions on live models in Vermont, color trials, and finally, selecting a favorite design for production. Witnessing our sock's journey unfold was incredibly exciting!

Emma and Jenny collaborated on concept sketches, incorporating themes of fish and landscape elements such as water, shells, and kelp. We iterated and refined the artwork until we arrived at designs that resonated with all of us.

Bold Shapes & Colors

Designing for socks presented a new and thrilling challenge for Emma; she learned that successful sock artwork requires using simpler, bolder shapes and colors to ensure clarity once knitted. A crucial aspect of the process was laying out the artwork on the sock to ensure the most captivating elements remained visible when worn.

Selecting a final colorway proved both enjoyable and daunting, with twelve options to consider. Jenny expertly drew inspiration from our photos of life in Alaska, presenting us with numerous captivating color combinations.

Narrowing down our choices to the top contenders for prototype knitting was tough, but we eventually settled on two stunning colorways featuring beautiful blues and greens reminiscent of the sea, adorned with fun, bold fish and waves.

A Fitting Name

The next step was naming our socks. This decision came more easily — we decided to christen them the "Homer" socks, paying homage to our hometown and the place where Darn Tough first learned of Alaska's deep appreciation for their socks.

Homer, a small fishing town at the end of the road, revolves around the sea, inspiring us endlessly with its natural beauty, abundant fish, and resilient, hardworking people. It felt like a fitting name.

Working with Darn Tough to bring our shared vision to life was an incredible experience. Collaborating across different coasts of the United States, we embarked on a journey to put fish on socks — a dream we're thrilled to have realized.

Being intimately involved in the design process and teaming up with another family business renowned for crafting the highest quality products was immensely rewarding. For our small Alaskan business, this collaboration represents a significant achievement, and we're deeply honored to see you wear these socks we've poured our hearts into.

About the Author

Fishermen and sisters Emma and Claire cofounded Salmon Sisters with support from their amazing small team. Emma and Claire grew up on a homestead in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands. Since they were young, Emma and Claire have worked on commercial fishing boats and continue to fish each summer while running Salmon Sisters from land and sea.