Wigwam built its name on durable American sock making, with roots going back to the early 20th century. Although the brand is no longer part of the current range at The Sporting Lodge, it remains a useful example of how performance socks developed around comfort, hard wear and practical outdoor use. For readers looking at live alternatives, the socks and underwear collection is the best place to start.
How Wigwam began
In 1904, a devastating fire at the Sheboygan Knitting Company brought one business to an end, but it also opened the way for something new. From those circumstances emerged the Hand Knit Hosiery Company, a family business that would later become Wigwam and grow into a well-known name in outdoor, athletic and active sock production.
Early innovation in performance socks
Wigwam was an early force in what was then a relatively new idea: socks built around athletic and outdoor performance rather than simple everyday use. By the 1920s, the company was already producing for major outdoor retailers, reflecting how quickly its reputation had spread. Alongside socks, the business experimented more widely, even producing woollen bathing suits and, later, dog sweaters, before wartime demand shifted production heavily towards wool socks for the army and navy.
The Wigwam name and its reputation
In 1957, the company adopted the Wigwam name. The exact origin is unclear, though many linked it to the original crossed knitting needles logo, which resembled the outline of a teepee. What mattered more was that the change did not alter the standards behind the products. Comfort, quality and reliability stayed at the centre of the business, helping it continue to grow through the following decades.
That reputation only strengthened as technical materials and new manufacturing methods developed. Wigwam became especially well known for socks suited to hunting, skiing and active outdoor use, and by the late 1980s it had grown into a global brand sold in more than 30 countries.
Why the brand still matters
Part of Wigwam’s appeal was its focus on socks as a serious performance product rather than an afterthought. In outdoor clothing, the smaller items often matter more than people expect, and good socks can make a real difference to comfort, warmth and day-long wear. That remains true whether you are out walking, wearing boots in the field, or simply looking for dependable everyday use.
While Wigwam is no longer stocked here, readers looking at current options can explore the men’s socks and underwear collection and the women’s socks collection for live alternatives.
By Neil Summers.
