Choosing Between Local and Foreign Manufacturers: An End to The Dilemma for Socks Distributors in Egypt!

If you’re a retail business based in Egypt and your business operates on the basis of providing commodities, like socks, then efficiency in the mass production cycle is a vital contributor to the overall success of your socks business. By efficiency of production, we mean in terms of quality, delivery times, costs, and everything in between!

Accordingly, choosing where and how your socks are going to be produced are essential to your brand-building. 

That moves us to the ultimate question: should you produce locally or overseas? 

The Short Answer: Contrary to common belief, when it comes to socks, producing locally is your best bet, particularly due to the high demand for socks in the Egyptian market, which is attributed to the large population which continues to increase as we speak.

The Long Answer: There are many factors to consider when making the final verdict on whether to produce your socks domestically or abroad. 

The Top 4 Factors to Consider When Determining Whether To Manufacture Socks Locally or Overseas: 

 

Tariffs, Customs, and Delivery Times.

 

Socks are among the products that must be available in stock at all times, which means that the replenishment cycle must be an exceedingly rapid one. Unfortunately, if you choose to manufacture your socks overseas, you can’t always guarantee that your socks will be delivered on time, since customs and tariffs can certainly delay and hinder the process considerably.

On the other hand, orders can be turned around faster and shipped on time if produced domestically, particularly with a factory that stands out in the market due to having the fastest production periods, a.k.a.: Moody Socks Factory! 

By producing your socks at Moody Socks Factory, you are guaranteed a rapid, hassle-free process lacking customs and tariffs, replacing the lengthy cycle of importing from abroad and risking delays in shipment deliveries, the shipment getting stuck in customs, and other nerve-racking scenarios that lead shipping times to reach months instead of days. 

As for the delivery times, you will enjoy the fastest production periods ever! Moody Socks Factory can produce your socks samples in a duration of 10 days, followed by a socks production period of three weeks, and just like that, your order is ready!

 

Competitive Pricing

 

It goes without saying that most businesses prefer manufacturing overseas due to the low associated costs. While that may be true, is the cheapest option always the better option? Or is the best option the one that adds value to your brand?

Yes, the costs may be cheaper, but are you fully aware of the careless labor practices or the harsh working conditions that exist overseas? You may find yourself associating your socks brand with unethical practices without noticing, resulting in a public relations disaster that will take years to fix.

In addition, what if you receive defective products? What about your intellectual property rights? If such scenarios go wrong, you will end up paying a higher price than you would imagine, for the simple reason that you chose to opt for the cheaper option in the beginning. 

There’s no place like home! Moody Socks Factory proves this once again, by providing you the ideal hybrid between quality and price. Offering the most competitive prices in the market, Moody Socks Factory asserts you that you will be provided with top-notch quality socks without having to break the bank.  

Not just that, the factory has a very clear code of conduct set in place, dictating the environmental code, work safety code, and employee rights code, which the factory has been recognized for! Therefore, ethical considerations won’t keep you awake at night.

 

Socks Quality

 

There’s a general belief that products produced overseas are of higher quality than those produced locally, particularly in areas falling in the MENA region. However, let’s pause and think for a moment- does it make sense for socks, that are mainly produced out of cotton, to be manufactured in any other country than the homeland of cotton itself; Egypt?! 

While that argument itself should be persuasive enough, let’s discover more. You may be contemplating that materials on their own are not enough to produce the perfect socks, and that if the socks machines themselves are not up to standard, then the material is of no use. We agree! 

For that particular reason, at Moody Socks Factory, not only do we have the best socks materials and fibers, we further produce them with the most innovative technologies through our state-of-the-art Italian socks manufacturing machines, catering to all types of socks. Our socks conclusively meet international quality standards, further emphasized by our ISO certifications.

Professionalism

 

 

Personal qualities and behaviors can be deal-breakers during the socks manufacturing process. You may come across a manufacturer that seems to be the perfect match for you, but after proceeding with the collaboration, you face high levels of disappointment due to the lack of professionalism, whether in the attitude, responsiveness, attention to detail, honesty, dependability, ethics, and more. The socks may be outstanding, but the communication isn’t!

If you choose to manufacture your socks overseas, language may become a barrier, limiting the communication effectiveness between you and the manufacturer, which can be a significant issue.

Furthermore, timely communication can be a tedious process with the different time zones and such.

Most importantly, what if the manufacturer operates on a business model of revenue rather than customer centricity? They absolutely won’t pay attention to your level of satisfaction during the process. What matters is the delivery of the end-product. Is that enough? Of course not, we live in an era of customer satisfaction and brand loyalty!

 

Realizing that, at Moody Socks Factory, our clients are no longer clients as soon as they come on board. Rather, they become our lasting business partners, and you can become one too!

We respect you, we value your time, and providing you with the socks of your dreams is our top priority. Starting from the tiniest of details such as the labels, all the way to the major ones such as socks composition and designs, we are all ears and ready to provide you with a typical version of the socks you imagined. 

Following our detailed socks manufacturing process, we keep you involved in every step of the process to be able to track your socks closely and ensure your fulfillment.

 

Final Words

Now that we’ve painted a full picture of local vs. overseas manufacturing with regard to socks production, it becomes crystal clear that the ideal scenario is to produce your socks domestically, and in particular, at Moody Socks Factory. In fact, through a single collaboration, you will take pride and feel reassured to know that socks of such first-class quality are produced within the boundaries of your country. 

On that ground and with the reputation Moody Socks Factory has built both internationally and locally, we’d be pleased to accompany you throughout your journey of socks manufacturing, and support you in the race of competing with the top brands in this fast-paced industry!

 

The Psychology Behind Buying Socks: The Enclothed Cognition

Your socks business sales rates are directly proportional to understanding your customers’ needs, and deepest wants!

And what is better than psychological for that matter?

Moody Socks Factory is taking you right now into a journey of discovering the reasoning and psychological process behind choosing certain clothes, and accordingly, socks!

Time to turn this anonymous ingredient into your business’ success spell!

WHAT WE WILL COVER IN OUR ENCLOTHED COGNITION ARTICLE

  1. What is Enclothed Cognition? 
  2. The Psychology of Clothes: THE BIG WHY!
  3. The Metamorphosis of Colors.
  4. Tread on the Heels of FASHION
  5. WHICH Generation is Doing WHAT.

Marco Jacobs once said: “Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them.” We have made some modifications to that.

“Socks mean nothing until someone lives in them.” —Moody Socks Factory

At the outset, let’s SCAN the term “enclothed cognition”! 

Enclothed Cognition: 

This term was coined by cognitive psychologists Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky from Northwestern University. While they were examining the psychological and performance-related effects related to wearing particular items of clothing and their influence on the person wearing them, “enclothed cognition” came about as a description for this phenomenon. Enclothed cognition indicates that clothes have a huge systematic influence on the wearer’s psychological processes. 

“It is only part of a larger field of research that examines how humans think with both their brains and their bodies, an area of study known as embodied cognition.”  

HAJO ADAM

Adam Galinsky

Need proof for this concept? 

Here are THREE:

In Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky’s research, which was published in July 2012 in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , an attention-demanding task was implemented, disclosing the following:

  • When wearing a white lab coat, the subject made half as many mistakes than they did without wearing the coat.
  • On another attention task, those who were told that their lab coat was a doctor’s coat performed better than both those who were told it was a painter’s smock or those who merely saw a doctor’s coat on display.

Also, it was shown that “wearing formal business attire increased abstract thinking.” That was according to a paper published back in August 2015, in Social Psychological and Personality Science, asking volunteers to change into formal or casual clothing before cognitive tests. The results of the paper suggested that the reason behind that is the “feelings of power.”

There are also the findings of Karla Keogan’s research: “The Relationship Between Clothing Preference, Self-Concepts, and Self-Esteem.”, which suggest that there is a definite relationship between clothing preference and self-concepts, and relationships, which also exists between clothing preference and proximity of clothing, defined as “a relational concept pertaining to the psychological closeness of clothing to self.” 

Based on those 3 proofs and more, it’s undoubtedly true that designs and patterns have POWER over your consumers! Now, the trick is to flip this equation and be the one in power to cause the effect of clothes on consumers.

Can you imagine how this will powerfully affect your socks’ business? 

The Psychology of Clothing: THE BIG WHY

Your curiosity as a business owner is what keeps you on track, and at Moody Socks Factory, we know well that you are searching for an answer for that BIG WHY! Why do people purchase and wear certain types of clothes, and accordingly, socks? 

In early civilizations, the key purpose of clothing was to keep us warm and relatively dry. In the 21st century, we should be aware that protection is only one function of clothing (along with ideation, modesty, status, and adornment). This means that clothing allows people to be recognized as members of a specific group,  covers the body in a proper way,  shows position or rank within a group, and helps people express their uniqueness and creativity. You can definitely target these points through socks too!

“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is an instant language.” —Miuccia Prada

Veblen’s early theory of fashion consumption focused on the social status of clothing worn by women, which symbolized some of the core values of society. Clothing and fashion are often used to indicate and communicate social worth or status. Clothing also serves to communicate membership of a cultural group both to those who are members of it and those who are not. It is a social process that creates cultural meaning and is a fundamental part of our communication in social interactions. Clothing has been creatively described as the second skin and the visible self.

If clothes can, then socks can too! Just make sure that your socks design perfectly communicates the status that your buyer persona is striving to present.

The Metamorphosis of Colors: 

Colors MATTER, do you wonder when? 

The answer is ALWAYS!

Since as early as the Renaissance period, the color of clothing became more important. Certain colors were only to be worn by the upper classes and royals. Medieval Europeans developed sumptuary laws that allowed only the elite to wear costly colors such as purple, which was extracted from Mediterranean seashells. 


The laws governed who could wear certain colors, the amount of color allowed, and when the color could be worn. Colors developed deep symbolic meanings, indicating the individuals’ cultural learning, place in the social hierarchy, and economic status.

And then came the famous colour wheel and its powerful psychological effect, created by the German poet, artist, and politician, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who published “Theory of Colors” in 1810’ his treatise on the nature, functions, and psychology of colors.


Here’s a preview of each color’s meaning:

1- RED:

Energy, passion, action, ambition, determination, and anger.

2- ORANGE:

Social communication and optimism. 

3- YELLOW:

Optimism and cheerfulness. It refers to the mind and the intellect.

4- GREEN:

Balance and growth.

5- BLUE:

Trust and peace. It can also suggest loyalty and integrity. 

6- PURPLE:

Imagination and creativity. 

7- BROWN:

Security, protection, comfort, and and material wealth.

8- BLACK: 

The color of the hidden, the secretive, and the unknown.

9- WHITE:

Perfection and purity. 

What is the power you want your socks customers to feel? Choose your socks colors accordingly!

SURPRISE: Gender also matters when it comes to  color preferences! 

In Hong Kong, a psychological dimensions experiment has been carried out on older men and women to monitor their choices in terms of fashion involvement, clothing needs, design preferences, and experiences when choosing clothing. It was found that older men had a significantly lower preference for certain eye-catching vibrant colors, but they welcomed subtle colors such as black, white, and blue. As for older women, they tended to look for multiple functions in fashion; they were not concerned with being noticeable, because they preferred red and warm colors over dull colors like black and white. 

In further studies, it was proved that men were generally more tolerant toward achromatic colors than women. Accordingly, women might be more color-conscious and their color tastes are more flexible and diverse.

More recently, it was found that women were more likely than men to have a favorite color. Upon expression of their preferences for light versus dark colors, there were no significant differences between men and women. However, on expressing a preferred preference among bright and soft colors, a clear difference was reflected,, with women preferring soft colors and men preferring bright ones. 

Back to some socks business existential questions, is it just a commercially repeated myth that people leave their personal reasons behind and follow fashion trends or NOT? 

Tread on the Heels of FASHION: 

There’s a distinct description of fashion presented through a significant study topic, which is: “FASHION TRENDS AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY”. The definition is as follows:

“Fashion is just not an ambitious projected image of a reinterpreted good old value to fulfill some function or agenda alike but rather an evocative and refreshing concept worthy enough to be portrayed for society’s appreciation that makes us even more instinctive. In society, the individual’s appearance is the ticket to transmit non-verbal communication signals, such as possible cues about his / her social stature, values, and lifestyle.”

While we’ve found a solid ground to stand on by drawing a mutual perception of fashion, do people care about fashion DOs and DON’Ts while purchasing their clothes?

Based on the PriceGrabber® 2013 Fashion Trends Survey, 70% of survey respondents said it’s important for them to be fashionable and keep up with trends without breaking the bank. Although this is a clear confirmation of how consumers usually consider “their pockets” when deciding to purchase a product, it further gives an indication of their attachment to tracking where FASHION is going and following its steps. 

Is it that simple?! ABSOLUTELY NOT! 

A study on: “Consumers’ Adoption of Apparel Fashion: The Role of Innovativeness, Involvement, and Social Values,” presents a model that could fairly describe what affects the decision of going along with a specific fashion trend.


If so, what is the drive that creates the urge to go with the fashion flow?


When asked: “Why do people follow fashion trends?”, Rebecca Arnold, author of: “Fashion: A Very Short Introduction,” answered: 

“It seems to be a contradictory mix of impulses and emotions. Desire and anxiety are at the heart of this. We’re drawn to the new and novel, to things that provide a feeling of change, and, perhaps, progress. We also want to belong – to be part of something recognizable – and there is no more obvious way to demonstrate this than through your clothes. A new outfit that fits with what magazines and advertisements are promoting can be really pleasurable to buy and wear. It can give you a new identity, even if it’s only for one night.” 

This could be insightful to understand the psychological or emotional reasoning behind following fashion trends. It’s not a coincidence or passive behavior, IT’S SCIENCE! 

WHICH Generation is Doing WHAT? 

Everything is relative! And this applies when you look around to depict who, out of all your potential customers, is looking for that fashionable statement in your socks. 

For example, according to “Share of French Following Fashion Trends 2017”, aiming to highlight the importance of fashion trends to French customers in 2017, 70% of respondents respondents said they did not attach any importance to this, compared to 1 percent of respondents seeking to always be fashionable.

A further example is Kantar Worldpanel’s data, which shows that shows that “a massive 76% of spending on fashion in the UK comes from those who agree that they ‘purchase clothing regardless of fashion’.”

Imagine the wide gap between generations, how could it affect the adoption of fashion trends, especially in 2020? 

Let’s state an essential fact: Gen Z will represent 40 percent of shoppers by 2020. This generation doesn’t take the fashion and retail norms at face value, so doing things the way things have always been done is a death sentence for retailers.

This is Gen Z on one hand, what about Gen X and Y on the other hand? 

Generation X,those who were born from 1965 to 1980, would have a certain fashion taste related to what they’ve grown-up through. According to STATUS magazine it was the era of alternative rock music – so grunge looks and punk rock was everyone’s go-to style.

When it comes to Millennials or Generation Y, STATUS stated that: “a new trend that was made popular among millennials is the minimalist fashion. It’s basically the definition of “less is more” ,where millennials are decluttering their closets and upgrading them with a curated wardrobe in various shades of black, white, and grey.”

This essential knowledge is vital and consequential to working on your upcoming socks collections, time after time. 

 

Right now, you’re aware of why watching over fashion trends is epoch-making on one hand, and that your target customers with their psychological reasons, have a say in what you should be manufacturing on the other hand.

 

 

Why Egyptian Cotton is the BEST Choice for Your Next Wholesale Socks Order?

“Welcome on board to Moody Socks Factory’s flight to Egypt, where we will introduce you to Egyptian cotton at its best! Please fasten your seat belt and GET READY!”

Coming across Egyptian cotton time after time always leaves us with more questions than answers! This magical cotton is as wealthy and prosperous as its origin; ancient, beautiful, and superior. 

The question is: WHY?! Why is it that special? And why is it a vital element in boosting your socks sales?

The answer to this question is where all the magic is hidden, but not from you ANYMORE! Because Moody Socks Factory is making sure that your socks embrace all the beauty held within Egyptian cotton.

What You Are About to Know About the Magic of Egyptian Cotton in Socks Manufacturing:

  1. Egyptian cotton has various types! Get to know the finest of them all.
  2. Egyptian cotton is different from the other types of cotton. Know how it can be the most beneficial for your socks.
  3. What Moody Socks Factory can support you with. 

1) Revealing the Secrets of Egyptian Cotton Trees: Their Types and Benefits

First things first, let’s scratch the surface and introduce to you the core of Egyptian cotton. That cotton has grown along the fertile Nile River valley, which is categorized as one of the top fertile areas for harvesting in the world. The fertile Nile River valley has the power of balancing among three of the crucial resources to the world: sun, humidity, and soil. What’s worth mentioning is that such a balance leads to the most suitable climate for cotton growth.

Upon growth, Egyptian cotton is divided into three types, distinguished by the length of the cotton fiber (also known as the staple). The three types of staples are:

  • Extra-Long Staple (ELS)
  • Long-Staple (LS)
  • Regular cotton.

Our golden rule in this regard is: you can always measure cotton quality according to the length of its fibers; the longer the fibers are, the better the cotton is. 

Egyptian Giza Cotton: The Finest of All

Gossypium barbadense, also known as extra-long staple cotton (ELS), is a species of cotton plants that is continuously cultivated to produce that specific length of fibers. The “Egyptian Giza” breed falls under ELS cotton, which is the only breed able to develop the longest staples, and accordingly, the finest. (1) 

FYI: That finest breed is exactly what we use to manufacture your perfect wholesale socks! 

2)Why Egyptian Cotton is a Superior Choice for Your Socks Than The Other Cotton Types:

Quoting Moody Socks Factory experts: “no type of cotton is like Egyptian cotton.” Your socks sales have the potential to flourish like NEVER before on this cotton’s shoulders! Let us start the cotton war and give you sufficient proof!

Egyptian Cotton vs. Regular Cotton: 

Egyptian Cotton Regular Cotton
Egyptian cotton is handpicked. Regular cotton is picked by machine.
The privilege of handpicking over machine picking is huge! And it actually has a very positive effect on the quality of the yarn. HOW?

  • It allows the cotton fibers to be handled delicately.
  • It reduces the risk of splicing as less stressed is placed on the fibers, keeping them intact.
  • It plays a major part in the longevity of the cotton.
  • It can withstand frequent washing because it is stronger.
The picking by machine process places more stress on the cotton fiber and results in a weaker yarn that splices which can create a coarser texture erasing the comfort factor out of your socks! 
Egyptian cotton also has a smaller diameter that allows more threads per square inch, and accordingly, creates the strongest socks anyone is looking for!  Regular cotton has a bigger diameter. 

Apparently, round (1) goes to Egyptian cotton! 

Maybe in the next round, another type of cotton can compete? 

Let’s figure out!

Egyptian Cotton vs. Pima Cotton:

Egyptian Cotton Pima Cotton
Egyptian cotton is made from the highest quality long-staple fiber; that’s where its strength, softness, and resistance to stress and pilling came from. Pima cotton, although it comes with many of the properties similar to Egyptian cotton, it is considered to be a secondary material. 
Egyptian cotton is an ideal investment for socks because it can last for years, that’s why it’s worth the investment.  Pima cotton from the other hand is a better color absorber than normal cotton.  
The Egyptian cotton feel is tremendously soft and smooth creating the best comfortable pair of socks.   Pima is just as soft, boasting a high absorbency rate. 
Egyptian cotton can handle a washing temperature of up to 40 degree Celsius.  Pima cotton can be washed to 60 degree Celsius. 

It’s undefeatable and wins round (2) as well! 

Does Sea Island cotton stand a chance? 

Let us question no more!

Egyptian Cotton vs. Sea Island Cotton:

Egyptian Cotton  Sea Island Cotton
Fiber Length: >35mm (Giza 45, Giza 70, Giza 87, Giza 88, Giza 94) Fiber Length: >35mm
Properties: fine, smooth hand feel, soft.  Properties: soft, silky, durable.
Usage: luxury bedding and socks.  Usage: often woven fabrics such as luxury shirts.
Market share: < 5% Market share: 0.004%
Price: high. Price: extremely high.

Close enough, yet Egyptian Cotton still takes the lead.

By recognizing ALL of the above privileges that Egyptian cotton has over other types of cotton, it becomes clear why at Moody Socks Factory, we proudly produce Egyptian cotton socks. We are sure you will accompany us in this journey too! SOON, its power will cast a spell over your manufacturing decisions. Stick around and discover yourself. 

HINT: This is not information to go on the shelf. It’s rather critical information that should lead to a decision that will go on your business’ to-do list (being producing your socks using Egyptian cotton, of course!)

 

Egyptian Cotton is the BEST From Your Potential Customers’ Perspectives As Well!

This is not just a title, it’s a fact that has been tested and proven!
In a cotton perception study done by Progressive Market Research (PBM) (9), Egyptian cotton was impressively superior! 

  1. When customers were asked to name one type of cotton,12% could name one. Among those 12%, 95% named Egyptian cotton. In addition, among those who could name more than one type of cotton, 100% named Egyptian cotton. 62% also preferred to own Egyptian cotton over Pima or Turkish cotton.
  2. When respondents were asked about their cotton perception towards different types of cotton, 89% of participants ranked Egyptian cotton among the top two quality types of cotton, while only 5% ranked it among the bottom two. Furthermore, 61% of participants claimed they would be willing to pay a premium to obtain Egyptian cotton.

After obtaining proven facts on the degree of demand for Egyptian cotton, it’s time to answer the WHYS.

Why Egyptian Cotton Socks Are Perceived By Customers (and Everyone) As the BEST?! 

  • Durability:
    Thanks to the strength of Egyptian cotton fiber, socks are empowered by solid fabrics that provide them with the ability to resist stress and quick damages!
  • Shine bright like a diamond:
    This is the perfect way to describe it! Egyptian cotton fiber perfectly absorbs liquids, the number one factor that makes its colors bright as the sun and always shining.
  • Pure and soft:
    Wait until you touch it! It’s pure and soft like nothing else. The secret is “hand-picking”! Whencotton is hand-picked, it allows the fibers to keep their purity. Besides, it allows the skipping of using mechanical picking, which further keeps the fibers away from any kind of stress, to maintain their shape and softness. On the socks-front, this makes Egyptian cotton socks the most comfortable and seamless.

By now, you should have a clear overview of why at Moody Socks Factory, we believe that manufacturing socks with Egyptian cotton is the most worthy privilege we can give our customers, since it makes the purchasing decision a no-brainer!

How Exactly Does Moody Socks Factory Support Your Socks ?

Egyptian cotton is perfect, BUT could it get any better? Definitely! Simply, add to the equation +38 years of experience in getting the best out of each material hands can reach! Throughout these long years, Moody Socks Factory has assembled the hacks and tricks that allow us to give Egyptian cotton the treatment it deserves to deliver top-notch socks quality. We know you’re curious now, so we’ll give away just a few secrets!

1- Besides using Egyptian Giza Cotton, the finest of all, as a main component in socks manufacturing, we’re also well-acknowledged of how to treat it right! Causing any harm to such fine cotton is something we are experts at avoiding. That’s why we use the world’s best dying materials that are world widely certified, which perfectly suit Egyptian Giza Cotton with zero harm to its fibers!

2- One last secret: we add our own constituents of hydrophilic silicone materials. That’s how we guarantee that you get the best out of Egyptain cotton and take special care of the breathability of your feet at the same time. By supporting socks with such materials, there will be less smell and harms of sweaty feet, and feet will be in comfort while having access to some fresh air.

 

That was an enjoyable trip full of interesting insights, wasn’t it?

Before heading off, stop and bring all this together. Here you are, only a few steps away from pushing your socks business toward sky-rocket success, which seemed impossible before you started your “flight” through this article.

You’ve seen where Moody Socks Factory and Egyptian cotton can take you, and there’s always MORE to be discovered. 

Don’t waste any more time on hesitancy, request your Egyptian cotton socks order NOW, and make use of the +70 Pantone colors ready in stock that give you a wide variety of colors and make your socks look awesome!