Erimaki Sox collars the market

With colder weather settling in for winter, tights and socks are becoming more proliferous than ever. Enter Erimaki Sox — a pair of socks with a buttoned collar that is looking to take the title of the most talked about footwear fashion item of the year. Made for both men and women, the socks are inspired by traditional tabi (split-toe) socks, with the addition of a Western-style collar at the ankle. The design went viral online when it first debuted a year ago, with each subsequent line going a long way to confirming its heavyweight potential. New patterns are produced every few months, with plaid, plain, gingham, dalmatian and "lipstick kiss" available now. About ¥3,000 each. (M.J.)

erimakisox.com/en