Brown Dog Sock Company

Our company was founded in 1979 by my mentor, Russell Wilson, under the name Volunteer Hosiery. The business focused on mass merchandise retailers and the US Military. After the University of Tennessee approached Russell to purchase the name Volunteer Hosiery for $10,000, the company name was changed to Pro Feet. For many years, the primary focus was selling to family-owned sporting goods stores across the country. 

Much has changed in our industry since 1979. The admission of China into the World Trade Organization in December of 2001 led to the demise of the US Hosiery Industry.

In order to survive, our company saw the need to seek out niche opportunities. In early 2017 it occurred to me: While patterned dress/casual socks were plentiful in the market, the brands behind them sourcing out of China were using tacky or offensive patterns, and they were using synthetic materials to save on cost. Frankly, none of the socks I saw, would I wear.

So the inspiration to create a brand was born, and who better to name the brand after than my best friend, my Boykin spaniel Beau?