Strathcona is committed to quality and we aim for full customer satisfaction (see Shipping and Returns for details) but please keep in mind Strathcona is a very, very small team. Our desire and mission is to create beautiful prints and well made objects and clothes. We are not, in any way, fast fashion, we are very thoroughly slow fashion. If you are in a rush, we will absolutely try to accommodate you and your needs, but keep in mind that our strength is creativity and quality, not pace. Thank you for understanding this and respecting our work and vision.
SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the stockings made of?
The original Strathcona Stockings are made from a silky soft nylon spandex blend. The Specialty Sparkle Socks are a glittering and soft nylon lurex. The men's socks are a thicker poly-spandex blend (we don’t make these anymore so you probably don’t care what they were made of). And now we have a super soft Bamboo sock! Yippeee.
Where do you get your patterns?
All Strathcona patterns are original. They are collaged, painted, drawn, photographed and made by Strathcona's founder, Ryley O'Byrne.
How do you print them?
We digitally print each piece.
What size are they?
Check our sizing chart here for details.
But briefly, our stockings will fit almost any size foot, ranging from very small (size 5) to very large (size 13).
Our men's socks roughly fit a men's 7 - 12. Our sparkle socks generally fit a women's 6 to 11. The bamboo socks are one size fitting 7-12ish?
Can men wear the original Strathcona Stockings?
Yes, absolutely. The original Strathconas are perfect for men. They fit almost all sizes. They are soft and comfortable. Because they are thinner than the Strathcona mens socks they are especially good for men who don't like bulky socks, or those who have shoes normally worn with bare feet.
Why is your silk stuff so expensive?
Every garment is hand made by artisans and craftspeople (namely, us and a few people that work with us) being paid a living wage, in Vancouver, Canada. It’s also made with 100% silk. It is a beautiful and more sustainable natural fibre, but it is also expensive. And then we custom print it with original artwork.
What does "Made to Order" mean for your clothing?
When you place your order we cut and sew your garment! We have very little already sewn and ready to ship. And because of this we are able to make small bespoke adjustments! (Want a waist band size that is PERFECT for you?) But this also means your clothing order will not ship immediately. Slow fashion.
Allllssssooo in a *new* development we working with some other manufacturers who do this also, but on a bigger scale. That means that they print/cut/sew garments you order — this includes our bathing suits and athletic wear. The tshirts and sweatshirts are just printed when you order them.
Do you have a guarantee?
We want you to be totally happy with your order! If you are unhappy with your socks or your ready-made item, you can return unused goods within 30 days receiving the order. They must be new and unused with their packaging intact. We do our best to ensure that our product is of the highest quality. That being said occasionally we miss things during quality control. If there is a manufacturers flaw, please let us know via email and we will absolutely figure something out. See below for how to return your item.
The clothing project is very small and since every item is made to order, we don’t accept returns. That said, we want you to be happy! And we are reasonable people and we can find a way to sort things out. Please feel free to get in touch with us before hand to discuss your order or concerns.
Why aren't you emailing me back faster?
We are a very very small team over here. And while we try to answer your questions in a timely manner, we get so many emails that sometimes we focus on the most time sensitive ones. Also email is tiring, and sometimes, I’m just like blah.
How should I care for my Strathcona Stockings or Silks?
Are you a person that hand washes your intimates? Think about it. For longest life and enduring colour vibrance, we suggest you hand wash in cold water and hang to dry. I don’t think that many people do this. I try to hang to dry.
As for the silks, it is not uncommon to dry clean silk garments, this maintains the fabrics integrity and colour. We personally never dry clean, it is expensive inconvenient and bad for the environment. So, we hand wash (or use super delicate cycle) in cold water (mild/silk detergent?) and hang to dry.
3 PACKS
How do I specify my 3 Pack?
Put your choices in the order! Or you can email us.
Can I choose anything for my 3 Pack?
You can choose any socks, stockings or sparkle socks that we have in stock that are 36 or less.
OTHER
Are the stockings and unisex dress socks vegan?
Yes.
But the silks are made of silk.
SHIPPING & RETURNS
Please see our shipping and returns page HERE.