In ancient times, socks were referred to as "zu yi" or "zu dai." Through thousands of years of evolution, they eventually developed into the modern form of socks we know today. In ancient Rome, women would wrap thin strips of fabric around their feet and legs; these leg bindings were the earliest precursors to socks. By the mid-Middle Ages, this type of "sock" had also become popular in Europe—though instead of thin strips, pieces of cloth were used instead. In the 16th century, Spaniards began separating pantyhose from trousers and started using knitting techniques to make socks.

　　William Lee, a British inventor, was inspired to study knitting machinery after observing his wife hand-knitting. In 1589, he invented the world’s first hand-operated knitting machine, which was used to produce woolen stockings. In 1598, he further modified the machine to enable it to manufacture finer silk stockings.

　　Soon after, the Frenchman Fournier began producing silk stockings in Lyon, and it wasn't until the mid-17th century that cotton stockings started to be manufactured. In 1938, when the American DuPont Company invented nylon, the first batch of nylon stockings was launched onto the market that same year. From then on, the sock market underwent a complete transformation: nylon stockings gradually became popular and swept the world. Europe adopted this trend relatively later—only in 1945 were the first nylon stockings officially introduced to the market. According to historical research, the earliest form of socks appeared during China's Xia Dynasty (21st to 17th century BC). In the book "Wenzi," there is a passage that says, "When King Wen of Zhou attacked Chong, the straps of his socks came undone," referring to the fact that the ties holding up King Wen's socks had become loose. Two pairs of silk-lined socks unearthed from Tomb No. 1 at Mawangdui in Changsha, dating back to the Western Han Dynasty, were both made entirely from whole pieces of silk fabric, sewn onto the top and back of the foot, with no seams at the bottom. The socks featured an opening at the back, and each opening was fitted with a sock strap. The sizes of these socks were 23 cm and 23.4 cm, and their shafts measured 21 cm and 22.5 cm in height.

　　Before the advent of modern socks, people traditionally wore leg coverings in a broader sense. This practice can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where leather leg straps and sock-like garments made from hemp or wool fabrics were common. By the time of the Crusades, “chausses”—socks—had emerged, though they weren't initially intended for women. The Crusaders crafted more elaborate socks from pure silk fabric. Women, meanwhile, adorned their ankles with dainty, petite shoes that peeked subtly beneath their elegant dresses. At that time, socks were primarily a men’s domain. In 1589, William Lee, a student at a British theological college, invented a hand-operated machine for knitting socks—a device six times faster than manual sewing. This invention marked the beginning of the sewing machine. Around the same period, women also began wearing socks.

　　Industrial sock production began in 1860, and the sock-making industry has long been searching for new materials to replace the scarce and expensive silk. The emergence of blended yarns brought tremendous success to the sock industry. In 1928, DuPont introduced the first pair of nylon stockings, while Bayer launched polypropylene socks at the same time. By 1940, high-top nylon stockings had set a record-high sales figure in the U.S. and began to become commonplace household items. Boat socks first appeared in the early 1980s, coinciding with the rise of tennis fashion. The classic style featured two small pom-poms at the ankle. They made a comeback in the mid-2000s, but by then, many different styles had emerged. Today, boat socks are primarily worn with skateboarding outfits, followed by shorts or short skirts. Some women choose to wear invisible socks—often during sports or when adopting a casual athletic style—because they don't want the socks to peek out and spoil the look of their legs' curves. Invisible socks are also commonly paired with shorts or hot pants, or worn by those who sweat excessively in closed shoes to help absorb moisture.