Advertisement for a hosiery factory. Demonstrates both handmade construction and factory production with nineteenth century technology. Published 1886.

Hosiery is knitted coverings for the legs and feet. Also referred to as legwear, hosiery describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as hose. The term is also used for all types of knitted fabric, and it's thickness and weight is defined in terms of denier or opacity. Lower denier measurements of 5 to 15 describe a hose which may be sheer in appearance, whereas styles of 40 and above are dense, with little to no light able to come through on 100 denier items.

Most hosiery garments are made by knitting methods. Modern hosiery is usually tight-fitting by virtue of stretchy fabrics and meshes. Older forms include binding to achieve a tight fit. Due to its close fit, most hosiery can be worn as an undergarment, but it is more commonly worn as a combined under/outer garment.

Types

• Hold-ups (British English), Stay-ups (British English) or Thigh-high stockings (American English)
• Leggings
• Socks, tube socks (American English), knee highs and over-the-knees
• Stockings, held by a suspender belt, also known as "sussies"
• Tights (British English) or Pantyhose (American English)
• Toe socks

Manufacturers

• A.J. Goncalves (Portuguese manufacturer of e.g. socks)
• Ambra
• Charnos
• Falke
• Gerbe (French manufacturer of e.g. stockings)
• Hosiery Association
• Jonathon Aston
• Levante
• La Perla
• Oztas (Turkish manufacturer of e.g. socks)
• Pretty Polly
• Spanx
• Tabio
• TIM Bulgaria (Bulgarian fashion manufacturer of e.g. stockings)
• Wolford

See also

• Pantyhose for men
• Undergarment

External links

• Hosiery terms and definitions

References