by Now you can dress like an astronaut—or at least your feet can—with limited-edition socks in the same style worn on the International Space Station.
Osom Brand, an apparel company dedicated to producing high-quality products from discarded clothing, has released the Doug Hurley Orbit Space Socks (opens in new tab) based on the first recycled socks worn in space. Harley, now a former NASA astronaut, wore identical socks when he led the first crewed flight of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft in 2020.
“Orbit socks – just like the ones I wore in space – were created using a patented process that uses ZERO water, ZERO dyes and NO harsh chemicals,” wrote Doug Hurley in Twitter (opens in new tab) Friday (November 11). “Mission: creating quality clothing from Earth’s waste.”
The heather gray and black socks, which feature Hurley’s name on their sole and “Crew Dragon” running across the ankle, are packaged in a special box with a portrait of Hurley wearing his SpaceX pressure suit. Available for pre-order now (opens in new tab) for $28 a pair, the track socks are expected to ship in December.
Related: Doug Hurley’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission explained in 13 steps
“Orbit socks take us on an exciting journey through the sky, to and from the International Space Station,” writes the Osom Brand website.
The sock flight on SpaceX’s Demo-2 (DM-2) mission accompanied Hurley and fellow (now former) NASA astronaut Bob Behnken on the first human spaceflight to launch from US soil (opens in new tab) since the end of the space shuttle program in 2011. After a 19-hour rendezvous and docking, the two DM-2 crewmates spent 63 days on the space station.
The mission ended on August 2, 2020, with the first water landing (or dive) (opens in new tab) by an American crew in 45 years.
Photos taken in space show the socks against Earth as they floated inside the station’s multi-windowed dome. Video taken by Hurley shows him wearing the socks, both inside the station and on the SpaceX Crew Dragon “Endeavour”. (opens in new tab)
According to Osom Brand, the Doug Hurley Orbit Space Socks are made from 95% recycled material (62% to 69% cotton, 29% to 36% polyester and 2% spandex) and feature knit technology that “helps your feet stay dry and comfortable.” The machine washable socks feature cushioning under the forefoot and heel and a band around the arch to provide a comfortable and supportive fit.
The limited edition Doug Hurley Orbit Space Socks aren’t the only space-related products Osom Brand sells. The company’s other legwear line has space-inspired names (for example, “Orion,” “Atlas,” and “Pluto” and “Milky Way”), as does its other apparel, such as a “Gravity” hoodie and “Cosmos ” towel. All items are made from recycled fabric.
In May 2020, former NASA astronaut — and Hurley’s wife — Karen Nyberg (opens in new tab) joined Osom as a brand ambassador.
Osom isn’t the first company to market socks with a connection to spaceflight. Acorn continues to market its original slipper sock (opens in new tab)which in 1982 was selected by NASA to be worn by astronauts on the space shuttle.
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