If you want colorful, comfortable socks that make a statement for social good, Dallas’ DeadSoxy has your feet covered, with a little help from some young friends.

DeadSoxy makes what it calls the “perfect no-slip sock that’s durable, comfortable, and makes you feel confident and soxy.” It was founded in 2015 by CEO Jason Simmons, who wanted premium quality men’s socks that didn’t slide down. Simmons previously told Dallas Innovates product development took two and a half years. He created 52 prototypes before landing on the most comfortable sock he could imagine with number 53.

But while smartly designed superior socks are DeadSoxy’s bread-and-butter, it’s now set out on an impact mission.

DeadSoxy has partnered with Vogel Alcove, a local nonprofit that helps children overcome the effects of homelessness, to help Dallas children and their families.

Simmons held a contest for youngsters from Vogel Alcove’s School Age Children’s Program to create designs that would inspire a new line of custom socks. Half of the proceeds from sales will support Vogel Alcove.

More than 20 designs were created by Vogel kids, and Vogel Alcove staff helped choose five finalists. Fans of DeadSoxy’s social media channels voted online to determine the top three, and a DeadSoxy team digitized the creative themes onto limited edition socks.

The three winning designs sport a child superhero, musical notes, and a fox with sprinkles.

Janessa, the 7-year-old artist who created “Fox and Sprinkles,” says of her design, “I wanted to be creative and make sprinkles rain from the sky, and I like it because the fox’s name is Sprinkles. Real life is cool, but kind of boring. On my sock there’s a world where it rains sprinkles. Sprinkles go on cupcakes and cakes, and sprinkles are a treat. I wanted my sock to be a treat.”

[Photo: Courtesy DeadSoxy]

Vogel Alcove’s mission is that every child in Dallas has a home, a self-sufficient family, and a foundation to succeed in school and in life.

Since 1987, Vogel Alcove has helped more than 15,000 children living in homelessness. The nonprofit offers early childhood programming, school-age programs for kids ages 5 to 12 during summer and school breaks, mental and physical health services, and a parent support program.

While this is the first time DeadSoxy—which was recently rated as DFW’s top startup for 2019 by Common Desk—has partnered with Vogel Alcove, it isn’t its first foray into “socks that make an impact.”

DeadSoxy previously partnered with Brandon Carr, cornerback with the Baltimore Ravens and a former Dallas Cowboy, to create a line of socks benefiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The socks display colorful patterns featuring the pink ribbon symbol, and half the proceeds go toward early detection, support services, education, and research to help women with breast cancer.

Carr is passionate about the cause, too. His mother Kathy Gail Carr died of breast cancer in 2014. Simmons said he hopes to use his DeadSoxy platform as a way to “make a positive impact on the world.”

Supplies of the Vogel Alcove line are limited, but are available online now. Each pair retails for $20.

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