#wearingmongrels

After over 10 years of making Mongrel Socks, we must have turned out many thousands. Still, I can't quite explain the buzz I get when I see someone wearing something I made.
Happened at the supermarket yesterday. Next aisle from ours, minding thier own business. Loz and I both checked out this blokes feet, and had to stop ourselves from interupting the poor fella's shopping to say "Hey, we made those!" It got us to thinking just how far our humble Tasmanian Merino socks, arm/leg warmers etc have travelled.
We are always pumped by the stories our customers are so kind as to relay. Births, deaths and even marriages have had Mongrel Socks play a part! A longtime customer told us about seeing a play at the Sydney Opera House last week "Sex with Strangers" starring Jacqueline McKenzie, wearing our Mongrel Socks on stage! Nice! Would love a photo of that.
As we drove home from the supermarket we reeled off who we knew had worn or been given Mongrels or where they had been.
Here's a few of the people or places we came up with, in no particular order.....
Antarctica, K2, HRH Prince Charles, Jamie Dury, Kara Korum Hwy - Pakistan/China, On a glacier and a volcano in Iceland, Julian Clary, Numerous State and Federal Ministers, A Trucking Magnate, An AFL football team and 650 of their supporters, rafting down through the Yukon and the Franklin River, a full bridal party at Meadowbank, a number a babies born to Mums wearing Mongrels, Paris, Oprah Winfrey's best Gail King, Milan, the list could go on, but I've work to get back to, like making more socks.

My inbox

From a delightful customer. How nice is it that she bothered to tell me her tale?

 
I am in Dragons Abreast Sydney, a dragonboating club for survivors of breast cancer. In 2010, nine women from my club trained for 10 months and then travelled to Canada to compete in the Yukon River Quest, a 746km marathon, 24 hour a day paddle along the Yukon River through the Canadian wilderness. None of these women had ever done anything like this in their lives, and most of them had never even paddled before having breast cancer and joining Dragons Abreast. Their ages ranged from the youngest at forty nine years to the oldest at sixty six. The conditions last year in the Yukon Quest were the worst since the Quest had first begun with cold, wet weather for the entire sixty eight hours it took them to complete the quest. This meant they had to be prepared clothing wise for the worst and coldest conditions they had ever experienced. They had all bought Mongrel Pure Wool Socks and wore them all throughout the quest. They love their Mongrels, and continue to swear by them.

We are currently doing our winter dragonboat training down on Blackwattle Bay in Sydney. We are on the water at dusk and again at the crack of dawn for training. They wear their Mongrels to every training session. As the winter has become colder and colder, I have developed a severe case of Mongrel Sock envy!!! This is why I am now here on your website, just about to order my first very own pair of Mongrels!!!

I hope you liked this story.

All the best,
Shannon
Dragons Abreast Australia has Dragonboating clubs for breast cancer survivors all throughout Australia.  To find your local club, please call 1300 889 566 or go to www.dragonsabreast.com.au

Christmas here and there

Tasmania has experienced its hottest November in many years, not very good conditions for the sales of wool socks. Luckily, there is a northern hemisphere that is cooling down as I write. We have had plenty order’s coming through from Canada and the US where winter is just beginning. Yay! One of our long time customer’s in the Yukon, told me about his 2 daylight hours of Christmas day, and below zero temperatures, where every thing happens indoors. Now I know why socks are hung by the chimney with care, it’s not for filling with gifts (they always seemed far too small for anything on my wish list) but putting in frozen toes to thaw before they break off.
Here we must have around 14 hrs of daylight, lots of time for the obligatory Aussie games of back yard cricket, the riding of new bikes, visiting the family, afternoon snoozes, BBQ’s teas, and evening strolls. It’s a completely different experience. Just once I’d like to see a white Christmas, and probably one will be plenty for me.
It’s nice to think that people halfway around the world will be pulling on their new Mongrel Socks on Christmas morning and discovering the luxury of pure wool right when they’ll appreciate it. Makes me smile!