Our employees are a sock crew full of artists, dreamers, hard workers and big thinkers. We give 1% of product sales to our partner NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, because it is a cause close to our hearts — we have all had our lives touched by mental illness in one way or another.
We know that “crazy” is a word with a complicated and uneasy history. For far too long, it is a word that has been used pejoratively against people who experience the world differently — from people suffering with mental illnesses, to people who go against the grain to speak up for change and justice.
Many of us have been called crazy before, and it wasn’t a compliment. We were told the idea of starting a business that just sells socks was “too crazy to work,” yet here we are after a decade of growth, success and expansion.
The word “crazy” also has a special place in our hearts — it's the adjective most people use to describe our socks! We wanted to reclaim this word and even take a look into its history back to its oldest etymological roots. The very first meaning of craze is “to shatter or break,” like in the ancient art of “crazed” crackle-glazed pottery or the Victorian trend of crazy quilts. Today we use it with the intention to break boundaries, shatter stereotypes and redefine what a sock company can be!
When we opened our doors under the name ModSock in 2011, it was hard for some people to imagine that we would survive as a business, let alone become one of the largest online sock retailers on the internet and a destination shopping spot in Bellingham, Washington for tourists and locals alike. We often encountered the question, “Do you just sell socks?” Yup, just socks — and socks have taken us far.
During our first few years, we quickly became a beloved sock shop with a massive inventory of fun socks for adults and kids of all ages.
By 2013 it was time to start truly expanding our reach — and so our website was born. We now ship socks to more than 30 countries around the world, bringing joy to customers who can't visit our store in person.
The same year, we launched an in-house sock brand ModSocks with the help of a successful Kickstarter campaign. Beginning with just 12 designs created by owner Urania Shaklee, this separate sister business now boasts more than 250 whimsical and creative styles sold in our store and right here at CrazySocks.com.
We value people and community in everything we do. Our staff is at the core of our success which is why we are committed to paying competitive wages, offering company-sponsored health insurance and maintaining a safe and inclusive workplace.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic our biggest concern was for the health of our staff and customers. We closed our retail store for seven months, during which time we continually found new ways to accommodate people — whether through creative work-from-home arrangements for staff or free shipping to all customers, local and afar. Anytime we have to choose people over profits the decision is an easy one, and it's one of the most rewarding experiences we encounter through our work.
Emerging from a global pandemic we are delighted to once again work together in the same building and safely greet customers in person. We have learned from our experiences in 2020 and realize there is more that can be done...
We continue to be inspired by our beautiful Washington state surroundings, and likewise have always felt a strong connection to our community. We give back with annual donations that provide free socks to our unhoused neighbors and others in need through local charitable organizations like Northwest Youth Services and the Whatcom Opportunity Council.
As our customer base has expanded, so too has our giving. We want to effect change in the communities in which we do business. In 2021, Cute But Crazy entered a partnership with NAMI, a national organization with capabilities to help people beyond our home state.
We have always been passionate about creating inclusive, welcoming spaces where people feel free to express themselves and tell their stories through their socks. When a sock speaks to someone, makes them laugh or helps them get through a hard day, that is the biggest win for us!
