BirchboxMan Q&A: Meet Bombas

Hey Daveso tell us about the name "Bombas."
Bombas is derived from the Latin word for bumblebee. Bees live in a hive and work together to make their world a better place. They're small, but have a big impact on the world. We liked that. Bombas was started to help the greater community, and we strive to show that something small can make a big impactwhether its a super comfortable pair of socks, or giving a much requested item to those who need it most. That's why our mantra is bee betterwhich is knit on the inside of all of our socks.

What's the story behind Bombaswhy socks?
We first came up with the idea for Bombas after I learned that socks are the #1 most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. As soon as I heard that, I shared it with my co-founders and we decided to do something about it. This was back in 2011 when the give-back business model was gaining a lot of attentionso we thought if other companies can use a similar model to donate shoes, like Toms, or glasses, like Warby Parkerwe could use it to solve this problem that most people didnt even know existed, right here in our backyard. We knew in order to donate a lot of socks, wed have to sell a lot of socks, and to do that, wed have to create something better than anything else on the market. So we set out to re-engineer everything about the sock from the toe-seam up, and the result is the most comfortable socks in the history of feet.

Bombas donates a pair of socks for each pair sold. Why did you decide it was important to give back?
Its funny, we get this question a lot, but the mission is actually the whole reason Bombas exists. The idea for the company started with the fact that socks are the #1 most requested clothing item at homeless shelters, and a desire to do something to help solve that problem. We considered many solutionssuch as buying a bunch of socks to donate, or doing a sock drive, but knew in order to create a scalable solution, wed have to do something biggerand in doing research, we found there was also an opportunity in the consumer market.

Where/who are you donating socks to?
We work with over 1,200 giving partners across the U.S. that serve those who are homeless, in need, or at-risk. These partners include homeless shelters, non-profit organizations, and local programs that all work to help this community in a variety of different ways in all 50 states.

How many pairs has Bombas donated?
Weve donated more than 7 million pairs of socks to those in need.

Your socks are the best. How do you make them so comfortable?
We started by asking ourselves if we could make something better than the everyday sockand really looked at the industry as consumers, first and foremost. We looked at every product on the market, took them all apart, identified what we liked, and found ways to change what we didnt. We became obsessed with the little thingswith comfort, support, and softness. The annoying seam running across our toes? We found a way to hand link it for comfort. We engineered a honeycomb structure that hugs your foot where you need it most. We came up with several material improvements that add up to a new level of engineered comfort and performance in every pair. We also use the softest long staple yarns from the best cotton and merino wool producers in the world. Our socks contour to your feet, keep you dry all day, and protect you so you can keep doing your thing all day long.

And lastly, how many pairs of socks should I own?
Thats a hard question to ask anybody who works at a sock company. Its really based on your personal needs and routine. Id say its ideal to have at least one pair for every day of the week or long enough to last you until you do your next load of laundry. You also want to make sure you have a variety of styles for various occasions. Whether its hiking the Adirondacks, skiing down a black diamond run, or dancing the night away at a wedding, you might want different socks depending on your lifestyle.

Shop Bombas, and start giving back!