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A Nameless Monkey loved by millions! – BbB
Posted on November 4th, 2009 35 comments
Sock Monkey’s are durable!
An idea born from someone’s imagination over 80 years ago is still in demand today. What has made the sock monkey so appealing to generation after generation? I remember seeing them at my friend’s houses when I was a kid in the 60’s. I’ve seen them on occasion at my kid’s friend’s houses over the years. But now, suddenly I see them everywhere, from specialty stores to Target Super Center. The monkey is being made into slippers, mittens, Tee-shirts, bedding, hats and even Halloween costumes! Sock monkeys are a product with lasting power. Originating sometime in the 1930’s, they’re made out of recycled materials, so they’re hip to the recent fad of politically correctness. Specifically, the monkeys were made from Red Heel Sock Company work socks purchased from the Sears and Roebuck Catalog. A craft-person, possibly a farmer’s wife in the Midwest, may have made the first sock monkey out of her husband’s worn out work socks. The monkey with the cute red heel mouth probably appealed to her friends and the pattern was shared over and over again. In 1951, the Red Heel Sock Company, realizing the popularity of the monkey, began including instructions on how to make it with every pair of socks sold. If only that farmers wife had patented her monkey! Not sure if anyone owns the rights to the sock monkey’s image; but the instructions are still included in the packaging of Red Heel Socks sold today. That Monkey sure helped keep the Red Sock Company in business! Could this hav
e been the origination of Viral Marketing before the internet?
Instructions on how to make your own sock monkey here: http://lennytaylor.freeyellow.com/Monkey.htm
This is the “Original Red Heel” Sock Monkey Book. It contains 48 pages with instructions for over 50 other toys and clothing items that can be made from the Original Red Heel Sock http://www.sockcompany.com/monkeysockbook1.html
Sock monkey blog! http://sockmonkeys-acraftersjourney.blogspot.com/
Sock monkey products here: http://www.foxsox.com/Catalog/search.aspx?type=category&code=ROCK
Another great blog by Beth Carroll presented with my profuse thanks! Hank
35 responses to “A Nameless Monkey loved by millions! – BbB”
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Christopher Perry November 4th, 2009 at 09:01
Looks like it gains popularity during times when the economy is in a slump.
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Marisa Strupp November 4th, 2009 at 10:34
My mom had a nameless monkey. I never understood why so many enjoyed it, but I guess if it’s a generational thing, a lot of adults still want to remember the fond memories.
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Karlis Jansons November 4th, 2009 at 11:35
It’s amazing how some things continually come back into popularity over time.
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Eugene November 4th, 2009 at 11:57
It’s always the simple things. I guess it’s all psychological cuz it makes no sense how a raggedy monkey made out of socks is so popular.
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Jennifer Cook November 4th, 2009 at 11:58
I have definately seen a lot of these through the years. It is amazing how things like this keep coming back.
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Quentin Campbell November 4th, 2009 at 12:05
I dont really understand what is so good about a monkey that literally looks like a sock and on top of that the monkey has no name…..useless to me.
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Phillip Jenkins November 4th, 2009 at 12:10
Never heard of it.
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Greg Forney November 4th, 2009 at 12:43
I don’t see the appeal of this monkey at all.
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Ross Peare November 4th, 2009 at 13:07
Its a classic…they have to keep selling it today
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Alex Lewis November 4th, 2009 at 13:26
I see these everywhere. I don’t understand what the appeal is about a monkey made from a pair of another person’s old socks. It seems to work great though, so more power to those who make them.
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Emily Wetterich November 4th, 2009 at 15:56
They are cute. I’d definitely like a shirt, but the stuffed monkey is pretty useless. I’m surprised that they are still so popular.
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Lyndsey S. November 4th, 2009 at 16:14
My grandma used to make those!
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It looks funny. But it is not that appealling to me as well. Sure there are a lot of people like it in order for it to become popular
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Allison Weilbaker November 4th, 2009 at 16:24
I’ve seen these as well, I like this type of toy a lot better than the $2,500 ferrari.
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Micajah Green November 4th, 2009 at 17:40
I love monkeys of all kinds! Sock monkeys are not only cute but a great toy for little kids. Adults remember it from their childhood and are nostalgic about it and want to share it with their children. I think it is a family heirloom-type toy that parents want to pass down through the generations.
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Jake Vanhooser November 4th, 2009 at 20:11
I’ve never heard of this. But it is interesting how things go out of style and then come back in years later.
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Mark Minissale November 4th, 2009 at 20:50
haha this is funny and a classic
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Josh Dennison November 4th, 2009 at 21:00
its amazing how something so random can be so loved and popular
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Mayura Davda November 4th, 2009 at 21:14
I had never heard of these sock monkeys before. But I kinda like how they’ve had their own popularity although they don’t actually have a name. haha..
good going, monkeys!! -
Christina Jacobs November 4th, 2009 at 22:48
For some reason I called mine a sock bunny….
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It’s like a magic that the monkey has lasted for so many years.
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Brent McClean November 4th, 2009 at 23:07
That’s interesting and unique.
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Zheng Wang November 4th, 2009 at 23:27
I also think they are funny and made out of a special way.
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Olivia Freeman November 5th, 2009 at 00:02
THOSE MONKEYS ARE SO UGLY. —-yes i can see the appeal but i remember seeing this at a friends house and being like “you sleep with that, but its made out of socks.” (and her dog used at it as a play toy sometimes—furthering it smelling not so nice–like used socks that some boy wore after a football game, took them off and decided to make a stuffed animal out of them) ….anyways. I could see how it endearing I’m just scarred and bias from a bad experience with one of those.
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Erica Lied November 5th, 2009 at 00:21
I truly dont see the draw at all but maybe the whole vintage movement has something to do with the popularity
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Alex Conkright November 5th, 2009 at 01:56
people are always gonna be nostalgic. Companies that can capitalize on those cherished memories stand to make a huge profit. Look at how well Chuck Taylor shoes are doing.
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Sree Harsha Uddandam November 5th, 2009 at 10:28
It is very interesting to know that it has been since 60’s. Old products and ideas make a place for themselves.
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Jenna York November 5th, 2009 at 11:47
Targeting cherished memories is definitely a great strategy. The sentimental value of these monkeys is what will make them sell, not their overall appearance.
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Sanford C November 5th, 2009 at 12:21
someone come up with a better way to make the moneky and sell it/paten it
then win!
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Andrew Rodriguez November 5th, 2009 at 12:34
I give this company less than 20 years. As the older generation continues to age, the nostalgia will die out and nobody will care about them soon. That is the problem with generational products, excluding bell-bottom jeans.
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Marisa Nakajima November 5th, 2009 at 14:00
I love monkies in general and have had fun in the past making sock puppets for a puppet show before
it seems like a great way to bond with friends and family to show off their creativity to one another. -
Shawn Tomlinson November 5th, 2009 at 20:16
I have no idea what the appeal is of these monkeys. I can’t remember ever seeing one of these things in my life. I don’t know if its a gender thing or an age thing but this just isn’t something that appeals to me, utility wise or aestheticly.
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Sung Jae November 5th, 2009 at 23:36
For some people they are always nostalagic about these clothing fashion. There are lots of people who prefer to use classic things. I want to question how this sock monkey came to market so suddenly after 80 years which is amazing. I am guessing this product might not be popular after some decades and might become famous again 100 years later.
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I think its crazy how such things suddenly come right in front of us from old times. I like the monkey though, its a cheap, innovative and a cute toy.
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Kevin B. November 9th, 2009 at 22:42
I think the sock monkey is just a classic thing that people have always laughed at and enjoyed over the years so it never dies.
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