Luxury
Comfort and design
Photograph | Erick Hercules
Ace & Everett – New York
Socks designed and made in the U.S.A.
Ace & Everett is an independent men’s fashion company from New York City that specializes in socks. Crowd-funded in 2014, brothers Cody and Sage Disch design and produce the uncommon. Their defined approach is impeccable craft, minimalist style, structured comfort, and use of domestically grown organic Supima® cotton. Fifth generation hosiery mills, owned and operated by Harriss & Covington, expertly manufacture Ace & Everett socks in High Point North Carolina, U.S.A.
Join us for an insightful interview with Cody and Sage Disch, founders of Ace & Everett.
Cody and Sage Disch
Founders of Ace & Everett, New York
Cropped photograph | Harrison Corwin
A sock is a medium of expression that provides a window to your soul. A sock is a luxury, an opportunity to elevate your feet into the realm of comfort and design. I dare you to try on a fresh pair of Ace & Everett socks and not feel a tingle run up your spine.
–Cody Disch
Empire State Building
Organic Supima® Cotton
Cropped photograph | Humza Deas
Sage, what is an Ace & Everett sock?
A mark of your personality that says, “I’m me, I’m fucking different, and you can’t tell me to change my socks.” It’s a release from conformity and decades of black, blue, and grey. The foundation of our socks is the highest quality, domestically produced, Supima cotton. This cotton is then knit on the rare double cylinder jacquard knitting machine which creates a unique texture and depth. With comfort and durability, we then layer on patterns as unique as the individuals who wear them, and top it off with striking colors for a finishing touch. For us, each sock tells its own unique narrative.
General Electric Building
Socks made in the U.S.A.
Cropped photograph | Humza Deas
Sage, the world is filled with socks. What do you see?
I see blandness, I see convention, I see people who have settled. I see people buying for quantity over quality and not understanding the short-sidedness of their decision. Conversely, I see those who understand the sock’s power of personality. Sure, you can saddle up at Walmart with 20 socks for $3.99. Or you can invest in yourself and buy a sock that lasts, that speaks to you through design, and that cradles your foot in comfort.
Chrysler Building
Art deco influence
Cropped photograph | Humza Deas
Cody, which design principles drive your product development, functionality and aesthetic approach?
Two primary principles, minimalism and emphasis. With minimalism, we strip down all we create to the essentials. This carries through our logo, packaging, branding, content, and most importantly product. Regarding emphasis, we know how monotonous life can be at times, and strive to provide a surprising piece of emphasis on all of our socks.
Manhole Cover
Inspiration for patterns
Cropped photograph | Harrison Corwin
Cody, why are you drawn to architecture? Please share some of your favorite buildings to show how architecture inspires or is the impetus for your collections.
I’m drawn to architecture by its ability to interact and translate across other mediums. For example, our F/W 2014 line was inspired by NYC manhole cover patterns. In our research, we found a book titled “Designs Underfoot: The Art of Manhole Covers in New York City” which chronicled the history and design of a routinely overlooked object. Then we took specific patterns and turned them into a collection of sock designs drawn from the city around us. Specifically, the Chrysler Building is my favorite piece in New York City, with a heavy art deco influence that we translated into a collaborative sock designed with street artist Humza Deas.
Vanderbilt
Geometry and proportion
Photograph | Sugarcube
Cody, are there shared intersections and concepts that underlie architecture and fashion design for Ace & Everett?
Yes, we focus on geometry and proportion. We view classic patterns through a contemporary lens.
Elevated
New York City Skyline
Cropped photograph | Humza Deas
Sage, which materials that aren’t necessarily related to fashion or specific to clothing interests you?
Steel, for its ability to rust. Copper, for its active interaction with time. A well-worn piece of copper takes on the elements of its surroundings and grows alongside the building its part of. Lastly, moss, the most uniquely textured and comfortable product nature has ever created.
Raymond Everett Disch Sr.
Known also as Ace
Photographs | Ace & Everett
Your grandfather Raymond Everett Disch Sr., Ace & Everett’s name sake, was a stylish man. How so? Sage, what remarkable aesthetic was his overarching direction?
Our grandfather’s style is best described as immaculate attention to detail. Personally, he preferred sharp suits with pocket squares. Topped with cufflinks, a tie clip, and a money clip all bearing construction vehicles as a mark of his trade. And most importantly, a cigar to share with his friends when the time was right.
Our grandfather kept all of his trucks and equipment in perfect condition, his crew was at the yard at 5am everyday to detail the vehicles. He understood that details make the man.
Roosevelt
Knit pattern detail
Photograph | Sugarcube
Cody, what was it like seeing your first run of socks being produced in the Harriss & Covington family owned hosiery mills?
It was a spiritual experience, that one moment was the tangible manifestation of the previous year’s work. When we first slipped them onto our feet, we knew we had created a great product.
Harriss & Covinton
Double cylinder jacquard knitting machines
Photograph | Ace & Everett
Sage, how does Harriss & Covington dovetail with your business objectives?
Like us, Harriss & Covington runs their business like a family. Maybe that’s due to the mill being family owned and operated since its founding in 1920, or maybe its because their core values are quality products, and a commitment to community. Employing over 275 employees, each year they contribute a substantial portion of their profits back to High Point. As brothers ourselves, its incredible to visit the mill, see the people whose hard work creates our socks, and have lunch with the three Covington brothers who currently run the mill. We’ve been lucky to not only grow into business partners, but also become friends with a shared vision of future success.
You must be logged in to post a comment.