BRANDS


The Right Fit? Behind the Scenes at Bridgedale


With over 110 years of history solely in sock making, BikeBiz visits the Bridgedale factory in Northern Ireland to uncover the craftsmanship that goes into their products. They also share a clear message to IBDs: when selling premium shoes, don’t forget how vital socks are to unlocking the perfect balance of performance, comfort, and margin.


S


ocks. Probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you consider something one can be passionate about. Likely not something you’ve given much thought to, but then again, I might be wrong.


With over 100 years of sock making under their belts, Bridgedale know a thing or two about socks. Having recently returned from a trip to the factory in Newtownards, Northern Ireland, I have a newfound appreciation for socks. I’m not entirely unbiased in saying so, but in this case, feeling is


20 | December 2025


believing, and visiting opened my eyes to what goes into making a technical sock. You’ll often hear businesses describe themselves as family. In some cases, that can be a bit of a red flag. But not Bridgedale. Walking around the factory, hearing the stories and finding out just how long many of the people working there have been there, you get a sense that it’s not just a saying. It takes something special to make people stay. Something once launched out of necessity, Bridgedale has been making socks since the First World War, when they began


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