Design Socks Competition 2026
Ah, for sock sake! It is your time to shine, and literally step into a day with your own creativity on your feet. Irish Socksciety is back with the Design your own socks competition for the 7th time, and yet again we are encouraging you to try your talents at designing Stocaí! Professional designers, amateurs - it is for you all. There is no limit during the design process, you can paint, draw by hand or on a computer - you choose. But it has to be your own work, not AI generated. If you win, your design will be added to the collection of the leading socks brand in Ireland!
First prize value €1000 is an iPad Air and iPad pencil, winning socks being produced, and your name and bio will be included on the packaging.
Let your imagination flow, socks are a great way to spark a conversation, and so what will your socks design have to say?
Ádh mór!
How to Apply
Use any technique and your imagination to embrace the colours, joys and magic of every day. You can draw, paint, go digital whatever works for you! Have some craic, go wild, possibly win it and make a morning of many feet around the world a happy one!
1st prize - value of €1000
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iPad Air 11inch M3, 128 GB Wi-Fi
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iPad Pencil (Skriva)
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10 pairs of the winning design socks
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bio of the artist on the socks label
DISTINCTIONS
1st distinctions:
1 x 12 month socks subscriptions
2nd distinctions:
2 x 6 months socks subscriptions
3rd distinctions:
3 x 3 months socks subscriptions
Terms and conditions
The competition will run from the 19th of March 2026 until the 30th of April 2026 (00:00 Dublin time)
Irish Socksciety will announce the winner on the 21st of May 2026
Please use the template provided below.
WHO CAN APPLY
Everyone, located anywhere in the world, who loves novelty socks, all things in life and some craic. All entrants must be at least 18 years old.
HOW TO APPLY
Participants should submit their designs via email only. Files (pdf, photo, scan) should be sent to competition@irishsocksciety.ie by the 19th of March 2026 until the 30th of April 2026 (00:00 Dublin time)
One entrant can submit up to 3 designs.
A complete application will consist of:
Name, Second Name, date of birth, Location of the entrant + Up to 50 words long inspiration behind the design.
WHO IS IN THE JUDGING PANEL
Alex Kieldanowicz - Irish Socksciety
Joanna Ciezka - Irish Socksciety
Leitícia Sayuri - 2025 competition’s edition winner
Tessa Cooke - 2025 competition’s edition winner
HOW TO DESIGN
Please use the template available below
There is no limit on the technique, designs can be hand drawn, designed on a computer – whichever works. The colour scheme must be limited to 5 colours.
Avoid complex details or gradients as these are quite difficult to translate onto a sock.
No AI tools can be used in the artwork; the design must be all human made
AND THE WINNER IS…
Creativity is the key. Organizers will be looking for designs that are wild, creative, spontaneous and passionate. Irish Socksciety will pick a design or a part of it to be produced on the socks (it may get amended slightly going into production).
Socks will be added to the Irish Socksciety range and info about the winner will be included on the tag.
IF I SUBMIT A DESIGN, WILL YOU OWN THE RIGHTS TO IT?
No, we don’t own the rights to the entered designs. Once the winner is chosen, we contact the artist before moving forward with production. By submitting the design entrants accept that in case of winning, the design’s copyright is automatically transferred to Irish Socksciety. Irish Socksciety will become a legal owner of the unlimited copyright to the final version of the winning design. There is no additional compensation to the winner beyond the prize.
IF MY DESIGN WINS, WILL I GET A PAIR OF MY SOCKS?
Yes. If your design is produced, we will give you ten pairs of your designed socks.
OTHER
An entry must be original and created by the applicant specifically for this competition. By entering, an applicant guarantees that their design does not infringe any copyrights or other interests of third parties. The design must be original and created without the use of AI.
Organizers will pick one winner of the 1st prize and 6 winners of the spot prizes.
Once announced, the organizers’ decision will be final and no appeals will be accepted.
The winning design will become the intellectual property of Irish Socksciety and Irish Socksciety will hold the unlimited copyright to it.
Irish Socksciety will own the right to all imagery and photoshoot assets.
Prizes cannot be exchanged into cash.
Irish Socksciety reserves the right to change the t&c at any time.
Due to the potential of a high number of submissions the judging process may take longer than planned.