Asked, answered, checkable.
What’s in it
If there’s no dye, what colour is it?
The natural, undyed off-white of raw organic cotton. Slight variation between batches is the fibre, not a flaw. We never correct it with bleach or brighteners.
There’s elastane in it — how is that “non-toxic”?
The stretch is 5–7% bio-elastane, verified bio-based (Hyosung creora Bio-Based). It’s fully encased inside the knit as an internal feed, so it gives the sock its hold without ever touching your skin. We disclose it because we disclose everything.
No antimicrobial treatment — won’t they smell?
Odour comes from bacteria feeding on sweat, and biocide finishes mask it rather than fix it — while sitting in the fabric against your skin. Untreated organic cotton breathes and releases moisture instead of trapping it. Wash them normally; air them between wears.
Are STROMA socks 100% cotton? Is there any polyester or nylon?
Almost. Each pair is 93–95% organic cotton and 5–7% bio-based elastane — that’s the whole list. The elastane is what keeps a sock from sliding down your ankle, and it’s knitted inside the fabric so it never sits on your skin. There’s no polyester or nylon anywhere in the sock — not in the fabric, and not in the thread.
What does “greige” or “undyed” cotton mean?
Greige (said “gray-zh”) is cotton in its raw state, before anyone dyes, bleaches or finishes it. STROMA stays that way: undyed, unbleached and unfinished. The soft off-white you see is simply the colour cotton grows.
Do your socks contain azo dyes, formaldehyde or PFAS?
There’s no dye of any kind — so no azo dyes and no heavy-metal fixatives. There are no formaldehyde finishes, no silicone softeners and no antimicrobial biocides like silver or triclosan. They’re PFAS-free, too. The only thing used on the fabric is a natural citric-acid wash to soften it.
Is there ink or print on the socks?
None. Even the logo is knitted in by changing the density of the knit, and the size marker inside the cuff is knitted too. There’s no ink anywhere on the sock.
Care & wear
How should I wash them?
Cold or warm machine wash, mild detergent, no fabric softener — softener coats fibres in exactly the kind of residue we left out. Air-dry or low heat. No special care; just don’t undo the point of them.
Will they shrink or lose shape?
The fabric is pre-softened with a natural citric-acid wash before it reaches you, so movement is minimal. The 3×1 ribbed leg and Y-Gore heel are structural — the shape is knitted in, not held by a finish.
Can I bleach them or use a stain remover to keep them bright?
Please don’t. The off-white is the cotton’s natural colour, and bleach or optical-brightener detergents add back exactly what we left out. A mild detergent, no fabric softener, then air-dry or low heat is all they need.
Are organic cotton socks good for running or sport?
Yes. STROMA is built to move with you — from the gym and the school sports pitch to a long day on your feet. The Y-Gore heel pocket stays put, the 3×1 ribbed leg holds the sock up without gripping, the flat jersey sole keeps friction low, and the seamless toe means no ridge to rub. The performance is knitted in, not treated on.
Will they help with sweaty feet?
Your feet have around 250,000 sweat glands between them, so they’ll always sweat. What we can promise is that the sock gives that warm, damp environment nothing to release: no dye to run, no finish to break down, no biocide to leach. Untreated cotton breathes, and a wash plus a chance to air out between wears keeps them fresh.
Sizing & range
How do I choose the right size?
Measure foot length in centimetres, heel to longest toe, and match it to the size guide. Adult (unisex, ankle): S EU 35–38 / 22–24.5 cm, M EU 39–42 / 24.5–27 cm, L EU 43–46 / 27–29.5 cm, XL EU 47–50 / 30–32.5 cm. Kids (ankle): S EU 26–28 / 16–17.5 cm, M EU 29–33 / 18–21 cm, L EU 34–37 / 21.5–23.5 cm. They’re true to size — if you’re between sizes, go with the size your measurement points to.
What’s the difference between the adult and kids socks?
Same standard, same composition list. The adult sock is a unisex ankle length in S–XL. The kids sock is an ankle length for ages 2–16, with a seamless hand-linked toe so there’s no ridge to rub small toes, and a ribbed cuff that holds gently as they grow.
Do you make socks for babies under 2?
Coming soon. For now, our kids sizes start at age 2 (EU 26–28).
Can I buy them in packs?
Yes — every size comes as a single pair, a 3-pack or a 5-pack. Adult: AED 46 single, AED 123 for 3, AED 193 for 5. Kids: AED 35 single, AED 92 for 3, AED 142 for 5.
Shipping & packaging
Where do you ship, and where are you based?
STROMA is based in Dubai and ships from the United Arab Emirates. For now we deliver within the UAE only. Shipping is shown at checkout before you pay.
Is the packaging plastic-free?
Yes. Every order ships in a 100% unbleached, recycled kraft belly band, closed with a die-cut paper tab or plant-based adhesive. No plastic tape, no polybags, no shrink-wrap. The standard doesn’t stop at the cotton.
Parent questions
Are these safe for sensitive or eczema-prone skin?
There’s no dye, bleach, brightener, finish, or biocide in them — the additives most often behind contact irritation are simply absent. We can’t diagnose a child’s skin, but we can tell you exactly what is and isn’t in the sock, in full, so you can decide with their doctor.
Why undyed instead of a fun colour?
Colour means dye applied to fabric that sits on skin all day. We chose to leave it out. The natural off-white is the cotton’s own tone — nothing added to make it look like anything else.
No anti-odour treatment for active kids?
Right — because that treatment is a biocide held in the fabric. Untreated organic cotton breathes and releases moisture instead of trapping it. A normal wash and a chance to air out does the job.