Where Spirit Meets Purpose: The Story Behind Spirit Sox
As fireworks prepare to light up the sky this Fourth of July, we’re taking a moment to reflect not only on the spirit of independence, but on the spirit that lives at the core of everything we do here at Spirit Sox. The kind of spirit that brings people together and reminds us why we do what we do. While most people know us for our fun, bold designs and purpose-driven custom socks, few customers are aware of the full story behind the name Spirit Sox. So while you prep your grocery list and clean off those BBQs, let’s take a second to review how Spirit Sox came to be and what the deeper meaning behind the brand name is.
This Friday’s Independence Day 2025 is about more than just a celebration. It’s about identity. It’s about belonging. It’s about freedom. It’s about believing in something bigger than yourself and being grateful for the freedoms we have today. It’s what it means to show up with pride. The 4th of July is about believing in something that brings people together across groups, teams, causes, companies, and communities. All of these ideas can be summed up in one single word: spirit. In many ways, this is the very foundation of how our brand, Spirit Sox, was born.
Back in 2016, when CEO and Founder, Lisa Riggs, launched the company after a successful test at her daughter’s middle school, she wasn’t trying to start a nationwide custom sock brand. She was simply trying to support her community’s local schools and nonprofit organizations in a new, fun, and effective way. Although she may have thought little of the opportunity her company could have had at the time, it flourished into something much larger.
Lisa Riggs explains her thought process behind naming her brand:
“When I started Spirit Sox, I was designing socks for school fundraisers and nonprofit causes—places where passion, pride, and purpose come together. I didn’t just want to create socks; I wanted to create impact. The word ‘spirit’ captured exactly what I was seeing: the spirit of community, the spirit of giving, the spirit of energy, the spirit of something bigger than just socks. Every pair we made carried a story. After several batches of socks, it quickly became clear that spirit also meant brand pride, team unity, personal identity, and personal expression. It became more of a statement rooted in purpose that goes beyond any one audience. That idea of spirit, whether it’s school spirit, team spirit, or brand spirit, still defines what we do as a small women-owned business to this day. We’re here to help people wear their values, their voice, and their vision. It’s the energy that drives a team, the pride behind a logo, and the heartbeat of a brand. That’s why the name still fits—now more than ever. Today, that spirit lives on in every pair we create—whether it’s for a business launch, a sports team, or a brand on a mission.”
What Lisa created was more than a promotional product – she created a movement rooted in pride, expression, and unity. The word spirit perfectly captured the energy behind those early socks and has now turned into the spirit of generosity, collaboration, community, support, love, and shared purpose. Spirit was, and still is, a dedication we stitched into every pair of custom socks we created. It was a perfect fit, so it stuck.
This week, as we wave our flags and honor the red, white, and blue, we also honor the spirit behind Spirit Sox. So pull out your American Flag t-shirts, get some sparklers, and bake a USA-decorated cake to celebrate Independence Day 2025. Don’t ever forget to wear your spirit – loud and proud. Keep showing up with spirit – whatever yours looks like.
