Wu Fu Yang Sock Story Museum Introduction
Wu Fu Yang Knitting was founded in 1936 during the Japanese colonial period and has focused on sock knitting for 85 years. Unlike the typical manufacturing approach for socks, Wu Fu Yang controls every aspect of the process from raw materials, design, knitting, to sales without relying on others, ensuring a steadfast commitment to quality from this old sock factory. To date, the company has produced over 100 million pairs of socks, which, if connected, could wrap around the Earth. In the 1930s, Taiwan had no professional sock manufacturing factories during the Japanese colonial era. The first chairman, Wu Nai Yang, saw a business opportunity, introduced the most advanced hand-cranked sock knitting machines from abroad, and employed skilled craftsmen from Shanghai to pass on the techniques for producing high-quality nylon stockings, marking the beginning of the Wu family's connection with socks. Wu Nai Yang named the company "Wu Fu Yang" by combining one character from each of his and his father's names to honor his ancestors and show gratitude for their contributions. Starting with hand-cranked knitting machines, the sock industry has experienced semi-automation, high-capacity full automation, and progressed towards the latest advancements in eco-friendly and functional materials as well as brand management. Wu Fu Yang Knitting has actively participated in the development history of Taiwan's sock industry. The third-generation operator, Wu Hong Zhou, hopes to establish a sock museum to preserve the history of Taiwan's sock industry and Wu Fu Yang's legacy. "While our peers have moved their operations to China, we remain committed to staying rooted in Taiwan. By opening up the sock-making process and encouraging public participation, we aim to provide a knowledge-based and entertaining industrial education environment for our citizens, hoping to offer tourists a rich experiential experience and contribute to Taiwan's sock industry."
