Wool is a textile fibre produced by the shearing of sheep. The breed of the sheep, where it was raised, and how the fibre was treated after shearing can all affect the final characteristics of wool. While some is quite harsh and rough, other wool can be luxuriously soft and squishy. As a fibre, wool is very good at trapping heat, and is one of the few fibres that stays warm even when wet.

Alpaca fiber is a natural, soft, and warm fiber that comes from the hair of alpacas. It's used to make a variety of clothing items, including sweaters, socks, and scarves. It is warmer than wool, and comes in 22 natural colours. It has excellent drape, and takes dye very well.

Nylon is a synthetic material that is often used to provide structure, stability and strength to yarns made with other, softer fibres. A nylon content of at least 15% is recommended for socks.