KIMIMINO was created with a simple intention: to elevate the everyday essentials that move with you.
We design with a focus on performance, material integrity and restraint. Every detail is considered for how it feels, functions and becomes part of your routine.
Our first product brings that approach to the studio sock: extra-fine merino, precise construction and a deliberately minimal design, made in small batches in Koryo, Japan.
We chose extra-fine Australian merino for its exceptional softness, breathability and natural ability to regulate temperature. Fine enough to sit comfortably against the skin, its fibres help manage moisture while maintaining a light, dry feel through movement.
Our merino undergoes a Basolan treatment, a specialist process developed for wool that reduces its tendency to felt and shrink during washing while preserving the natural qualities of the fibre. The treated wool is then engineered into an exceptionally thin knit, retaining the softness and comfort of merino without the weight or bulk traditionally associated with wool.
Our socks are knitted in Koryo, Nara Prefecture, a town with a long history of sockmaking. At a family-owned factory, specialist Lonati circular knitting machines are used alongside careful hand-finishing and inspection throughout production.
Produced in small batches, each pair is hand-checked and hand-finished at multiple stages before leaving the factory.
Every element of the sock is designed around how the foot moves. A compression arch band provides gentle support, while the sculpted Y-shaped heel forms a deeper, anatomically shaped pocket that holds the heel securely through movement.
Underfoot, the knit is engineered thin to preserve sensitivity and contact with the floor. A lightweight toe construction with a seamless closure allows the toes to spread naturally, creating an almost sockless feel without compromising grip or support.
The signature grip begins on paper. Every dot and line is drawn and placed intentionally, balancing visual rhythm with function.
The full-length silicone pattern becomes denser through areas of greater contact, providing grip where it is needed most. Applied in layered passes, it creates KIMIMINO’s distinctive two-tone finish.
Over nearly two years of development, KIMIMINO was wear-tested by Pilates instructors around the world. Across successive iterations, their feedback helped refine the grip, fit and intentionally thin construction.
The result is a distinctly lighter, more connected studio sock that feels secure underfoot, unobtrusive in movement and almost sockless in wear.
