Toestee Socks was started in 1997 by Eileen Rogers, a native of the Philippine Islands, looking for a way to keep warm in the cold, damp weather of the Pacific Northwest. A self-taught seamstress, Eileen discovered fleece fabrics when her sister brought her a sample of scrap fleece that was leftover from her workplace in a textile manufacturing plant. She claimed that this fleece was it! Not only was it wonderfully soft, but it was also the answer to all her cold weather problems. After initially being enthralled by the wonders of fleece, to her disappointment, Eileen discovered that the fleece was only soft until its first wash. Not only that, but as soon as you started to sweat, which did not take long, you would actually start to freeze. After much research and experimentation, she discovered the true solution to her problem: the wonderfully warm, always soft, temperature-regulating Polartec line of fleece fabrics. Using the spare bedroom in her house, Eileen began to experiment making socks out of the Polartec. Many revisions later, she had created a comfortable and refined version of the original socks which she coined Toestee Socks because they keep your toes toasty warm. Over the years, the line has grown to include many other items. Some are a big success, ever in demand the original Toestee Socks in fun colors and patterns are always a favorite. Some items were not so successful, think of a hat that has wings like a bird and flaps when you are flying down the slopes. Many ideas for items come from customers who are looking for specific items particular to their favorite sports and hobbies. Still one of Polartec’s biggest fans, you can often catch Eileen wearing complete outfits made entirely of Polartec. Even in the warmer summer months! Every winter, Eileen personally tests all her items. Whether it’s speeding over the trails on a snowmobile, exploring the back country on snow shoes or cross-country skis, or simply taking a stroll down the road after a rare snowfall at home, working on her garden or camping in the summer, you can bet that she is always comfortably warm.