aeeble

Wu Fu Yang Knitting was founded in 1936, during the Japanese colonial era. For 85 years it has focused solely on hosiery, and unlike the usual segmented production model, Wu Fu Yang controls every step—raw material, design, knitting, and sales—keeping the old mill’s quality standards firmly in its own hands. The company has produced more than 100 million pairs of socks; laid end-to-end they would circle the globe. In the 1930s Taiwan had no specialized sock factories. Seeing the opportunity, first-generation chairman Wu Nai-yang imported the most advanced hand-cranked hosiery machines of the time and invited veteran craftsmen from Shanghai to teach the art of making premium all-silk stockings, beginning the Wu family’s lifelong bond with socks. When he started the business Wu Nai-yang honored his late father Wu Fu-tang by combining one character from each of their given names to create “Wu Fu Yang,” a name that keeps the memory of his forebear alive. From hand-cranked machines the industry moved through semi-automation, high-output full automation, and on to today’s eco-friendly functional yarns and brand-oriented management. Wu Fu Yang Knitting has been present for every stage of Taiwan’s hosiery history. Third-generation owner Wu Hung-chou hopes to establish a Sock Museum that preserves both Taiwan’s hosiery development and the Wu Fu Yang story. “While our peers relocated to China, we stayed rooted in Taiwan. By opening our production process and inviting the public to take part, we aim to offer an entertaining and educational industrial experience, giving visitors rich impressions and contributing to Taiwan’s hosiery sector.”