Soichi Hirayama is responsible for developing the C3fit technology incorporated in Goldwin’s high-performance base layer collection. He had always harbored an idea: If only there were a pair of socks that could support the soles of the feet like taping, it would enhance the athlete’s performance in sports. As a rugby player of 15 years since high school, and thereafter as an ultrarunner who takes part in 100-mile trail races, Hirayama has been rough on his legs and particularly his feet. He knows from firsthand experience the importance of the foot’s arch structure, which plays the crucial role of a suspension. The accumulation of fatigue causes the plantar muscles to stiffen, reducing the suspension function and making the knees and lower back susceptible to damage from the impact of landing. This shaped Hirayama’s belief that socks are as important as shoes, if not more important, for covering the athlete’s soles. But while the market presented all kinds of high-tech shoes, it did not offer any innovative socks.
“In that case, I’ll make them myself—high-performance socks that can withstand a 100-mile race.”