While our story began in Bellingham, Washington, our passion for bringing joy to your feet now spans from coast to coast. Whether you’ve shopped with us for years or are just discovering us today, we’re thrilled to have you here!
When we opened our doors under the name ModSock in 2011, it was hard for some people to imagine that we would survive as a business, let alone become one of the largest online sock retailers on the internet! We often encountered the question, “Do you just sell socks?” Yup, just socks — and socks have taken us far.
Over the next decade, our physical store in Bellingham, Washington, became a beloved community staple and a destination for sock lovers. In 2013, we launched our website and expanded into designing an in-house sock brand ModSocks, growing from 12 initial designs created by founder Urania Shaklee to hundreds of whimsical, creative styles.
Though our physical store in Bellingham closed its doors in May 2026, the vibrant spirit, massive inventory and community of Cute But Crazy live on right here at crazysocks.com.
Cute But Crazy is now in an exciting new chapter! In the summer of 2026, the brand was acquired by Rachel Northrup McGee, owner of The Purple Doorknob — a famous, long-standing novelty sock and gift shop nestled in Ellicottville, New York.
Rachel previously acquired The Purple Doorknob from Urania, making this transition a seamless continuation of a shared vision. With deep roots in the sock world and a passion for community, Rachel and her crew are dedicated to keeping the spark of Cute But Crazy burning bright — bringing you the same incredible selection, humor and top-tier customer service you know and love.
We know that “crazy” is a word with a complicated history. For far too long, it’s been used pejoratively against people who experience the world differently — from those navigating mental illness to those who go against the grain to speak up for change and justice.
Many of us have been called crazy before, and it wasn’t a compliment. We were told the idea of starting a business that just sells socks was “too crazy to work,” yet here we are!
The word “crazy” also has a special place in our hearts: it's the adjective most people use to describe our socks. We chose to reclaim this word, taking inspiration from its oldest etymological roots — where craze meant “to shatter or break,” like in the ancient art of crackle-glazed pottery or Victorian crazy quilts. We use it with the intention to break boundaries, shatter stereotypes and redefine what a sock company can be!
We value people and community above all else. We give 1% of product sales to our partner NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) because it is a cause close to our hearts — many of us have had our lives touched by mental illness in one way or another.
We are passionate about creating inclusive, welcoming spaces where people feel free to express themselves and tell their stories through their socks. When a pair speaks to someone, makes them laugh, or helps them get through a hard day, that is the biggest win for us.
Thank you for being part of our story. Now, let’s find your next favorite pair of socks!
