Advertisement
Ethical Shopping

How The Big Issue Shop has helped Jollie’s Socks step forward

Founder Ed Vickers reveals what inspired him to kit out homeless people’s feet across the country

Socks are essentials that are often taken for granted – but take a moment to imagine walking a mile in a homeless person’s shoes and you’ll view them in a different light.

That’s what Ed Vickers realised while he was volunteering at a homeless shelter in Exeter as he completed a bioscience degree at the city’s university in 2012.

Fast forward six years and he is the founder of Jollie’s Socks – a social enterprise with a simple ethos. For every pair of their colourfully patterned and ethically manufactured unisex socks sold they send a pair to a homeless shelter near you.

Jollie’s work with 26 shelters from all around the country from Aberdeen to Winchester so you can be sure that when you receive your recyclable tin complete with a pair of hardy hiking socks, so will someone who desperately needs them.

“I noted that socks were the most needed product and the idea stemmed from there really,” said Ed, whose products have become a Big Issue Shop favourite.

“I wanted to see if it would work as a social business. I wanted to take something that the consumer loves in socks and use it to start a conversation about homelessness.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

“We’re making a move to go online with a select few retail partners. We have always had such a big love of The Big Issue. I have always bought the magazine and it’s amazing to be able to partner up with them and partner with that brand because to us it’s perfection.”

Now 26, Ed is sharing the ‘wear a pair, share a pair’ but the success of the growing social enterprise has not distracted the young social entrepreneur from the core mission he set out to complete six years ago.

He added: “It’s amazing to see people benefit from the socks. The main thing is we can take time to explain to people what our mission is and it’s great to see people enjoy Jollie’s socks in homeless shelters.”

See the Jollie’s Socks collection in The Big Issue Shop here.

Images: Jollie’s Socks

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

READER-SUPPORTED SINCE 1991

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Recommended for you

Read All
Why a Citroën Holidays campervan is the perfect family day trip companion
Vicky Parrott and her daughters Flo and friend Evie enjoying the spacious interior of the Citroën Holidays camper van during their Dorset coast family day trip, with sliding doors open and sea views in the background
Advertorial

Why a Citroën Holidays campervan is the perfect family day trip companion

Why buy refurbished phones?
giffgaff refurbished phones partnership with Big Issue - connecting people to their potential through affordable smartphones and digital inclusion
Advertorial

Why buy refurbished phones?

Why electric cars aren't as scary as you think – a beginner's guide to the Citroën ë-Berlingo
Couple with dogs standing beside silver Citroën ë-Berlingo with sliding doors open showing spacious interior
Advertorial

Why electric cars aren't as scary as you think – a beginner's guide to the Citroën ë-Berlingo

How to align your finances with your values: Tips for sustainable spending
Stock image of a person paying for items at a farmer's market
Ethical shopping

How to align your finances with your values: Tips for sustainable spending

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payments: Where to get help in 2025 now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue