As a female of average height, I’ve never had to think much about clothing sizes. Sure, off-the-rack pants might run a little too long every now and again, but in general, things fit like they’re supposed to.
That hasn’t always been the case for twin brothers Mike and Dan Friedman, who, at 6’11” and 6’9″, respectively, had plenty of trouble finding clothes that fit well — especially stylish, fun socks that could comfortably accommodate their extra-large feet.
So, Mike and Dan did what many entrepreneurs before them have done: they decided to start a company to fill a gap in the marketplace. Tall Order socks are the only specialty socks on the market that are available in men’s shoe sizes 9-20.
But creating socks that fit their own feet as well as a specific customer wasn’t the only rationale behind the business. Socks in general hold a special place in the Friedman family’s heart. When Mike and Dan were only 11 years old, their father was tragically killed in the World Trade Center on September 11th. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, they visited Ground Zero with their mom, Lisa, to give out supplies to first responders. Socks were an oft-requested item.
It was a formative experience for the boys, and as they grew up and entered the corporate world themselves, they decided that giving back would be a major priority of their future business. Tuesday’s Children, a non-profit that supports children who have undergone a traumatic loss, and which Mike and Dan credit for helping them during the time after their father’s death, is their charity of choice, and to date they have donated more than $170,000 — a figure that will no doubt continue to rise as the company gains increased exposure.
Tall Order is currently available both online and in a few specialty retail locations. In 2019, the company won the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest Bronze Prize, which led to the socks becoming available for purchase in FedEx’s company store, as well as the opportunity to provide an exclusive design for the The Northern Trust at Liberty National.
Tall Order has since expanded to provide underwear and shirts in addition to socks for every occasion — and of course, in every size.
Check out the link below to score a pair or two for yourself.
