Café Après officially launched on July 12, 2025 in New York City after two years of concept development, research, and wear testing. The brand began with a personal frustration: the grip socks on the market were expensive, underperformed (majorly), and often relied on loud graphics or slogans that compromised style. Café Après is rooted in European café culture and the ritual of coming together after sport.
With a background in design and a passion for luxury apparel, I set out to create a sock that looked refined yet functioned like true athletic wear. My team and I work with a wonderful manufacturer who helped us engineer our grip socks with structured arch support, cushioned heel and toe, and breathable mesh ventilation. The grips are designed to remain secure, resist matting, and feel smooth inside your shoe, delivering stability without distraction.
Alongside our signature grip socks, we create performance sport socks for golf, tennis, running, and soon cycling. We have also begun expanding into knit headwear and considered athletic bags made to carry you from the studio to brunch and everywhere after.
From the beginning, we envisioned a buyer who values quality, movement, and timeless design. Our customer moves between Pilates & barre studios, golf courses, tennis courts, and the ski slopes with equal intention, embracing both performance and polish. As a brand founded by outdoor enthusiasts with a deep appreciation for luxury fashion, Café Après reflects a modern country-club sensibility.
Our focus is to partner with select boutiques, resorts, hotels, and studios that embody this lifestyle and serve the communities who live it.
For now, Café Après lives exclusively online with dreams of becoming an accessories boutique and café.
At this time, Café Après ships within the United States. We are working to expand our reach and case by case will explore opportunities to send wholesale orders to stockists internationally. For information on that, please reach out to victoria@cafeapres.shop.
Your order’s shipping details can be found in your confirmation email. For more information, visit our Shipping Policy.
We hope you love your pieces, but if you need to return, we accept unworn items within 14 days of delivery. For instructions, visit our Returns Policy.
We work with select partners in the USA, China, India, Australia and beyond. Our manufacturing partners maintain participation in globally recognized certification frameworks and assessment programs supporting ethical production, product safety, traceability, and quality management across the supply chain.
WRAP — Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production
An independent social compliance certification verifying responsible workplace practices, including prohibition of forced and child labor, safe and healthy working environments, environmental compliance, and transparent business operations. WRAP certification is maintained through periodic third-party audits.
BSCI — Business Social Compliance Initiative
A European-led supply chain monitoring system assessing facilities against a comprehensive code of conduct covering fair wages, regulated working hours, occupational health and safety, environmental protection, and worker rights. BSCI supports continuous improvement through structured audit scoring and remediation programs.
CQM — Comprehensive Quality Management
A facility-level quality management framework focused on standardized production procedures, in-process inspection controls, defect prevention methodologies, and documentation systems designed to maintain consistent product performance and reduce variability across manufacturing runs.
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100
A globally recognized textile testing certification verifying that yarns, dyes, and finished materials are screened for a wide range of harmful substances. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 ensures textiles are safe for direct skin contact and comply with strict chemical safety thresholds.
SC-GRS — Scope Certificate, Global Recycled Standard
A transaction certificate validating recycled material content and supply chain traceability from raw input through finished product. SC-GRS confirms chain-of-custody documentation, chemical restrictions, environmental criteria, and social requirements associated with recycled fiber usage.
SLCP — Social & Labor Convergence Program
An industry-wide data framework enabling standardized measurement and sharing of social and labor conditions within manufacturing facilities. SLCP reduces audit duplication while improving transparency regarding worker wellbeing, workplace practices, and facility management systems.
Non-mulesed Merino Wool
Our merino wool yarns are sourced from suppliers that prohibit the practice of mulesing, a sheep husbandry procedure associated with animal welfare concerns. Non-mulesed sourcing supports more humane wool production while maintaining the ultra-fine fiber quality, softness, breathability, and thermal regulation merino wool is known for.
Our grip is crafted from a custom silicone blend reinforced with nano-silica. This combination creates a soft, flexible surface that naturally clings to smooth floors, keeping you secure through every movement.
Yes, our silicone is non-toxic, odorless, and free from harmful chemicals. While it isn’t biodegradable, its long-lasting durability means you replace your socks less often, helping reduce waste over time.
For information on our wholesale opportunities, please visit: https://cafeapres.shop/pages/wholesale
Please apply to be a stockist through our application. We will get back to you within 24-48 hours.
