Standing Tall For Our Heroes
Standing tall at 6’11” & 6’9”, we were always referred to as the “Twin Towers” growing up. With towering heights came large feet, and we often had trouble finding quality, stylish socks that fit comfortably. We knew we needed to take the problems into our own hands (er, feet?) and create a solution. We also knew we weren’t alone – about 24 million men in America stand 6 feet or taller, therefore likely needing better-fitting socks than those available to the average man.
However, a more somber motivation for starting the business came 15 years ago. On September 11, 2001, our “Twin Towers” nickname took on tragic irony, when we lost our beloved father, Andrew, in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Only 11 years old at the time, our mother, Lisa, took us to New York City to search for our father but also hand out essentials to first responders – one of these essentials were pairs of clean socks.
Today we make socks for ALL men, not just tall men. To us, the definition of a “Tall Order” is doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult; hence our name. Our socks come in sizes 9-11, 12-15, and 16-20 and can stretch up to 22” for the men with wider calves.
In the aftermath of 9/11, we received overwhelming support from family, friends, and a number of charitable organizations. As we moved past 9/11 and the death of our father, we always knew it would be a “Tall Order” to pay back those who assisted us and pay it forward to help others experiencing a similar life-altering event.
The Tall Order Logo
Our logo is a ‘T’ and an ‘O’ with a subtle nod to the World Trade Center. The ‘T’ is located above the ‘O’, symbolizing our rise above tragedy. It is embroidered on the ankles of the socks so as a man lifts his legs or crosses his feet, they are noticeable. On most styles, the logo is blue, the color of the sky on 9/11, regardless of the color of the sock. This is done intentionally as we want them to be a conversation starter. We also want our customers to be reminded that it is their Tall Order to pay it forward today – buy someone a cup of coffee or pay someone’s toll behind you. We are all in this together. We need to help one another each and every day.
Charity Partnerships
To show our appreciation to those who support us, many Tall Order sock styles are named after close friends of our dad, and percentage of Tall Order's sales are donated to non-profits including Tuesday's Children and The FealGood Foundation. Tuesday’s Children provides a lifetime of healing for those who have been forever changed by terrorism and traumatic loss. Through a time-tested, long-term approach, Tuesday’s Children programming serves and supports U.S. military Families of the Fallen; builds resilience and common bonds in communities worldwide recovering from tragedies while keeping the promise to support all those impacted by 9/11.
The FealGood Foundation assists all emergency personnel, including but not limited to firefighters, police officers, nurses, volunteers, sanitation workers, transportation workers, and construction workers within the United States who have been injured, or face serious injury due to action or omission, in the course of their duties or within their everyday lives.
In addition to Tuesday’s Children and The FealGood Foundation, we partner with many other non-profits including The Junior League, Jewish Federation of North America, The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, The American Kidney Fund, and The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, just to name a few. For every sock sold with an associated code, we donate a portion of the sale back to the charity. Most organizations are chosen based on how their programs support people in need or help develop cures for chronic and fatal illnesses. Our mom, Lisa Friedman Clark, is a 33-year ovarian cancer survivor. She was 23 when she was diagnosed and went through many rounds of chemotherapy. Our dad stood by her side and they were engaged shortly after she finished her treatments. She learned, at an early age, that we all need to help one another through life’s most difficult times. Therefore, we make sure that helping others is at the root of every decision we make.
Limited Edition FealGood Sock
Help us keep the promise. No first responder left behind.
For every purchase of the FealGood sock, Tall Order will donate 100% of the proceeds to help the foundation fulfill its mission to assist all emergency personnel, including but not limited to firefighters, police officers, nurses, volunteers, sanitation workers, transportation workers, and construction workers within the United States who have been injured, or face serious injury due to action or omission, in the course of their duties or within their everyday lives.
