DKNY tights: Renfro Brands signs an exclusive hosiery deal, launching autumn 2027
Renfro Brands, the company behind Polo Ralph Lauren and K. Bell socks, will make DKNY socks and tights for North and Latin America. First collection in autumn 2027: what we know and what we don't.
In February 2012 DKNY showed in New York with yellow cabs on the set and the models in opaque black tights. Fourteen years on, tights are back in the brand's plans, this time behind the scenes: DKNY has chosen Renfro Brands as exclusive licensee for its socks and tights. WWD reported the deal on 21 October 2026 and License Global on 23 October; the first collection arrives in autumn 2027. Here is what the deal covers, who Renfro is and what we still don't know.
The deal
According to License Global, Renfro becomes exclusive licensee for DKNY men's and women's socks and women's hosiery, as well as DKNY Sport men's and women's socks. The territory: the US and its territories and possessions, Canada, Mexico and "select markets throughout Latin America and the Caribbean". Europe is not on the list.
The first collection will debut in autumn 2027 at select department stores, specialty retailers, e-commerce accounts and other authorised channels across those markets. The stated goal is to treat socks and hosiery "with the same consideration, fashion authority and relevance" as the brand's clothes and accessories. DKNY, founded in New York in 1989, is part of G-III Apparel Group's portfolio of owned brands.
Who Renfro Brands is
Renfro has made socks since 1921 and is based in Mount Airy, North Carolina, according to its website. It makes legwear under licence for other labels: the brands it lists include Polo Ralph Lauren, for which it makes the "hosiery and sock collection", plus New Balance and Dr. Scholl's. Others it owns: K. Bell, bought in 2010; HOTSOX, launched in New York in 1971; and Soffe, acquired in September 2024. In August 2026 it had already announced another exclusive licence, for Free Country socks, also from autumn 2027.
What they said
"DKNY has an unmistakable point of view. It is modern, confident and inherently New York, and we believe socks and hosiery should express that same fashion authority," said Kadian Langlais, chief brand officer at Renfro Brands.
Speaking to WWD, Langlais explained the timing: socks have moved from functional essentials to "an important expression of personal style, with Gen Z accelerating that shift", with growing interest in "statement socks, layering, textures and expressive hosiery".
For G-III, executive vice president Jeff Goldfarb said Renfro brings "deep expertise in the category, strong retail relationships and a proven track record of stewarding globally recognized brands", and can offer "a fresh perspective" while staying true to DKNY's "New York attitude".
The tights: what we know and what we don't
According to WWD, DKNY socks have so far been understated, "generally within wearable neutrals". The plan is to add modern designs "with hints of unexpected fashion details" while keeping the everyday essentials. The only price reported so far is for socks: core styles will cost $24 to $30 for a three-pack.
On the tights there is nothing concrete yet: no denier, no styles, no colours, no prices. There are no collection images and, as of today, no press release on Renfro's or G-III's websites.
Why it matters
A licence like this turns tights from a department into a project. Renfro already makes hosiery and socks for a fashion label like Polo Ralph Lauren, whose socks we saw on the spring/summer 2027 runway. While other hosiery names change hands, like Sheertex, sold to AYK, or restructure, like Wolford and its accounts, tights are moving into the portfolio of an American brand the size of DKNY. In the meantime, to pick an opaque black like the ones from 2012, start with our denier guide.
The photos
The opening photo shows a DKNY store in Hong Kong in 2012 (Magrealthkoo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons). The two DKNY autumn 2012 runway photos are embedded from Getty Images (Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho); reading the tights as opaque black is ours, from the photos. Details of the deal come from License Global, WWD and Metropolitan Magazine; details on Renfro from its website.
The opaque black of the 2012 show moved at New York speed; from autumn 2027 we will see whether DKNY tights can keep that pace off the runway.
