Incylence: sport socks, but the colourful kind
11.5.2026
Translation: Elicia Payne
Incylence’s colourful sports socks stand out from the crowd. I like wearing them, too. Triathlete and company founder Alexander Siegmund explains who’s behind the brand and why socks are so important.
How does someone come up with the idea of dedicating their business – and a large part of their life – to socks?
I’m meeting Alexander Siegmund, founder of Incylence, at his office in Hamburg when I ask him this question. Of course, it’s meant to be a little provocative. After all, runners know how ill-fitting socks can affect their performance – from painful blisters to distracting chafing and slipping down your legs and feet.
Functionality with a dash of colour
For Alexander, the answer to my opening question is clear. As an avid triathlete, his kit is important to him. For a long time, he couldn’t find the perfect pair of socks. Quick-drying, functional socks used to be pretty boring. And colourful socks were often made of slow-drying cotton and had a loose fit, which made them unsuitable for sports. His roommate at the time, Maximilian Altenmüller – whom he had known since kindergarten – encouraged him to start a sock startup together.
When the two of them started out in 2017, they had nothing but an idea and their savings to serve as start-up capital. The biggest drawback was that they didn’t have the budget for a designer. And without design expertise, those ideas couldn’t be brought to life. Fortunately, Pavel Smidingr responded to the ad with a proposal: work in exchange for company shares. He became the third founder and is, like the two others, still at the company nine years later.
Source: Incylence
«We didn’t have any experience and had to learn everything from scratch,» Alexander recalls. It took nine months before the first sock was finished in June 2018. The young Hamburg-based company was determined to manufacture its products in Europe. To begin with, they found a manufacturer in Italy willing to produce small quantities. Now they have another producer in Portugal, too.
Once production was set up, it was time for a brand name. «We wanted to make socks for athletes who, away from the spotlight, spend their mornings out in nature before or after work,» Alexander explains. With that, In Silence was born. And because the founders love triathlons and wanted the name to reflect the cycling aspect as well, they settled on Incylence. The lynx in the logo embodies this philosophy.
Successful athletes pave the breakthrough
Things didn’t stay silent, though. The first few pairs of socks arrived from Italy, and the first orders came in from family and friends. Among them was professional triathlete Daniela Bleymehl (formerly Daniela Sämmler). She won Challenge Roth, the world’s longest long-distance triathlon. And suddenly, those unmistakably colourful socks were featured on the covers of renowned sports magazines. The first Incylence socks sold out in no time. Pre-orders were then used to finance the next production run.
Source: Incylence
«Those were some wild times,» Alexander says with a smile. In addition to their full-time jobs and their own training, the three founders spent their evenings and early mornings in the living room packing socks, handling orders, and designing new styles. On top of that, Alexander was writing his master’s thesis.
New models for different needs
As triathletes, the founders initially focused on very thin socks above all else. «It’s often hot during training and competitions, so you end up chucking water over your head,» Alexander explains. Some of it ends up on your feet, too. If your socks don’t dry quickly, you might get blisters.
Yet the runner clientele asked for slightly thicker socks and more compression. The Incylence team found a solution here as well. «We test every sock ourselves until we’re satisfied,» says Alexander. The collection now includes nine different models, ranging from ultra-thin socks and trail running socks to cross-country skiing and hiking socks made with merino wool. Socks with reflective stripes for jogging in the dark are also a new addition.
For hobbies and competition
Incylence socks are worn by world-class athletes such as Laura Philipp. But you’ll also see them on the feet of recreational athletes. While jogging in a park in Hamburg the morning before the interview, I spotted three runners wearing the eye-catching Incylence socks.
I really like wearing these socks myself: During the 50-kilometer trail run, I was surprised that I didn’t get any blisters, even though my feet got wet at times. The merino socks kept my feet warm while cross-country skiing. What was even better was that even after multiple washes, the fit and compression are still just as good as on the first day.
I’ll be honest, I bought my first pair of Incylence socks because of the bright colours and the fresh look. Yet they quickly became my favourite running socks. These are my personal favourites, but there are many more available in different colours and for various uses:
For Alexander, what started as an experiment in the early days has long since turned into a full-time job. But he’s still fascinated by socks. «I’ve had a thing for socks ever since I was a kid,» he says laughing. When playing tennis, he’d wear two pairs of socks one on top of the other and then fold the top bit down to show off his own colour pattern. When it came to football, they had to be the kind that went over the knee. And even now, he thinks socks make great statement pieces. «When someone wears a suit to the office with colourful socks, I think they look really cool,» he says.
If you’re still looking for inspiration, you’ll find more colourful designs here:
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Then feel free to browse the rest of the Incylence collection. Even if you’re looking for more subdued colours, you’ll find the right pair.
Header image: Incylence
Siri Schubert
Senior Editor
Siri.Schubert@digitecgalaxus.chResearch diver, outdoor guide and SUP instructor – I love being in, on and around water. Lakes, rivers and the ocean are my playgrounds. For a change of perspective, I look at the world from above while trail running or flying drones.
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