About Ozone
Born to a family of Plutonian tattoo fashion artists, Lovely Laurie was determined to take foot fashion tattooing to new heights. On the planet Pluto feet and lower legs were tattooed as a sign of rank and distinction. Lovely Laurie had always believed that foot tattoos should be available to all – a ubiquitous statement of fashion, not a symbol of status and class structure. Unfortunately, tattoos were extremely expensive and time consuming, and could be afforded by only a select few.
She was off to a convention of tattoo artists on Jupiter to express her views. Shortly after her arrival, she met Pistol Packing Pete, a two-gun tattoo artist from Saturn. After a glass or two of the wine of enchantment, Lovely Laurie and Pistol Packing Pete showed each other their latest foot tattoos.
 Pistol Packing Pete’s Tattoo |
 Lovely Laurie’s Tattoo |
Lovely Laurie inquired about the second gun on Pistol Packing Pete’s elaborate belt. He proudly explained that it was a gun for tattooing designs on a new material called cotton. The only fabric heretofore known to Lovely Laurie was silk. It was worn universally for body closures but it was spun and unsuitable for the feet. Lovely Laurie’s eyes lit up and her mind was ablaze. If this gun could tattoo on this cotton we could make a closure for the foot and tattoo on this. These tattooed foot covers could be changed daily. “Think of the possibilities”, she said. “A never ending always changing array of fashion tattoos for the feet and legs available to all regardless of class.” Pistol Packing Pete was stunned – a universal equalitarian fashion statement for the foot. Lovely Laurie and Pistol Packing Pete had just invented the fashion sock.
Instead of attending the tattoo convention on Jupiter they hopped the first shuttle to Earth. On Earth Lovely Laurie and Pistol Packing Pete immediately established Ozone Design and the Sock Institute and the rest is history. Exciting and astounding things are happening everyday and Ozone Design and The Sock Institute. Due to recent mass hiring of Martian Foot Fairies (unbelievably hard workers), Ozone Design has the staff and resources to stay open 25 hours a day seven days a week. Due to the fact that records are not kept at Ozone design and Sock Institute it is impossible to know the exact figures, but it is estimated that 16 million pairs of fashion socks were sold throughout the universe and cured chronic depression in several small countries.
New and interesting designs are constantly being created and while most of this information is classified and discussing it would result in the breaking of many federal and intergalactic codes, we can tell you that the production of a mind reading sock is underway somewhere In Roswell, New Mexico. Also in production: the double secret agent sock that becomes edible when mixed with wine.
Through Ozone Design and The Sock Institute, Lovely Laurie and pistol Packing Pete have been able to change the world and establish new universal design parameters for fashion footwear.
(Of course this company history is completely bogus, but perhaps mildly entertaining. If you want to check out the real history...)
The Real History
It would be hard for Laurie Mallet to grow up in Paris, the fashion capital of the world, without developing an incredible sense of style. Her mother predicted fashion trends and fashion colors for large corporations. Her step-father was a well known artist. Together they designed underwear and stockings for ready-to-wear industries.
After her graduation from Institut d’etudes Politiques she knew fashion would be her calling. In 1976 she moved to New York, took five thousand dollars and turned it into a forty million dollar fashion empire. As owner, president and CEO of Williwear she, with her design partner Willi Smith, changed with world of fashion in the 1980s by developing an incredibly successful brand and fashion line which combined her love of fashion and art.
She forged an alliance between well known artists and designers which still exists today. Williwear’s fashion shows, press parties and uniquely designed offices and showrooms are still talked and written about today.
Laurie opened headquarters in New York, Paris and London achieving an international level of awareness and acceptance of their innovative designs. After Willi’s demise she took in the Pressmans of Barney's as partners. They eventually sold the brand to TJ Maxx. In 1997 she bought the sock company E.G. smith and introduced a highly successful line of fashion socks. Still desirous of developing a brand and a look that would set her apart from all other sock manufacturers she sold E.G. smith back to Eric Smith and founded Ozone Design.
The rest is history.
Ozone The Company
Laurie founded ozone design in 2000. She strongly believed that socks were one of the only items untouched by fashion.
“Ozone Design is devoted entirely to putting fashion and fun into socks and tights. Amazingly, they were still looked upon as undergarments.” Laurie’s goal was to bring spirit and passion to one of the most intimate and neglected parts of our wardrobe. “For too long the sock has been ignored by the world of fashion and we’re going to change that.”
During the past seven years Ozone has set the benchmarks for what’s cool and hip in footwear. “There have been more innovative and new design concepts that have come out of Ozone than any other sock company in history.” The list is impressive: shoe socks, safe sox, hemp socks, radionic socks, tattoo socks, motorcycle socks, the replacement sock, etc.
Laurie still has her heart embedded in the art world. Ozone makes socks for many of the world’s famous museums. Laurie worked closely with Christo during The Gates project and developed the highly successful “Gates sock” sold during the event.
Ozone socks are sold around the world and through a network of two thousand stores in America.
A recent men’s vogue article sums it up:
“When Mallet talks about her dreams for socks, people often ask her what all the fuss is about. Most of the time no one can see your socks anyway. 'Fashion is something you do for yourself,' says Mallet. 'Of course, when other people get a glimpse, that is exciting. But I prefer the idea that socks are your secret weapon.'"