Through a process called hornification, cotton becomes stiff after washing. Acrylic socks never lose their softness, even after repeated washing. A drier, more comfortable foot. Sport-specific socks have extra padding at those stress points in order to absorb shock and protect.
Acrylic fiber takes dye beautifully and is completely colorfast.
Acrylic never fades. Red socks will remain bright red long after its natural counterpart has faded into pink. Also, unlike wool, acrylic is mothproof. In fact, the official socks of the NBA and NFL are made of acrylic. Acrylic may also be identified by brand names.