KMA Bacteria Camouflage Crew Socks
KMA Bacteria Camouflage Crew Socks
Couldn't load pickup availability
The KMA Bacteria Camouflage Crew Socks combine historical rarity with modern performance, translating a rare Cold War–era pattern into an everyday essential. Built for universal versatility, these socks are engineered to accommodate foot sizes from US Women’s 5 through Men’s 13, ensuring a secure, adaptive fit across a wide range of wearers.
Constructed using 200-needle knit technology, the fabric achieves a dense and finely detailed weave that offers both resilience and comfort. This higher needle count creates a smoother surface and sharper print resolution, allowing the distinctive biomorphic camo design to stand out crisply while maintaining a soft feel against the skin. The composition of polyester, nylon, acrylic, and spandex delivers a balance of breathability, stretch, and durability—resistant to pilling and shape loss even after repeated wear and washing.
The crew length cut provides coverage that protects against chafing from footwear and ensures the socks stay in place during extended activity. Reinforced heels and toes in solid black add extra durability in high-friction zones, while also giving the design a visual frame that offsets the bold camouflage print. A cushioned sole adds another layer of comfort, making them equally suited for daily wear, field use, or as a statement piece in casual and lifestyle settings.With its high-contrast organic forms scattered across a plain background, the design’s purpose was two-fold: to visually distinguish cadets or special training units and to break up the human silhouette in controlled environments. Because it was never mass-issued and saw limited adoption, Bacteria Camouflage remains rare—sought after by collectors and design scholars alike for its unusual aesthetic and Cold War experimental roots.
Because it was never broadly mass-issued, Bacteria Camouflage remained confined to niche contexts and is now considered rare. Collectors and design historians regard it as one of the more unconventional camouflage experiments of the Cold War era, valued for its unusual aesthetic and its departure from field-driven patterns. By bringing this design into a functional, modern sock, the historical legacy of KMA Bacteria is preserved in a wearable, everyday form—bridging archival rarity with contemporary utility.
Specs:
• Camouflage: KMA Bacteria (South Korea)
• Material: 60% polyester, 25% nylon, 10% acrylic, 5% spandex
• One size: 15.5″ × 3.3″ (39.4 cm × 8.4 cm)
• Universal Fit: Women’s US 5–15, Men’s US 3–13
• Dense, comfortable 200-needle knit fabric
• Cushioned sole for comfort and support
• Crew sock cut with reinforced black heel and toe accents
• Blank product sourced from China
Care instructions:
• Tumble dry: low heat
• Do not bleach
• Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
• Gentle cycle
Product information: Generic brand, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
The Bacteria Camouflage, also known as “Microorganism Camouflage,” is a rare South Korean pattern developed by the Korean Military Academy (KMA) in the late 1960s and used through the 1990s. Characterized by high-contrast black, amoeba-like forms scattered across a white background, it was designed for training environments where traditional camouflage was less practical. Intended to disrupt the human silhouette and visually distinguish cadets during drills and exercises, the pattern prioritized institutional identity over environmental blending. Printed on cotton twill and herringbone twill fabrics, with slight variations between class years, this camo was never mass-issued and remains exclusive to the academy. Its experimental design, limited production, and graphic intensity have made it a coveted item in vintage military circles and a notable example of unconventional camouflage theory.
Shop All Bacteria Camo KMA