I used to wear cotton socks inside my boot hose, as I found that it was more comfortable to be able to change the thin socks during the day as it cooled my feet off and kept the long hose fresh - also swapping them over between feet was good.

It would be easy to make a part sock, leaving out the heel flap but making the instep - either just the top of it or a ring to go around the foot - essentially a heel-less toe-less foot. A length of dark elastic would hold the just the top of the instep variant in place, stop it twisting or sliding out of place.

Cotton is easy to dye, though, so someone competent in the craft could make the colours and knit tartan socks in cotton.

Anne the Pleater