“I love Crocs, I would wear them to the club if I was allowed.”
What’s the first thing that comes to your head when you think of Crocs? Garish, ugly, childish? Or colourful, comfortable, cool? Whether you love them or hate them, it is undeniable that Crocs are having a resurgence.
On 24th November, artist David Hockney wore a pair of bright yellow Crocs to a luncheon with King Charles, who remarked “your yellow galoshes! Beautifully chosen.” Ignoring the use of the word “galoshes” in 2022, this means Crocs officially have the King’s approval. So, can we all agree that Crocs are cool now?
Founded in 2002, Crocs have been around for 20 years. Originally made to be boat shoes, taking inspiration from the shape of clogs, Crocs are practical and durable, prioritising comfort over style. Their comfort comes from the material Croslite, a cross between rubber and plastic.
For many of us, Crocs are a nostalgic reminder of our childhoods, perfect for playing in the garden and decorating with Jibbitz, charms you can stick through the holes in the top of the shoes.
“Crocs were once the shoe for normies, but now everybody is in a Croc.”
However, Crocs have not always been widely loved. Hate website ihatecrocs.com, started in 2007 and updated as recently as 2021, calls them “strange, ugly shoes.” It was frowned upon to wear Crocs in public, a secret you’d keep in your house and pretend you didn’t own.
Croc hater, Daniel, says “I exclusively use Crocs as slip-on garden shoes for picking up dog poop because that’s all they’re worth.” When pressed for an explanation of that bold statement, Daniel said “they’re ugly in my opinion and don’t go with any outfit.”
This scathing Buzzfeed article serves as more evidence of people’s visceral hatred towards Crocs. The reporter condemns Crocs for being “profoundly hideous,” and looking like a “PVC cheese grater.” It is clear that Crocs are a divisive subject, and everyone wants to chime in with their personal opinion. However, the reporter does admit that “Crocs were once the shoe for normies, but now everybody is in a Croc.”
Crocs’ comeback started in 2016, when designer Christopher Kane collaborated with the brand for his Spring/Summer 2017 collection. The Crocs were transformed into marbled, earthy colours, complete with Jibbitz that look like rocks. Since this collection, Crocs have collaborated with countless brands and celebrities. Most notably, Balenciaga created platform Crocs the year after, solidifying the shoe’s place in fashion. Other collaborations include Justin Bieber, Post Malone, SZA and, bizarrely, food brands like KFC and Peeps.
“Part of the charm of Crocs is how casual they are.”
I asked some Croc enthusiasts their opinions on the shoe, and it seems that there are strong opinions on the other side too.
Georgia told me Crocs are “class, comfortable, and easy to wear. I think they are cool enough to wear outside the house.” Crocs are meant to be a little ugly, the fact that they clash with your outfit adds to the appeal. Designer Crocs are a more elevated version of the classic, but Georgia believes ” I think designer ones are kind of weird. Part of the charm of Crocs is how casual they are.” Eve agrees, saying “I love Crocs, I would wear them to the club if I was allowed.”
Another Croc wearer, Clare, thinks that “if I had some snazzy personalised ones then I’d wear them out and about – sort of for irony, but then again irony is often a big part of trends and fashion.” The ironic fashion trend is about wearing tacky clothes as a joke to seperate yourself from the mainstream. ‘Dopamine dressing’ is another fashion trend Crocs fit into, celebrating wearing bright clothing that make you feel good.
Designer Crocs may just be a gimmick, but the appeal of a comfortable, colourful shoe is real. In a post-lockdown world where more people than ever are working from home and prioritising comfort, Crocs are a shoe worth investing in. For example, Gabriel has “a pair of fur-lined Crocs and they are amazing. I just wear them as slippers.”
Whatever your opinion is, Crocs are here to stay. The brand has skyrocketed in recent years, achieving record sales up 67% in 2021. A recent collaboration with country singer Luke Combs is being resold on eBay for over $200. So, if you’ve been swayed and want to buy yourself a pair, you’d better get in there quick.
Feature photo by Melike Benli on Pexels