I recently attended a celebratory family gathering and amidst the commotion of greetings from family members, my eyes were immediately drawn to four pairs of feet in particular.
My brother, sister-in-law, niece, and nephew each proudly sported their own pair of Crocs, a shoe that I thought was long forgotten, if not hated, by most people. I couldn’t help staring at their feet as I recalled my elementary school days, when I too was proud to show off my pair of red Crocs, adorned with custom charms that fit perfectly in the quintessential perforations of shoe design. These charms – I recently learned – are called Jibbitz, by the way. My brother swears by the comfort of Crocs and even gifted our mom a pair last Christmas. It got me thinking, “Am I missing something? What else don’t I know about the controversial shoe at the center of the fashion debate?”
It turns out Crocs has reclaimed a place in the shoe world. The shoes have become a multi-generational footwear staple for many and the brand has collaborated with a range of celebrities including Post Malone, Justin Bieber and Luke Combs. Crocs are also Amazon’s best-selling shoes, according to Today. The brand has even collaborated with haute couture giant Balenciaga – the two companies’ design visions merged to create the “Balenciaga HardCrocs”.
Sales of the shoe have exploded during the pandemic, and in the first quarter of 2021, Crocs saw an almost 65% increase in sales, the BBC reported. I can see why the pandemic provided a solid foundation for the return of shoes, since many of us were not only shopping online while confined to our homes, but many of us also prioritized comfort. to our typical style. It was time for Crocs to shine.
Although the pandemic has presented a unique opportunity for Crocs, they seem to have maintained their upward trajectory, offering a variety of styles for different ages, niches, seasons, and even different professions. Their “Crocs At Work” line features footwear for chefs, hospital workers, and even slip-resistant footwear.
In fact, browsing through their website, it seems the brand has a line for every occasion. And I mean all occasion, however obscure. Crocs had a past collaboration with Hidden Valley Ranch — which sold out, according to their website — and recently released its 7-Eleven x Crocs collection. It’s not just a behind-the-scenes collaboration – the partnership is clearly reflected in the final product.
On a more traditional note, Crocs’ Disney Hocus Pocus collection, which “reappears for a limited time” according to their website, strategically coincides with the upcoming sequel, “Hocus Pocus 2,” just in time for the spooky season.
The shoes are seemingly everywhere, and not just in Crocs stores and online. They can be found on the shelves of retailers such as DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, Famous Footwear, Scheels and more.
So, it looks like I’m the one who’s late. Crocs shakes up the footwear world, culturally and financially. The company recently ranked third on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers for Women. Whether or not I overcome my aversion to the shoes themselves, Crocs will continue. Quite successful, it seems. The company has made $2.1 billion in revenue so far this year, according to Forbes. I might dip my toes in the water and ask my brother for a pair this Christmas – we’ll see.