Last Updated on September 18, 2021
Crocs have always been a divisive shoe. Love them or loath them, it seems like we can’t shake them.
During the pandemic, fashion has drastically changed. While getting dressed up for work and play was previously the norm, sales of sweatpants, dressing gowns and slippers skyrocketed. ‘Ugly’ shoes are now the norm, with dad sandals, loafers and clogs taking over from the restrictive shoes we used to wear every day. Now Crocs are joining them.
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You might cringe at the sight of them, but not everyone agrees. BBC recently reported that the brand saw a 64 per cent rise in revenue in the first quarter, up to a record-breaking £331million, while fashion search platform Lyst also revealed that between April and May 2020, when the UK was firmly in lockdown, sales of Crocs rose by a third. As things currently stand, demand for them is up 210 per cent on average, according to The Sole Supplier.
As well as the global move to more comfortable dressing, the rise of the Croc is also in part thanks to celebrities and influencers adopting them. Just this week, Questlove wore a pair of gold Crocs on the Oscars red carpet, while Victoria Beckham was gifted a pair from Justin Bieber’s latest collaborative collection (although she did say she’d ‘rather die’ than wear them).
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Priyanka Chopra is a fan of Crocs too. The actress became a brand ambassador for them last year and wore an of embellished black pair, customised by stylist Law Roach, for the Footwear News Awards in 2020 too (where Crocs won the award for Brand of the Year).
Rapper Saweetie is also helping to promote the brand’s collaboration with condiment giant Hidden Valley Ranch.
While celebrities have an ability to make questionable fashion look chic, it’s not just the A-list embracing Crocs. Influencers are getting on board too, showing off theirs looks on platforms Instagram and TikTok.
If those don’t convince you, perhaps the brand’s move to change its clogs’ ingredients might. Crocs clogs will reportedly be ‘bio-based’ by 2022. The brand will start using the new material called Ecolibrium, which is made from hydrocarbons extracted from palm oil and pulp paper. Crocs said this move will make their production ‘carbon negative.’
Another bit of good news is the brand won’t issue a price hike despite this move to sustainability, something that other footwear brands such as Nike and Converse have done with their Space Hippe and Renew lines respectively.
So would you wear them? If so, read on for our favourite pairs.
Buy now
Classic Platform Clogs, £49.99, Crocs at ASOS – buy now
Classic Tie-Dye Clog, £44.99, Crocs – buy now
Baya Seasonal Printed Clog, now £31.49, Crocs – buy now
Specialist II Vent Clog, now £27.99, Crocs – buy now
Classic Animal Print Clog, £44.99, Crocs – buy now
Classic Marbled Clog, £44.99, Crocs – buy now
