Crocs Done (Jib)Bitz!

I never thought I would see the day where I would want to right a post on Crocs! I have never been an advocate for the brand, the aesthetic, the feel of the bobbly footbed, the charms. The list could go on. Admittedly, my thoughts and interest into the brand have grown since the conceptualisation of Salehe Bembury's Pollex Crocs. This rendition not only caught my interest but also swayed me into buying a pair. - I won’t sit here and claim I loved the Pollex from the get go, but definitely grew on me once seeing them in hand.

In 2001, two chemical engineers (Scott Seamans & Lyndon Hanson), worked on creating an innovative boat shoe made entirely out of foam that not only was comfortable but also practical. Inspired by the dutch clog, they added a grip sole to bare all weather conditions, waterproof materials and foot protection. After working at Canadian based company, Foam Creations (which they later acquired). Scott Seamans & Lyndon Hanson, founded Crocs taking the name from the apex predator, the crocodile (due to the fact the shoe can sustain itself on both land and water). To debut their latest creation at the 2002 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, Florida, dubbing the shoe the ‘Beach’ and a year later produced their first women’s model titled the ’Nile’.

The durable material Crocs use, is neither rubber or plastic. It is comprised of a foam technology called ‘Croslite’ (patented in 2004) - A closed cell vinyl acetate resin that can be poured into a mould - Come 2018 ‘Croslite’ was adapted to ‘LiteRide’, a 25% lighter and 45% softer material providing even more comfort than ever.

With many businesses having to adapt during the pandemic, few, such as Crocs, didn’t have to. The consumers need for comfort over style took the reins of fashion leading the world into a clogs and mules fiasco. These forms of footwear provide easy wearability and comfort for the short bursts of fresh air we were allowed. This need threw Crocs into the limelight allowing the business to generate a whopping $1.4billion in revenue, +12.6 up on their sales in 2019 and quadrupling their Stocks value in 2020. It didn’t stop their for the squidgy clogs. Come Q3 of 2021, Crocs recorded revenue was estimated around $625.9million, +73% same time 2020. The brand has even stated that they are looking at an estimated growth of $5billion by 2026. - and to think that in 2009 Crocs nearly went bust!

Like some brands, Crocs is also having a huge push in being more environmentally friendly and charitable. Donating shoes through their own programme, Crocs Cares, giving poverty stricken families shoes to wear that last. On the more conscious Crocs side of the business, the brand has also changed their packaging, saving 640,000lbs in landfill waste, and also removing upwards of 850,000 pairs of Crocs from waste.

Having done my research on the brand, I am looking forward to see the growth and what it means for their product. With huge collaborations with Balenciaga, KFC, ALIFE, Nicole Mclaughlin already within their archives now. They show no signs of slowing and the possibilities are endless.

Fun Fact: Crocs made their first heat reactive shoe in 2011 called the Chameleon. It featured an almost translucent shell that would change colour in the heat.