Posts

Running On Clouds: ON

Image
If you were to ask my what are the most comfortable shoes I own, without question I would tell you my cloud monsters by On. Today I will be delving into the newly popularised running brand, where these high quality shoes came from and what makes them so popular. The brand was created in 2010 in Switzerland by three men, including Olivier Bernhard who was a Swiss athlete with a passion for running. He wanted to create the perfect running shoe and went to Nike with this revolutionary idea (the brand he was sponsored by at the time) but was rejected. He then decided he could do it himself and recruited his two friends to help in in the process. On debuted their organisation by launching the Cloudracer , infused with their new CloudTec cushioning and high quality fabrics. Since birth, this company has been a success, particularly in Switzerland but all across the globe today. An individual who helped this growth was 20 time grand slam winner Rodger Federer who took an interest in the c...
1 comment
Read more

Crocs: Ugly or Iconic?

Image
 Since the name of my blog is From Crocs to Docs, I thought it would only be right to explore one of those brands. So today I will be delving into the brand Crocs and discovering what makes them so popular. Unlike the other brands and shoes I have previously discussed Crocs are relatively new as they were founded in 2002. The quirky shaped shoe was originally created as a boating shoe which prioritised functionality, water resistance and foot protection. It was inspired by the Dutch clog for the easy function of sliding it on and off. From day one they leaned into the goofy aesthetic and marketed themselves as exactly what they are, an ugly shoe which is highly practical. The company grew at a steady rate, however, were never integrated into pop culture due to being viewed as uncool. You would never see the likes of Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton sporting them as they were not considered fashionable. The brand severely lacked a young audience as the 20-30 age group viewed them a...
9 comments
Read more

Walking in New Balance

Image
The brand New Balance was created in 1906 (however they didn’t actually sell a pair of shoes until the 1960’s) in Boston Massachusetts with a focus of quality footwear. It is one of the leading brands today, being sold in over 120 countries all across the globe. They are a staple brand for shoe lovers having different styles for every individual and every occasion. However, I do believe that the best use of any New Balance shoe is every day wear due how comfy they all are. Over the years they have grown at a steady pace, although not reaching the level of sales that the trainer giants Adidas or Nike gained. Throughout the 1980’s New Balance were marketed as a high end sports shoe brand due to their premium materials and technology. An example of this is their model 990 shoe which was launched in 1982 at a premium price of $100, appealing to the luxury footwear market (they have since released 6 versions of this style). (990 v2 Made in the USA) The brand took a dive in the 2010’s as...
5 comments
Read more

The Resurgence of Adidas Samba

 There are many trends that have resurfaced when it comes to shoes, but one that stands out to me in particular is Sambas. Sambas are one of Adidas’ highest selling shoes of all time closely following Stan Smiths and have been around for decades. The first concept for Sambas was a new football boot that prevents slipping while playing back in the 1940’s. They then made their debut in the 1950 Brazil world cup and were named Samba after the Latin dance style to appeal to the South American audience. They were originally a very different looking shoe compared to the Samba we would recognise today as they looked more like a boot with a solid toe and arched sole. The shoe then developed into different forms over time, each time more like the shoe we know and love, and then finally it became the flat, thin sole and low ankle shape we all own in 2024. The popularity of the Samba was high all throughout the 70s and 80s with the football fans finding inspiration from the players they wat...
12 comments
Read more

First Post!

  Hello and welcome to From Crocs to Doc, a blog where I will discuss all things shoes! In particular, the evolution of shoes and the trends that cycle from decade to decade. We see trends resurface all the time in fashion, low waisted jeans, baby tees, micro miniskirts, all trends from the early 2000’s that have been reborn in the 2020’s. Each time a style has a resurgence it gives the new generation an opportunity to recycle fashion and put their own creative spin on it. This makes sustainable fashion more popular due to the hype around thrift shopping or second hand shopping as these old pieces that were once ‘out of trend’ are now popular again. The more specific fashion element I am interested in is shoes. From crocs to docs, I will be exploring all different styles of shoes including; trends that have had a resurgence, trends that have never seemed to fade and even trends that have yet to have a comeback. For my first post I thought I would explore kitten heels as they have b...
4 comments
Read more