Crocs: Ugly or Iconic?

 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 as a joke and would never seriously consider buying a pair. In 2010 their reputation was solidified when TIME Magazine named Crocs as one of the top 50 worst inventions.

Recently, we have seen a surge in the popularity of Crocs, particularly in 2020. During the pandemic the main fashion priority for most of us was comfort. Leisure and active wear were highly popular which grew an attraction to Crocs. Since no one had to leave the house, they could originally be thought of as a house shoe which made the embarrassment fade. Once people took the leap and bought their first pair of Crocs, they would never look back.

Another feature which boosted the trend of Crocs is the funky accessories called Jibbitz. These are small charms that can be placed in the holes of a Croc to personalise them to suit each individual.

This means that 10 people could have the exact same plain black crocs but using Jibbitz they can be made unique to each person. This also helped catapult Crocs into the trendy, fashionable and addictive shoes they are today.