2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the infamous Crocs company. Yes, it has been 20 years of turning heads and 20 years of heated debates. So the big question remains: are Crocs ugly or what? Over the 20-year journey of Crocs, they have gone from disgustingly horrendous to normcore (and even high fashion) cult classics.
Since the world was first introduced to the classic peek-a-boo holes on footwear, Crocs have been infamous for being both ugly and beautiful. 20 years has allowed for many laughs thanks to all the memes inspired by these shoes.
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In fact, the disdain for Crocs has been so intense that there is actually a website called “I Hate Crocs dot com.” where people drop their criticism for the footwear brand. Created in 2006 by Vincenzo Ravina and Kate Leth, their most recent post was on May 1, 2021, expressing their surprise at the comeback of the strange shoe brand.
Crocs designs have baffled many for years, with some even making a meme out of poking fun at people who wear them, yelling “WHAT ARE THOSE?”
@statefarm.isthere #greenscreenvideo #whatarethose #theyaremycrocs #crocs @Crocs ♬ original sound – Tik Toker
@jungkooks.frijolito ThOse aRe mY cHonClas#fyp #memes #memestiktok ♬ tHioSe aRe mY chOnclAs – Brianna シ︎
But even with the 20 years of hate, Crocs have still busted out sales—so much so that they lasted two decades in business. Whether you genuinely like their aesthetic or not, there is no denying that they are incredibly comfy.
Not only that, but it does also help that Crocs has had some powerful collabs and patrons over the years. Aware of its reputation as the memeable shoe, Crocs played into this with more flamboyant designs.
In 2016, Christopher Kane pimped out Crocs with marble and tiger print designs and even some rough mineral charms.
But Crocs might have hit the jackpot with their Balenciaga collaborations, introducing the world to their more camp products for both men and women.
Crocs also collaborated with stars like Justin Bieber (with Drew House) and the glow in the dark line of Bad Bunny which sold like hotcakes.
The Croc accessory- Jibbitz– also collaborated with many companies to create hundreds of charms to choose from. Jibbitz even partnered with Lisa Frank to make a nostalgic and fabulous line of Jibbitz.
In the age of influencer culture and the numerous social media accounts of the stars, it doesn’t hurt the brand’s sales that celebrities have been sporting their classic clogs. From Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, and more, Crocs have even been seen on the feet of some very famous people on the big screen.
20 years later, the brand continues to pump out new designs and collaborations– most recently releasing their 2022 Summer line with Balenciaga and presenting consumers with some chonky stompers (sported here by actor Elliot Page).
The opinion of the public does not deny the fact that these are incredibly light (maybe not the platforms) and comfy footwear, while still being sturdy and easy to clean — not to mention, iconic. Don’t knock ‘em till you try ‘em.
Love them or hate them, it seems like Crocs might be here to stay. Just be wary of a possible tan line…
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