The may be reviled by many and often the butt of the jokes in the fashion industry, but Crocs can still pull in the dough.
The much-maligned footwear was a surprise standout part of the fashion week collection debuts in the fall. But while some will never be convinced of the shoe’s fashion importance, others are ready to dive in.
Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga seems to have successfully brought Crocs back after creating a platform version of the shoes that has now sold out before they were even released – and despite an eye-watering price tag of $850 a pair.
Big hit: Platform Crocs by Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga have sold out before even being released, despite costing $850 a pair
Lofty looks: The ‘foam’ platform clogs are covered with colorful pin embellishments
The ‘foam’ shoes, boasting a 10cm platform, were made available for pre-order on the Barney’s website on February 1. They ended up selling out in just a few hours.
The success has been a shock for many, including the hundreds of critics that mocked the shoes when they first appeared on the Paris Fashion Week Runway on October 1.
One Twitter user wrote at the time: ‘Burn them all. Balenciaga is cancelled.’
The shoes have several inches of rubber platform, and the tops are decorated with pin embellishments.
Among the pins are rainbows, stars, and flowers, country flags, peace signs, and animals around the holes on top.
‘When Balenciaga approached us, we were intrigued by the opportunity to push the boundaries of our design and molding capabilities to see what we could create together,’ Michelle Poole from Crocs said back in October, according to Elle.
Big and bright: The 10cm platform shoes sold out in just a few hours after going on pre-sale
Walking the walk: The shoes were mocked by social media critics when they appeared on the Paris Fashion Week runway in October
First try: Back in 2016, Christopher Kane also used Crocs on the runway, topped with geode embellishments
‘Working with Balenciaga has been so much fun for our team, and once again demonstrates the relevance of our iconic clog in today’s fashion and design world, as well as allowing us to tap into the excitement and energy that comes from unexpected partnerships.’
In 2016, Christopher Kane similarly ventured into the realm of rubber shoes, sending models down the runway in Crocs with animal prints and geode embellishments.
‘I always work with unexpected items and combinations, transforming the everyday into desirable luxury,’ Kane said at the time.’I wanted to bring my own stamp and DNA to Crocs’ classic clog and achieve something really special.’
He added: ‘Crocs are arguably the most comfortable shoe, and I love that they are slightly awkward and might be perceived by some as “ugly”.’
‘They have a very naïve and childlike shape which I especially like when they look extra clunky on the foot.’