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Crocs is taking a step into the Wild West this month.
As part of its annual “Croctober” celebration, the foam shoe company introduced the Crocs Classic Cowboy Boot on Thursday. It features traditional, Western-inspired embroidery, shiny spurs, a “crocodile leather” texture and of course the signature ventilation holes that have helped polarize the fashion world around clogs.
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The new boots come after years of increasing demand from fans, the company said in a press release, calling it one of the most requested shoe designs in the brand’s history.
It’s hard to confirm this claim, although some people have certainly dreamed of this idea. A beer company recreated a Croc boot with great success in 2021, For example.
The real examples, which go on sale later this month, are quickly becoming one of the brand’s most controversial models.
Bree Kish modeled the boots for her followers on TikTok after receiving a pair from the company. The shoes squeak a few times as she tries to do something Line dance.
Others were downright skeptical.
“It’s the fact that they left the holes and are now impractical as real boots,” one user commented under the post. And a user on X, formerly of Twitter, bridged the gap by posting the shoes “ugly sweet.”
It’s not the company’s first step into the world of boots. Crocs sells a few variations of boots on its website. The company also previously collaborated with Balenciaga to design a pair of rubber boots for $895. And earlier this year, the brand partnered with online retailer Huckberry to release a limited edition of western-style boots with the signature Crocs silhouette for added comfort, earning them the nickname “Croots.”
Crocs’ billion-dollar strategy: Stay ugly
Crocs was first introduced at a boat show in Florida in 2002, where all 200 prototypes sold out, The Washington Post previously reported. As word spread, sales boomed and the brand experienced rapid growth until the Great Recession of 2008 brought losses of $185 million and nearly bankrupted the company.
After falling out of style for a few years, the signature foam clogs enjoyed a resurgence during the coronavirus pandemic as Americans looked for comfortable slip-on shoes to walk around their homes and gardens. The brand also revamped its business strategy to expand its reach and celebrity partnerships – moving from living room rugs to Hollywood red carpets.
The Crocs Classic Cowboy Boots are priced at $120 and will be available online and in select retail stores for a limited time starting October 23rd, better known to fans as “Croc Day.”
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