Crocs unveils cowboy boots, spurs and all
Crocs is taking a step into the wild west this month.
As part of its annual “Croctober” celebration, the foam footwear company on Thursday unveiled the Crocs Classic Cowboy Boot. It features traditional western-inspired embroidery, shiny spurs, a “crocskin” texture and, naturally, the signature ventilation holes that have helped polarize the fashion world around the clogs.
The new boots come after years of mounting demand from fans, the company said in a press release, calling it one of the most widely requested shoe designs in the brand’s history.
That claim is challenging to confirm, although some people have certainly fantasized about the idea. A beer company mocked up a Croc boot in 2021 to some acclaim, for example.
The real ones, which go on sale later this month, are quickly turning into one of the brand’s most debated styles.
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Bree Kish modeled the boots for her followers on TikTok after receiving a pair from the company. The shoes let out a few squeaks as she attempted what might be a line dance.
Others were decidedly skeptical.
End of carousel“It’s the fact they left the holes and are now unpractical as actual boots," a user commented beneath the post. And one user on X, formerly Twitter, bridged the gap by calling the shoes “ugly cute.”
It’s hardly the company’s first stomp into the boot world. Crocs sells a few variations of boots on its website. It also previously collaborated with Balenciaga to create a pair of $895 rain boots. And earlier this year, the brand partnered with online retailer Huckberry for a limited release of Western-style boots designed with the signature Crocs silhouette for added comfort, earning the nickname “croots.”
Crocs first launched in 2002 at a Florida boat show where all 200 prototypes sold out, The Washington Post previously reported. As word spread, sales boomed and the brand saw rapid expansion until the 2008 Great Recession brought losses of $185 million and a near-bankruptcy for the company.
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After falling out of fashion for a few years, the signature foam clogs saw a resurgence during the coronavirus pandemic, as Americans sought out the comfortable slip-on shoes to wander about their homes and gardens. The brand also overhauled its business strategy to expand its reach and celebrity partnerships — making its way from living room carpets to Hollywood red carpets.
The Crocs Classic Cowboy Boots are priced at $120 and will be available for a limited time online and in select retail stores starting Oct. 23, better recognized as “Croc Day" among fans.
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