One of my favorite items of clothing is a pair of shoes. Not just any shoes, but a pair of crocs. In fact, I own five pairs of crocs all in different styles and colors. Three years ago I was introduced to this fad by a friend of mine. She told me these were the most comfortable shoes she had ever worn and boy was she right.
The earlier models and the most popular look somewhat funny and come in a vast array of colors. The shoes are made of Croslite, which is a proprietary resin material aimed at being anti-microbial and impact absorbing (FAQs, 2009). The company which was established in Boulder, CO in 2003 is committed to supplying a “lightweight, comfortable, slip-resistant, fashionable and functional shoe” taken from the Crocs history web page (History, 2009).
As I look at my pair of crocs, I often ask myself if I purchased these because I thought they were functional or because they were cool. Really, when you see a shoe with 13 holes in the top and 7 around the sides are you really looking at functionality or are you saying, “That pink color matches 30 % of my wardrobe.” For me it was the latter. I do love my crocs and have often times tried to wear them in the garden and while mulching, but with holes not too functional. So I go back to my reason for the purchase, they do look good with my pink Komen race shirts.
Are crocs just a fad? Will I still be wearing these shoes in ten years? Will they become extinct like poodle skirts and legwarmers? Crocs have become a sign of popular culture. Everyone either wants a pair or had a pair. Retailers are even following the fad and selling some form of “generic” crocs. They may look the same, although the holes may be a different shape or size, but they aren’t made out of the same Croslite material and they don’t have that little rivet with the crocodile.
The above is just one example of how a pop culture item can affect the world and the economy. As retailers and other businesses strive to hook the consumer who wants to buy a pair of their own with the generic line of “garden” shoes, the retailers that have the authorization to sell crocs are able to increase sales as new people on the search for the one and only Crocs come in their doors for the first time. Individuals that wear these shoes believe they now fit-in with society and are part of the latest fad.
Are crocs just a fad? I hope not. Even if they are, you may see this individual wearing them long past their extinction date.
References
(2009). Company - Our history. Retrieved July 2, 2009, from Crocs Web site: <http://www.crocs.com/>
(2009). FAQ’s. Retrieved July 2, 2009, from Crocs Web site: www.crocs.com
Hi Gerri,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post and so true...
I have a pair of crocs too, I love them; however, I only have one pair! White, they go with everything. As far as crocs being a fad, I think they will be around for a long time... I frequent the ER and doctors offices regularly and it seems that crocs or knock offs are all that the nurses are wearing because they are so comfortable. I think as long as the company has the material to make the crocs, the crocs will be around for a long time.