Crocs have been in the limelight this year, striking partnerships with popular celebrities like Bad Bunny and Justin Bieber that sold like hot cakes worldwide – while also collaborating with names like Beams and Dead x Chinatown. The designer crocs have been eye-popping (for better or worse) and going with the momentum, they’ve struck another partnership to design a pair of crocs worthy of a hip adventurer’s closet. This time around it’s New York-based designer Nicole McLaughlin, known for her upcycling and sustainable fashion crafts, who’s given the classic clog silhouette a makeover, visually and utility-wise. According to her, “A single sentence shouldn’t define an item, we should be finding ways to tell stories through what we create.”
Dubbed the Nicole McLaughlin x Crocs Classic Clog, they are a part of the third and final collaborative release from the Project Greenhouse x Crocs in close quarters with Foot Locker’s innovative division. Pushing the classic clog boundaries, the partnership brings, “comfort to post-rock climbing and the outdoors,” inspiration that’s, “rooted in cozy functionality.” The crocs are in a way an all-in-one survival kit – with add ons like a headlamp, stuff sack, paracord, small bundle of rope, compass, and carabiner. To make sure these things are securely stored during treacherous hikes, there are ankle-high maroon and olive green gaiters that should also double as weather insulators and ankle support. These gaiters have two pockets on the heel for storing small items and one of them even has a zipper for keeping safe your cash or maybe a flintstone.
If need be the accessories on the crocs can be removed at will if they make a too loud appearance when not needed. None of them add to the weight of the crocs which is utterly important during long hikes, and that’s a good thing. The crocs are an overkill, stuffing all the goodies into the small form-factor, and for a price tag of $79.99, they sure are a worthy bargain. Be mindful though, since the crocs are for casual wear only, don’t even think of using them for a professional camping expedition in harsh winter!
Designer: Project Greenhouse in collaboration with Nicole McLaughlin
