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Gen Z grew up in a world filled with ugly fashion – no wonder they love their Crocs

In 2017, Julia Hobbs of British Vogue <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/crocs-sandals-christopher-kane-trend-test">declared</a> Crocs “have an unrivalled ability to repel onlookers and induce sneers”. But over the two decades since the notoriously ugly shoes were released, the clogs seem to be going from strength to strength. No longer just the comfortable, easy-to-wear boat shoes they were designed as, now they’re being worn by celebrities like <a href="https://www.vogue.com/vogueworld/article/ariana-grande-crocs-controversial-shoe-trend">Ariana Grande</a>, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-10-13/justin-bieber-crocs-bad-bunny-post-malone">Justin Bieber</a>, <a href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20220531141686/the-view-whoopi-goldberg-divides-fans-backstage-photo-concern-for-safety/">Whoopi Goldberg</a> and Drew Barrymore, who has her <a href="https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/Drew-barrymore-launches-crocs-collection,943183.html">own collection</a>. Bedazzled white Crocs are being worn with <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/15/brides-mocked-for-wearing-blinged-out-crocs-on-their-big-day/">wedding dresses</a>, #crocs has more than 7.3 billion views <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/crocs?lang=en">on TikTok</a>, and diehard fans can buy <a href="https://www.carousell.sg/p/preorder-mini-crocs-jibbitz-accessory-charms-fun-quirky-1174036132/">mini Crocs</a> to decorate their Crocs with. Even supermodel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT-LLMIjIQM">Kendall Jenner</a> admitted on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that she is not ashamed of her comfy Crocs. But the most common place you’re likely to see Crocs today is on the feet of Generation Z. They grew up with ugly fashion, and are now making it their own. <h2>A brief history</h2> Crocs’ ancestors are the clog: a cheap, comfortable, lightweight, practical wooden shoe popular in medieval Europe and Scandinavia. Traditional wooden clogs were easy to clean, non-slip, protected the wearer’s feet and kept them warm and dry. The oldest surviving pair found in Holland <a href="https://isgeschiedenis.nl/reportage/geschiedenis-van-de-klompen">date to 1230</a>. Crocs premiered their shoe at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in 2002. Made from a tough form of injection-moulded ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, which moulds to the wearer’s foot, all 200 pairs at the show sold out. Crocs were easy to clean, non-slip, could easily be pulled on and off, and would not suffer from continued exposure to water. But they weren’t popular in all corners. Time magazine included Crocs in their 2010 list of <a href="https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1991915_1991909_1991743,00.html">the 50 worst inventions</a>. And from the outset, even Crocs’ cofounders considered them <a href="https://www.parents.com/kids/style/fashion/crocs/">ugly</a>. <h2>Ugly fashion</h2> The 21st century’s love of deliberately ugly fashion can be traced to 1996, with Miuccia Prada launching her <a href="https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/fall-1996-ready-to-wear/prada">“Bad Taste” collection</a>. The early 2000s gave us ugly comfort dressing in the form of the bright, velour <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2014/06/70125/juicy-couture-stores-closing">Juicy Couture</a> tracksuit. Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s <a href="https://people.com/style/britney-spears-justin-timberlake-matching-denim-moment-20th-anniversary/">iconic matching double denim moment</a> at the 2001 American Music Awards embodied the era’s ugliness. <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/17/where-millennials-end-and-generation-z-begins/">Generation Z</a> grew up in this ugly fashion world. Many rocked their first brightly coloured pair of Crocs as toddlers. This generation also learned to express themselves online, where <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1470412914544516">Internet Ugly</a> – a deliberately grotesque, anti-authoritarian and amateurish aesthetic – is a key look of memes. Memes celebrate ugliness as a relatable, authentic foil against the slickly perfect images generated by filters, Hollywood and self-serious corporate design. Memes evolve, but the images, templates and looks of memes stays similar and the ugly aesthetic continues to spread and be enjoyed. Crocs are, in a sense, wearable memes for Gen Z. Like memes, Crocs have changed and returned through nostalgic affectation. In the two decades since their launch, Crocs have constantly reinvented themselves. There have been new colours and collaborations with popular brands, including <a href="https://www.crocs.com.au/collab/minecraft">computer games</a> and high fashion houses like <a href="https://www.crocs.com.au/p/liberty-london-x-crocs-classic-clog/206447.html">Liberty of London</a>. Each generation rediscovers the objects of its youth and replicates these objects in new ways. The resulting objects – in this case, Crocs – are passed around and either made uglier or beautified in the eye of the beholder. Every pair of Crocs can be customised with “<a href="https://www.crocs.com.au/c/jibbitz">Jibbitz</a>”, a small ornament that fits into the holes throughout the shoe to beautify Crocs for their owner. In the United Kingdom, Crocs <a href="https://www.mylondon.news/lifestyle/fashion/primark-shoppers-hysterics-hideous-9-25693380">paired with</a> fast-fashion retailer Primark and high-street bakery Greggs to create ugly, fur-lined, black £9 Crocs with Greggs’ logo. At the other end of the budget, you can buy <a href="https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/trends/g36656071/croc-collaborations/">Balenciaga’s lime green Crocs</a> with a black sole and black stiletto heel. <h2>Crocs and the pandemic</h2> Ugliness lets viewers laugh and release tensions in situations where they <a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674024090">are helpless to act</a>. Adrian Holloway, Crocs’ general manager, told <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/crocs-rubber-shoe-trend">Vogue, "</a>In times of stress and uncertainty, consumers seem to want comfort […] Everything was so heavy and scary, it felt good to treat yourself to something cheerful and inexpensive, but also practical and comfortable." The COVID pandemic left Gen Z unable to participate in important social rites of passage like graduations, milestone birthdays, weddings and funerals. Global lockdowns also left people feeling a strange blend of shock, boredom and irritation. Like laughing at ugly memes, laughing at cute, ugly Crocs helped release feelings of powerlessness. <h2>Here to stay</h2> Popular predictions of <a href="https://thesociologicalreview.org/magazine/june-2022/clothes/comfort-or-style/">post-pandemic fashions</a> suggest there are two options: we will continue to dress for comfort, or we will embrace eye-catching colours and patterns and strange silhouettes. The popularity of Crocs among Gen Z suggests a third option: a combination of the comfortable with the crazy. Worn today, these shoes signal the wearer’s capacity for casualness, irony, rebellion, and a desire to forge their own fashion rules in an Internet Ugly world. Crocs are <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/g41416862/spring-2023-shoe-trends/">here to stay</a>. Image credits: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/gen-z-grew-up-in-a-world-filled-with-ugly-fashion-no-wonder-they-love-their-crocs-200718" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

“Bail, bail, bail!”: Robert Irwin’s narrow croc escape

Robert Irwin was left running for his life from a 350-kilogram crocodile in a heart-stopping clip.After one of Australia Zoo’s crocs ignored the bait offered to him - instead making a beeline for Robert - the 18-year-old was forced to “bail” the exercise.In the clip from Crickey! It’s the Irwins, Robert detailed one of the zoo’s “biggest and challenging moves,” switching one of their “wildest crocodiles Casper” to the “Crocoseum” enclosure.“Before Casper makes his debut in the Crocoseum we need to do a bit of a test, just to make sure that he’s settling in nicely to this new enclosure,” Robert said.“If he’s coming out of the water giving big strikes, that means he’s going to be ready for the Crocoseum show.”Robert explained that one brave zookeeper would have to jump into Casper’s brand-new environment.He shared that the croc has displayed “wild behaviour since [his late father Steve Irwin] first got Casper,” admitting that the task ahead of him was “quite terrifying”.Robert bravely stepped into the enclosure, approaching the water with bait ready.Suddenly, the croc leaped out of the water, snapping its jaw towards the food Robert was using as bait.“Yeah, he’s keen, jeez he’s keen,” Robert said reacting to the croc’s speed and intensity.Things went downhill very quickly as the croc was clearly uninterested in the bait Robert was offering.“Bail, bail, bail, bail, bail, bail,” Robert repeated as he ran across the exhibit in a heart-stopping moment.The clip shows Robert running from a birds-eye view, clearly showing his narrow escape.The full video was shared on social media by Robert, and is taken from the season finale of the TV show Crickey! It’s the Irwins.Images: Animal Planet

Travel Trouble

Local croc becomes childrens’ book star

A crocodile living in Constant Creek in North Queensland has become a video sensation, with footage of the reptile racking up hundreds of thousands of views on social media and prompting a local author to write a book on the creature. “I reckon he’s one of the most-filmed crocodiles in Australia,” local boating enthusiast Shannon Burke said. “A lot of the older fishermen that have been there definitely know him,” she said. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmichellewilsondreamweaver%2Fposts%2F284088089869208&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="1044" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> The many trips author and primary school teacher Michelle Wilson would take up and along Constant Creek inspired her to include the well-known croc as the main character in the children’s book Crocs Don’t Do Yoga. “My mum and daughter were playing a weird game one day to be crocodiles snapping at each other,” Ms Wilson said. “And I don’t know what happened but I just came up with the character, Connie the Croc from Constant Creek. “At the same time I was doing a lot of yoga, so I just married the two concepts together.” The book tells the story of a snappy crocodile that can’t control its anger – until some friends from Constant Creek suggest yoga. When it came to publishing her book, Ms Wilson said it was difficult to know where to start. “It’s a pretty saturated market, you’ve got a lot of excellent writers and celebrities writing [kids’ books].” Locals are happy enough seeing their favourite reptile receive even more recognition. “The fishermen all seem to love and respect him,” Ms Burke said. “I’ve got a lot of friends that backpack and one of their first questions is, ‘Where’s the best place to see crocodiles?’ “One of our local creeks just north of Mackay is one of the best places to go.” Despite the relaxed nature of Constant Creek’s reptile resident, the Queensland Department of Environment urges people to be “Crocwise” when encountering them, by reporting sightings, staying away from the water’s edge and avoiding feeding them. Image: Michelle Wilson / Facebook

Books

"Hold my beer": Tradie captured surfing huge croc

A photo dubbed “the most Australian photo ever” has gone viral after a tradie decided to ride a monster crocodile. The tradie tied a rope around the reptile’s mouth and made a lead to get the crocodile into the shallow waters, where the photo seemed to be taken. The photo went viral on Reddit, with many surprised at the photo. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841243/crocs-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/49f2c7cca044439095cbcaa831aad306" /> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> 'You know for sure that the last thing he said was "Hold my beer,"' one user said. 'Glad he was wearing hi-vis... you know for safety,' another wrote. 'This guy takes the Australian surfer cliche to a whole 'nother level,' another commented. Photo credits: Reddit </div>

Family & Pets

Man attacked by 2.5 metre croc used this tip to escape

An off-duty wildlife ranger has made a surprising escape from the jaws of a 2.5 metre crocodile after it launched at him while flyfishing. Craig Dickmann, 54, was flyfishing at the remote Cape York Peninsula when the crocodile shot out of the water and attacked his thigh. While he was wrestling free from the crocodile, his hand became degloved and he was able to poke the crocodile in the eye. After escaping from the jaws of the saltwater crocodile, Dickmann drove more than an hour to Heathlands Ranger Station where he works to get help. Queensland Ambulance Service superintendent Warren Martin said that it was incredible that Dickmann survived such an attack. "This was a life or death response," he said to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-11/ranger-pokes-crocodile-in-eye-after-attack-cape-york/11693150" target="_blank">ABC</a>. "The patient really understood the gravity of the situation and knew that he was fighting for his survival." After arriving at Heathlands Ranger Station, Dickmann called emergency services and was given first aid by another ranger. The ranger then drove Dickmann to Bramwell Station to wait for a Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) plane. Bramwell Station owner Wendy Kozicka said that Dickmann was in good spirits despite the attack. "He was very cheerful — but he's a very cheerful person," Ms Kozicka said. "His hands were wrapped up and we were teasing him about that, saying 'Are you sure you have all your fingers?'" Superintendent Warren Martin said that the incident was a “remarkable story” of survival. "There wouldn't be many people in Cape York who could say they have had an interaction with a crocodile like this and still be talking about it," he said. "Not only was [Mr Dickmann] by himself fishing, but after being released by the crocodile having to drive for an hour back to his residence to seek help." Dickmann remains in a serious but stable condition at Cairns Hospital, where he is expected to undergo surgery. He is being supported by his family and senior departmental staff.

Travel Trouble

Tourists overrun with crocs after exploring Arnhem Land

Video has captured the moment tourists found themselves surrounded by saltwater crocodiles in Cahills Crossing in Arnhem Land. The crossing, which is three hours east of Darwin, provides the only road access point between Arnhem Land and Kakadu National Park. Kimberley Off-Road Adventure Tours posted the video, saying that the crocs came out of the water as the tide changed. “There were over 30 salties in there,” the post read. “This car went through after us and had a bit of trouble with the peak hour traffic.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkimberleyoffroadtours%2Fvideos%2F389232485308123%2F&show_text=0&width=267" width="267" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> The crossing is considered the most dangerous bodies of water in Australia due to dangerous water flow capable of turning over cars as well as the large amount of crocodiles calling the area home. Each year, dozens of drivers attempt to travel over the submerged crossing, but end up being washed away.

Cruising

Queensland boy’s reaction to spotting monster croc will have you in stitches

When most people spot a monster crocodile lurking in the body of water they were about to dive in to, their reaction involves thoughts of how they’re going to get out of there. But for one boy on holiday in Townsville it was a different story. Talking to <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/" target="_blank">7 News</a>, Jake told the reporter he was excited to see a crocodile so early into his holiday in the top end, but the sighting came with a tinge of disappointment. “It’s pretty cool... but we’re not going for a swim today or tomorrow,” he said. His older brother added that it was great to see the crocodile but “I didn’t want to be in there. It’s better to be on sand. “I don’t think we would go for a swim now,” he said. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F7NewsTownsville%2Fvideos%2F1751648208181357%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Melanie Pensini, another holidaymaker who was in the area, photographed the predator from her apartment after watching it swim around for quite some time. “We’ve been watching it and it’s swimming along the beach between us and Longboards (Bar and Grill),” she said. “The kids wanted to go to the beach this afternoon, I’m so glad we didn’t go.” “It was floating there for a little while, it looked like a log.” Have you ever seen a giant croc?

International Travel

The shocking moment a Northern Territory woman shoos away 4-metre croc

It’s hard enough standing up to family members sometimes, so you’d imagine how brave someone would have to be to stand up to a four-metre crocodile. The below video, which was filmed at Cahill’s Crossing on the East Alligator River in Kakadu National Park shows a woman walking close to the water’s edge as a mean looking saltwater crocodile stealthily approaches in the waters. Instead of running away though she calmly shoos the water-based reptile away, stunning onlookers with her calm, relaxed demeanour and the small dog at her side. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bpjzVLSpNS0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> What do you think of the footage? Do you think you would be able to stand up to a crocodile? Or would you have been heading for the hills? Hero image credit: YouTube/Achievement Zone 365

International Travel

Devastating news for Crocs wearers

Podiatrists have said that wearing Crocs too long can lead to serious foot problems. The podiatrists who spoke to The Huffington Post advised not to wear the shoes for an excessive amount of time due to the lack of heel support. Chicago podiatrist Dr Megan Leahy said, "Unfortunately Crocs are not suitable for all-day use." "When the heel is unstable, toes tend to grip which can lead to tendinitis, worsening of toe deformities, nail problems, corns and calluses." President of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine Dr Alex Kor explained that he receives frequent complaints regarding arch and heel pain from those that regularly wear Crocs. Dr Kor did highlight that Crocs can be beneficial to those who have high arches in their feet or who have excessive edema. If you do wear Crocs make sure you don’t wear for them for too long as Dr Kor said “under no circumstances can I suggest wearing Crocs eight – 10 hours per day”. Image credit: Crocs via Instagram

Body

Experts reveal that crocs are bad for your health

Although we’re strong believers in comfort over fashion, it seems the croc company has been making some false claims about their “controversial” shoe line. “Unfortunately Crocs are not suitable for all-day use,” Dr. Megan Leahy, a Chicago-based podiatrist with the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, recently told the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/are-crocs-bad-for-you_us_574de531e4b02912b241081f?section=australia" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a>. While she did say that they “offer nice arch support,” the fact that they don’t secure the heel means your toes tend to clench as you walk which can lead to some serious problems down the track. “These shoes do not adequately secure the heel. When the heel is unstable, toes tend to grip, which can lead to tendinitis, worsening of toe deformities, nail problems, corns and calluses. The same thing can happen with flip flops or any backless shoes, as the heel is not secured”. Are you a fan of the rubbery clogs? Let us know in the comment below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/5-tips-for-creating-the-perfect-wardrobe/">5 tips for creating the perfect wardrobe</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/ways-to-use-vaseline-in-your-beauty-routine/">6 surprising ways to use Vaseline in your beauty routine</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/things-to-do-with-shampoo/">9 surprising things you can do with shampoo</a>

Beauty & Style

6-metre croc attacking boat caught on camera

In this video a group of tourists have a close encounter with a crocodile. They’re fortunate they got to experience one of nation’s greatest predators up close and personal, and very fortunate it didn’t decide it wanted them for dinner! To see amazing close call, watch the video above. Video credit: YouTube / 777fashionhouse Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/a-look-inside-first-class-cabins/">Inside 8 first class cabins that will amaze you</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/most-photographed-locations-in-london/">London’s 8 most photographed locations</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/02/holiday-ideas-for-animal-lovers/">8 holiday ideas every animal lover needs to experience</a>

International Travel

NT croc hunter snares second biggest crocodile ever caught in Australia

An outback wrangler has snared the second biggest crocodile ever caught in Australia. Northern Territory resident Matt Wright made the catch public on Facebook this week. The giant 5.58 metre crocodile weighed 890 kilos! The catch was expected to be made in 2015, but has only just been made public. This is not the first time Matt has been in the news for his exploits. In October last year he saved a remote town from monster crocodile. Matt is star of the hit National Geographic series Outback Wrangler. Image credit: Facebook / Matthew Wright Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/02/fence-lets-dogs-people-watch/">This fence lets dogs people watch</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/02/how-to-find-birthday-word/">The word that was invented the year of your birth</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/02/homemade-drain-cleaning-solution/">Homemade drain-cleaning solution to unclog sinks quickly</a>

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Gen Z grew up in a world filled with ugly fashion – no wonder they love their Crocs

“Bail, bail, bail!”: Robert Irwin’s narrow croc escape

Local croc becomes childrens’ book star

"Hold my beer": Tradie captured surfing huge croc

Man attacked by 2.5 metre croc used this tip to escape

Tourists overrun with crocs after exploring Arnhem Land

Queensland boy’s reaction to spotting monster croc will have you in stitches

The shocking moment a Northern Territory woman shoos away 4-metre croc

Devastating news for Crocs wearers

Experts reveal that crocs are bad for your health

6-metre croc attacking boat caught on camera

NT croc hunter snares second biggest crocodile ever caught in Australia