Abelina J. Nuñez
Arts Editor
When Crocs first came out in 2002, they were considered ugly and people would typically get bullied or made fun of for wearing them. Now, Crocs are trending like never before, and everyone is wearing them to run errands, hang out with friends, go to work or class.
Crocs started coming up the market during the pandemic while other businesses suffered.
Crocs were all over the internet and social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which gained notice during the pandemic lockdown. According to Statista, in 2014, Crocs’ revenue was about $1.2 billion; in 2020, the year of the pandemic, the revenue was approximately $1.4 billion. In 2022, the global net revenue was about $3.55 billion.
Forty-three University of La Verne students answered a survey, and 33 of them said they wear Crocs, while 10 said they do not. Twenty-five students said they have one to two pairs of Crocs, six said they have 3-5 pairs, one said they have six to 10 and one said they have too many to count.
Naty Castellon, junior kinesiology major, has three pairs of Crocs, and all three were brought within the year. She said she likes Crocs because of how comfortable they are, along with the colors they have. Castellon buys Crocs for her family due to how comfortable they are and how she and her family can match each other.
In the survey, 28 students said they only wear them for running errands or around the house, while five said they wear them for everything every day and 10 said they do not wear Crocs.
“I think they’re too overhyped, and people should just wear them casually more,” Mariana Hernandez, junior digital media major, said. “I think it’s a little unprofessional to wear them to work. Just because they are casual shoes, they should be worn around the house or out for errands, not to work.”
Hernandez owns one pair of Crocs but was bought about three years ago. Hernandez also purchased a pair of Crocs for her little brother and has offered to buy some for her parents, but they did not want some.
When asked why they wear Crocs, 24 students said they love the style, comfort and colors they have. Five said they wear them because everyone wears Crocs and how it is trending, and 10 said they do not wear Crocs.
“I think they’re trending now, just because you can really make them your own,” Jonathan Saldivar, sophomore kinesiology major, said. “They’re pretty simple and cheap looking that you can pretty much design it however you want with any pins you want to put on.”
Saldivar does not own a pair of Crocs because he said he never found them as comfortable as his normal athletic shoes.
“If it is an everyday use, all the power to them, but in a professional setting, I would highly advise against it,” he said. “Just because you want to look professional, whereas if you’re wearing Crocs, it does make you look like you’re just wearing slippers.
Jacqueline Silva Ochoa, a sophomore accounting major, said she does not wear Crocs because they are not fitted but thinks they look comfortable.
“I feel like part of the customization wasn’t available back then, so now you can customize it and show a little bit of your personality or your interest through them, and I feel like that’s what made it popular,” she said. “With the sponsorships from the artists, it’s getting that popularity trend.”
Crocs has partnered with huge celebrities like Post Malone, Bretman Rock, Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny, Karol G and SZA, which has gained more notice in both the shoes and Jibbitz. Jibbitz, charms to personalize Crocs, has increased due to the variety of charms that Crocs lovers can buy to personalize their Crocs.
The Jibbitz can vary from different foods, movies or show characters, animals, letters, symbols and sayings, drinks, flowers and nature, hobbies and interests, sports, and travel. From the survey, 25 said they personalize their Crocs with Jibbitz, while eight said it is not for them and 10 do not wear Crocs.
Christian Molano, sophomore business administration, owns two pairs of Crocs and has about 50 Jibbitz from buying them at the mall. He believed that if celebrities wear Crocs, then everyone else will also wear Crocs, which is why all the collaborations with fast food, celebrities, and movies that are sold out or low on stock.
Abelina J. Nuñez can be reached at abelina.nunez@laverne.edu.
Abelina J. Nuñez, a junior journalism major, is arts editor for the Campus Times and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has previous served as LV Life editor, social media editor and staff writer.
