“CROCS™” was designed originally as brand of non-slip footwear for boating. But today these outrageous shoes have taken off with people who’ve never even stepped onto a boat. Across Europe, the United States and now in Asia, you can see CROCS ‘gracing’ the feet of old men, kids, the rich, the poor, superstars, people on the streets, in offices, in gardens… literally everywhere.

Back in July 2002, near Boulder, Colorado, George Boedecker, Scott Seamans and Duke Hanson decided to try marketing an unusual shoe concept manufactured by Foam Creations, Inc.

Intended as a boating/outdoor shoe because of its slip-resistant, non-marking sole, the first CROCS ‘Beach Model’ was introduced in November 2002 at the Florida Boat Show – and sold out just in two days! From there, business boomed and orders poured in. By 2003, CROCS had become a bona-fide marketing phenomenon, universally accepted as an all-purpose shoe simultaneously satisfying the dictates of both comfort and fashion, the latter perhaps more than little surprisingly.

From 2003 to 2004, CROCS focused on handling the unprecedented growth, at the same time trying to maintain control. They expanded their product line, added a warehouse and a shipping operation for speedy assembly and delivery, hired a senior management team and acquired Foam Creations, the manufacturer.

Why CROCS are so popular?
Let’s hear from a fan…

Asking one CROCS-lover, the answer I got was: "CROCS make love to my feet’’. I was talking to Chris Jongerius, a confirmed CROCS fan. Chris is a sailor who discovered CROCS on the internet just over a year ago.

Since then he wears them everywhere and almost all the time. He wears them outside, indoors or outdoors, to parties (regardless of what else he’s wearing), in the house and around the house. The only place he doesn’t wear them is in bed… mostly.

Recently Chris went into hospital for minor surgery. Not surprisingly, for such a devoted CROCS man, he was seen lying on the operating table wearing only a hospital gown and – yes – his favourite green shoes. Soon he’s off to Europe for an important meeting and he says, “Of course, my CROCS will go with me. They’ll leave their unique footprint on the other side of the world."

Surely, though, CROCS are made for warm climates. This did not concern Chris: "If the weather in Europe is too cold, I’ll wear socks inside my CROCS." Chris has five different coloured pairs of these plastic reptiles and, during this interview, he wore lime green, claiming this is by no means his most outrageous pair. Anybody who knows Chris will confirm that CROCS have become part of his uniform; he goes nowhere without them.

When asked what it is about CROCS that has so affected his life, he answered, “They’re bright, stylish, light, ultra soft, comfortable and cool – and they protect my feet while allowing air, sand and water to pass through the vents.”

You can tell Chris almost never removes his CROCS – because when he does, his feet display a CROCS-pattern suntan. Does he care that some people think his shoes are ugly, ungainly and just plain weird? “I don’t care what they think,” he said. “They’re a part of my life".

CROCS are available at Central Festival Phuket Super Sports 3rd floor.