An unexpected Balenciaga x Crocs collaboration was unveiled at the labels's Paris Fashion Week presentation for Spring/Summer 2018. Known as one of the world's most unfavorable footwear styles, Crocs are more synonymous with comfort and durability than they are aesthetically pleasing.
This bold collaboration remixes the classic clog with an added platform heel, along with Balenciaga's logo and vibrant embellishment details. Gaining mixed reviews from fashion fans, the already viral collaboration speaks to head designer and Vetements founder Demna Gvasalia's ability to reframe unflattering pieces into those that are covetable by streetwear-obsessed Millennials.
This luxury-minded shoe collaboration combines bold silhouettes, and colors with comfort, making it surprisingly functional for consumers looking to make a statement without losing sight of practicality.
Remixed Designer Clogs
The Balenciaga x Crocs Collaboration Debuted at Paris Fashion Week
Trend Themes
1. Luxury-minded Shoe Collaborations - The Balenciaga x Crocs collaboration demonstrates the trend of luxury brands partnering with casual or unconventional footwear brands to create unique and exclusive products.
2. Reframing Unflattering Styles - The collaboration shows the trend of designers reinventing traditionally unattractive or unfavorable styles and turning them into fashionable and desirable pieces.
3. Statement-making Comfort - The trend of combining bold aesthetics and comfortable designs in footwear offers consumers the opportunity to make a fashion statement without sacrificing practicality.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can explore collaborations between luxury brands and unconventional footwear brands to create unique and boundary-pushing products that appeal to a wider range of consumers.
2. Footwear - The footwear industry can look into reinventing and reimagining traditionally unappealing styles to cater to changing consumer preferences and tap into new market segments.
3. Millennial Fashion - The Millennial fashion industry can embrace the trend of statement-making comfort by offering bold and comfortable designs that appeal to fashion-forward consumers seeking both style and practicality.