Crocs. Seldom can one word strike such division.
Across two mutually exclusive camps, Crocs are seen either as the definitive work shoe, beloved by chefs and hospital workers for their comfort and durability, or as fashion’s greatest anti-fashion item that pushes boundaries to new levels of extreme cool.
On the one hand, this humble slip-on is bought by the thousands who appreciate its lightweight construction and ergonomic cushioning, ideal for long hours working on their feet (there is even a model aimed at chef's called the Bistro Pro LiteRide).
Being plastic, they are easy to keep clean and, thanks to the extruded construction, are virtually indestructible. Tales abound of a single pair lasting a decade or longer. Not bad for a shoe that costs $60.
On the other hand, this ugly, duck-billed-looking shoe is worn by arch fashionista's for a dose of rebellious irony, and has managed to pull off some serious fashion collaborations.
Crocs in high fashion demand
Christopher Kane kickstarted it all in during his spring / summer 2017 presentation, when he sent models wearing marbled Crocs decorated with real stones down the runway. While it divided opinion, the shoes sold out.
For autumn / winter 2018, Crocs joined forces with Balenciaga, the modern creator of anti-fashion fashion, to create a platform version that retailed for $800. Its creative director, Demna Gvasalia (who also co-founded that other rule-smashing brand, Vetements) is highly regarded as a true trendsetter. He is so in sync with his audience, he gives them what they want before they have even thought of it.
Next came a kitten-heeled version the following season with Balenciaga, and then a stiletto version by the visual artist Gab Bois.
Canny collaborations and high price points
It may be a hard-working utility shoe, but the Crocs masterminds carefully choose who they work with. At the height of the pandemic, it teamed up with Justin Bieber's brand drew house, to launch a bright yellow, smiley face-decorated pair. In July 2020, the singer teased the collaboration on social media and Crocs' shares jumped 11 per cent, as reported by Business Insider.
In 2018, there was the collection made with New York streetwear name, Alfie, which incorporated a sock, creating possibly the world’s most comfortable shoe. Selling for $80 a pair, it was soon spotted on the likes of Pharrell and even Kanye West. The latter later launched his own foam slip-on shoe under his Yeezy label.
The Japanese artist Takashi Murakami also created a pair with Crocs in November 2019. It was splashed with his signature colour, and immediately sold out.
Then there was the launch with Los Angeles streetwear brand, Pleasures. Aimed at the rock/punk/skater crowd, it designed a pair in black, decorated with a white skeleton foot. It was released in October 2019 for $60 a pair, and they are now trading on resale sites for up to $450.
Even that bastion of refined gentility, Liberty London, tied up with Crocs in March 2020, creating flowery shoes, decorated with a handkerchief of real fabric, priced at $276 a pair.
In September 2020, Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny released a pair of white Crocs with glow-in-the-dark Jibbitz (the name for the detachable decorations on Crocs), which, again, completely sold out.
Singer Post Malone has also done several designs with Crocs, the first of which sold out in under 10 minutes. Now they are found only on resale sites for $500-plus per pair.
And now we have news that rapper Drake has taken to social media to show off his new Crocs. Sitting on top of a $150 million fortune, Drake is clearly a canny operator, and chooses his moves careful. That we see him wearing Crocs can hardly be a coincidence.
The shoe of 2021?
As fashion pedigrees go, Crocs is almost faultless (this statement excludes the nightmare-inducing tie-up with KFC that, incredulously, sold out), and the company definitely knows its audience.
It is constantly bring new drops to market – almost one new design per month – following in the footsteps of Supreme, the streetwear brand that turned the traditional selling model upside down and recently sold for $1.2 billion.
As we all move to embrace the Gen-Z style of dressing – to mix whatever you want, however you want – those stuffy days of fashion 'rules' are over. Having all endured 2020, there is now a collective desire to express our authentic selves.
Seemingly in tune with this, with a targeted strategy and daring collaborations, Crocs has transformed itself from simple workwear into offering alternatives to those who want to stand out from the norm.
Think you will never wear them? Think again. While the fashion industry took a hit during 2020, Crocs saw its sales rise by 12 per cent, as more people work from home and crave comfort wear.
With its offering of constantly evolving, limited editions, Crocs may well be seen as ironic anti-fashion, but it is also set to become the shoe of 2021.
So, do yourself a favour and go and get yourself a pair, because, at the very least, your feet will be comfortable.
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
TALE OF THE TAPE
Manny Pacquiao
Record: 59-6-2 (38 KOs)
Age: 38
Weight: 146lbs
Height: 166cm
Reach: 170cm
Jeff Horn
Record: 16-0-1 (11 KOs)
Age: 29
Weight: 146.2lbs
Height: 175cm
Reach: 173cm
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
COMPANY%20PROFILE%3A
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
The%20specs
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group C
Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade
Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
