Crocs have risen to the top of the fashion world, yet few know how this celebrity footwear emerged onto the scene. The rubber footwear is unlike any other due to its uncanny ability to remain buoyant and molded to bare human feet.
Although they are often parodied by celebrities and made fun of by rival companies, it doesn’t take much looking at the sales figures to realize that Crocs have been an enormous success. They’ve reached over one billion in total revenue, with a whopping 50% of their revenue coming from overseas sales. So how are Crocs made?
Crocs are made with a proprietary closed-cell resin called Croslite through a process known as injection molding. Croslite is poured into an EVA injection molding machine, where it’s heated and transferred to a mold to create an iconic Crocs clog that everyone loves to hate.
Crocs Inc. does not reveal the precise chemical composition of Croslite. However, it is believed to be composed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), a copolymer also used in other shoes and the soles of shoes.
EVA, a carbon-based copolymer, is processed from crude oil. Like EVA, Croslite is odor-resistant because of its closed-resin composition, which inhibits bacterial growth.
But how exactly are Crocs manufactured? We’ll demystify the mystery right away.
Making Crocs
The company that makes Crocs has kept their manufacturing process a closely guarded secret. I don’t have the tea on the exact methods and machines used to make Crocs. However, some wonderful folks have uploaded YouTube videos showing the process of making shoes from EVA through injection molding.
The video clip below shows how EVA is injected into a mold to create the upper section of a sandal. The upper will then be placed over another sole unit, made with an injection-molding machine.
In this video, an employee makes sandals from EVA foam. He cleans the mold first, then sprays water on it so that the EVA foam won’t stick to the mold.
Once the mold is ready for use, the employee opens the mold and injects EVA into it, which softens when heated. As soon as the shoe is formed, she removes it from the mold and cleans any EVA residue before preparing for another run.
This video shows the steps involved in creating EVA soles. First, EVA pellets are melted and poured into the mold. Then, the top and bottom of the mold are pressed together and heated. The pellets melt and fill the mold, creating a sole for one shoe. After the mold cools down, the person in the video opens it and removes the brand new, glossy, odor-resistant EVA sole.
As mentioned above, I have never seen a pair of Crocs being manufactured. However, these videos will provide insight into how Crocs are made.
Crocs’ uniqueness lies in the material Croslite, which is a patented, lightweight, and non-marking polymer. Other companies can’t copy Crocs precisely because they don’t know the exact composition of Croslite. If you try duplicating it, you can’t get the same result.
Considering the innumerable benefits of Croslite, it’s a brilliant idea to conceal its chemical formula from the outside world. Us Crocs lovers can rest at ease, knowing that nobody will try to sell us substandard Crocs tomorrow morning.
How Are Crocs Different from other EVA Shoes?
Crocs Inc. uses Croslite to produce these popular shoes, because the material is easy to maintain. Its low-maintenance nature makes it ideal for those who want comfortable shoes washable with soap and water.
Aside from being easy to clean, Croslite is also very lightweight. This makes wearing Crocs an incomparable pleasure.
Croslite is a soft, antimicrobial foam resin that provides support without compromising your comfort. Its antimicrobial nature blocks off microorganisms and bacteria from penetrating Crocs shoes.
On the other hand, when you wear regular shoes that absorb water, your feet will become wet, and the shoes will take a long time to dry. Before the shoes finally dry, some of the water would have seeped into the crevices of the shoes and triggered the breeding of bacteria. That’s why regular shoes stink over time.
But thanks to the simple design of Crocs shoes and their Croslite component, bacteria can’t find a breeding ground in them. Your Crocs may smell a little funky, but a little soap and water should clear that right up.
Healthy and Safety – Crocs Shoes for Everyone
Crocs, Inc. tests and quality-assures its products to ensure they’re safe and comfortable. The company’s footwear was endorsed by the United States Ergonomics Company in 2005 and by the American Podiatric Medical Association in 2009.
When Crocs Inc. was two years old, it bought Foam Creations and its manufacturing operations, thus securing exclusive rights to the production and use of its proprietary foam resin, now known as Croslite ™. Crocs Inc. also holds a patent for “breathable workshoes and methods for manufacturing such.” Now you understand why third parties can’t pinpoint exactly how Crocs are made.
Nurse Wearing Red Starlight Crocs (Etsy)
Croslite™ conforms to the shape of each user’s foot, providing excellent support and comfort. Podiatrists recommend Crocs for their patients because they’re medically beneficial.
Classic Crocs clogs are designed with heel straps, which keep them on your foot. You can roll the strap forward to transform the clog into a slip-on or pivot it backward to set the clog in four-wheel drive mode. These clogs are famous for their larger-than-life toe boxes with holes, facilitating air circulation around the wearer’s feet.
The last, but certainly not least, feature of Crocs is their cushioned footbeds. Built-in arch support and tiny nubs massage your feet as you walk, so you almost feel like you’re walking on clouds.
How to Identify Genuine Crocs Shoes
If you want to make sure you’re buying authentic Crocs shoes and clogs, it’s helpful to know how to distinguish the real things from imitations.
But how can you tell the difference between fake and real?
Crocs shoes are surprisingly expensive, but you shouldn’t let that determine whether you got a good deal. There are several other things you should take into account when choosing Crocs shoes, such as:
Women’s Leigh II Cross-Strap Wedge (Amazon)
- Genuine Crocs have shiny, perfect logos on their surface; fakes have stickers instead of authentic logos.
- Crocs come with a branded hanger that features the company’s logo. If you buy Crocs online or in a store, ensure you get the authentic product by checking to see if it comes with this special hanger.
- Original Crocs have labels that contain all the information you need to know about the product, including its size and model name, as well as the material used to make it. If you don’t see any labels on the shoe, it could be a sign that someone tampered with it or that it is counterfeit.
- While many people assume that the bright-colored clogs with the trademarked smiley-face logo they see in the stores are authentic Crocs, they may be surprised to learn that the real ones have another logo on the middle part of their outsoles. Information about the shoes, such as their size and the link to the manufacturer’s website, are usually engraved on their outsoles.
- Authentic Crocs also have the city and country where they were manufactured engraved opposite the link to their manufacturer’s website. The town and country are usually imprinted in this format: “Boulder, Colorado” (separated by a comma, not a period).
- Authentic Crocs are sold in a bag and not in a cardboard box.
- The Croslite material used in Crocs’ footwear makes them lightweight and comfortable. The shape and angle of the Crocs’ construction conform to your feet for a snug fit that is indistinguishable from bare feet.
With these pieces of information that were listed above, it is now expected that you can now distinguish authentic Crocs from the imitated ones.
With these details at your disposal, you should now be able to tell the difference between authentic Crocs and counterfeits.
Now you can buy the best and most high-quality Crocs shoes to suit your taste, as well as your budget. But remember to shop with care, since these shoes are quite expensive.
That said, it’s in your best interests to purchase Crocs products from reputable manufacturers and suppliers. The company’s website offers a wealth of information about the various styles and designs of Crocs clogs.
Choose from the Classic, the Fuzzy, the Camo, the Print, and many others. Mix and match with Jibbitz charms to create unique designs!