Crocs Steps Out Of Comfort Zone With A Sneaker That’s Nothing Like Its Clogs
By Mikelle Leow, 08 Jan 2024
Image via Salehe Bembury
Crocs are practically the Marmite of the footwear world—you either adore or abhor them. Thankfully for those in the latter camp, the brand is stepping up to the plate with a new sneaker designed by the acclaimed Salehe Bembury. Dubbed ‘Juniper’, based on its tongue label, this shoe marks a significant departure from the contentious slip-on style while retaining some of its iconic features.
Bembury, who previously partnered with Crocs to create the popular Pollex Clog, has an innovative approach characterized by unique textures and daring color schemes. Following the success of their initial collaboration in 2021, Bembury’s continued influence in the realm of Crocs design led to his role as the creative director of the entire Crocs Pollex collection by 2023.
The Juniper sneaker is a fresh take on Crocs’ footwear, maintaining the quintessential Crocs ventilation holes on the toe but sizes them down for a subtler touch. This style features Bembury’s iconic fingerprint pattern on a translucent, trail-ready outsole, coupled with semi-transparent details along the midsole.
The debut colorway of the Juniper sneaker presents an array of peach, green, and blue hues, hinting at a Spring/Summer 2024 release at participating retailers and online.
Despite its un-Crocs-like silhouette, the Juniper isn’t the first sneaker-esque style rolled out by the company. The LiteRide Pacer offers sneakerheads a quintessential level of comfort without forcing them to hang up the laces.
[via Highsnobiety and Sneaker Bar Detroit, images via Salehe Bembury]