These days, I see Crocs everywhere. They line the walls in stores, cover my socials, and I spot multiple Westview students in Crocs daily. This isn’t just a local trend and definitely isn’t just me. Crocs became wildly popular in 2020, with their net income increasing nearly 162% from the year prior. Since then, their revenue has continued growing. Crocs are beloved by the world, and I’m all for it.

I have supported and will continue to support Crocs for their association with adventure, freedom, and my childhood. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had a pair of Crocs, and I plan to keep it that way.

My parents bought me my first small pair of purple Crocs when I was too young to remember. My brother had a blue pair, only a few sizes larger than mine. I wore them any chance I got: at the beach, the grocery store, the park, Target. Throughout the years, we bought new purple and blue Crocs whenever we outgrew the last ones. They have consistently remained my footwear of choice.

When going out, I would slip on my Crocs as fast as I could, racing my brother out the door. I  was able to skillfully slide my Crocs on in just a few seconds. I convinced my parents that they were safe to sprint in, so they allowed me to run outside to play. Crocs’ beloved “sports mode” satisfied young Rosemary’s need for speed. 

I now associate Crocs with carefree summer beach days. Unlike my sneakers, my Crocs’ rubber material made it easy to quickly rinse sand from them. The rubber squeaked with every step I took running down the beach, which added a silly background rhythm to the soundtrack of waves and seagulls around me. 

However, San Diego winters weren’t the best season for my favorite shoes. I feared rain could infiltrate the holes in the top of my Crocs, and having cold, soggy feet was one of my greatest childhood fears. In such times, I didn’t race to slip them on as often. 

One winter, the heavy rains flooded our backyard and washed away the purple Crocs from their normal place on the concrete. As I peeked through the droplet-splattered windows and watched my purple Crocs float away across the yard, I dramatized parting from my favorite shoes. I was sad. I imagined myself in a gray rainstorm, a single tear trickling down my cheek. I could practically hear the sorrowful orchestra. I was devastated to be divided from my dear purple Crocs. 

More recently, new designs have really put Crocs in the media’s spotlight. The new heeled Crocs wedges and most of the Crocs sandals are getting the attention they deserve for putting a cute, modern twist on the Classic Clog. The once very childish marketing is aging with its aging consumers. 

I, like Crocs, am also changing through the years. I can’t remember the last time my heart broke over Crocs on a rainy day. After several purple pairs of Crocs (and one glamorous, glittery, purple pair), I’ve expanded my horizons to a white pair of Crocs. I still wear them often, yet I haven’t raced my brother in years. Hence, I’ll admit that my need for speed has decreased significantly since I was 6 years old. 

But don’t worry too much for my sake. Should the need for speed ever arise again, I will be ready, and my Crocs will be in sports mode.