There has been a whopping 1,500 percent rise in the sale of the $54 Crocband clogs, thanks to a boost from Prince George! The royal toddler was recently seen wearing the footwear during a charity polo match in England and after photos of him went viral, parents apparently went on a buying-spree and bought the same type of footwear for their kids.
"We've seen a 16-fold increase in sales of kids' Crocband shoes at Amazon.co.uk since the photo of him wearing a pair was released," revealed Daniel Silverfield of Amazon, according to WWD. The timing comes at the right moment, as the footwear company is getting a much-needed sales revival since struggling in the market in 2011. Only a year ago, the company's bid to boost sales was met with failure, according to Business Insider.
Prince George may have also revived interest in the footwear in terms of fashion. For a while, Crocs was actually dubbed as the most-hated shoes in America, according to Racked, for its rather odd design. However, with just one weekend outing, the royals have elevated this shoe brand into a fashion staple. The company didn't even have to spend for marketing.
But are these shoes fit for kids?
The clogs are light on the feet and comes in colorful shades, which makes it ideally fun and comfortable for kids to wear. First released in 2002, the footwear was intended for boat enthusiasts, who could wear the clogs aboard their yachts without worrying about slipping.
Crocs has a certification from the U.S. Ergonomics Council and the American Podiatric Medical Association, which attests to its comfortable and utilitarian design. Although deemed unfashionable, they do provide therapeutic benefits, according to WebMD.
"These shoes were designed specifically to eliminate plantar pain and achy feet," said Lyndon V. Hanson III, one of the executives of the company. "They also help people with injured feet, bunions, and diabetes. You've got a lot of inner support, heel cups and massaging heel nubs, and arch support. They're ideal for people with foot problems."
In children, Crocs bring better support on the soles as opposed to other toddler shoes, according to KY Forward. The feet remain protected from sharp objects or rough grounds, but the children will have no problem running around in them as they are light-weight. They are also quite easy to clean, thus warding off bad bacteria that brings foul odors or fungus. As they come in many colors, they do appeal to children, which is another plus.
