Collaborations used to be a rare thing in the fashion industry. With the fear of tarnishing a luxury house’s name, high-end labels rarely ever partnered with another brand, designer or influencer for fashion collaborations. But sometimes in order to survive, brands need to either rebrand or collaborate with other fashion designers and influencers to make a comeback.

Fashion collabs used to be reserved for streetwear brands — like Supreme or adidas — that partnered up with Louis Vuitton and Alexander Wang accordingly. However, things have since changed. The fashion landscape has become increasingly levelled, meaning limited edition collaboration pieces are proving to be beneficial for both parties involved.  

Collaborating with different fashion labels and influencers helps dying brands survive by keeping them top of pop culture and current trends. Unexpected connections are increasingly cool and add to a brand’s authenticity, making outdated fashion brands seem new and exciting again.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZM59QJhmGA/?taken-by=crocs

One of the most recent collaboration examples would be that of Christopher Kane and Crocs, who debuted a new line of earthy-hued, geode and rhinestone embellished Crocs at his Spring 2018 runway show. But this isn’t Kane’s first collab with the Colorado-based shoe company. The designer has collaborated with Crocs for three consecutive runway seasons, further highlighting the ugly shoe trend which started back in 2013 with the comeback of Birkenstocks and Tevas. Now it’s the new normal to spot ugly-chi footwear on the runway; look at Preen’s Ugg flatforms or chunky sneakers from Gucci, Balenciaga, Acne and Raf Simons. Whether you’re for or against Crocs, Kane’s collaboration with them is onto something.

The joint collections between Christopher Kane and Crocs have allowed the high fashion brand to tap into the mass market, offering its designs for prices more people can afford. The result is increased brand awareness across a more diverse audience that would otherwise be unachievable for a luxury fashion brand. Aside from an increase in fanfare, collaborations also often create one of a kind, collectable pieces that consumers flock to.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXUzkp0BAVL/?taken-by=christopherkane

But Kane isn’t the only designer doing this. One major example would be H&M and their annual partnerships. The affordable, Swedish fashion brand has worked with everyone from Versace to Lanvin to Karl Lagerfeld, and most recently, Kenzo and Canadian fashion brand ERDEM.

Taking note from Kane, Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga jumped on the Crocs bandwagon, showcasing his own Crocs creation in Paris — a nearly four-inch platform Croc shoe, customized with Balenciaga-branded Jibbitz. This design went on to create quite the stir on social media and among media outlets. Vogue said the ugly shoe trend is “funny, freaky and not exactly come-hither… but maybe that’s the point,” while the debate of whether or not Crocs should be a part of the high fashion world nearly tore the GQ team apart.

The Balenciaga design cultivated over 9,000 likes on Instagram and more than 2,200 comments, adding to the polarity of the brand. Many celebrities and their children have been spotted wearing Crocs since including that of Brooke Shields, Jared Leto, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Garner and more. This is all proof that high-end collaborations work by reviving tired brands and their products into must-have items.

Of course, some collaborations are more successful than others with the potential of failure looming, but Kane x Crocs shows that the risk is worth the reward. With its current high-end collabs and rising fashion cred, Crocs is banking on a moment of chicness now more than ever. The brand’s range of affordable, limited edition Christopher Kane clogs has propelled both labels into new and exciting markets that target millennials. Next Spring, Crocs is planning to release even more fashion-forward styles, because there is, in fact, a market for designer clogs.

Struggling brands need to rise to the challenge by embracing the millennial market with a revamp, and collaborations are proving to be an optimal starting point.

What do you think about this fashion collaboration? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Featured Image: Instagram/@crocs

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Gucci may be using memes to sell their latest collection but the internet’s latest reaction to the luxury label’s Sock Heel doesn’t have us sold.

Cosmopolitan featured a stream of Tweets bashing and making fun of the Gucci disaster. Interestingly, I think what partially makes the Gucci Sock Heel and other designers’ shoes ugly is the price – it’s one thing to be an ugly shoe but to have an astronomical price as well, well that makes that same shoe a joke.

Below we’ve compiled a roundup of some of the ugliest (and most expensive) shoes on the market right now. 

Boots by Balenciaga (Image: REX Shutterstock)

Who: Balenciaga
What: Spring 2017 Square Toe Thigh High Boots
How Much: $1,895.00 US

I actually like these boots but when shown to a friend of mine, the friend laughed non-stop, going on to say how much she hates them and that if she ever saw someone wearing them in public she would start quacking like a duck for every step they took. 

Shoes by Gucci (Image: Saks Fifth Avenue)

Who: Gucci
What: Queercore Brogue Knee Boot
How Much: $1,890.00 US or $2,140.00 CAN

I feel like these boots could have potential but the execution just isn’t there. They look like something Wednesday Adams or Matilda would wear.

Gucci Loafers (Image: Gucci)

Who: Gucci
What: Princetown Slipper
How Much: $840.00 US or $1,005.00 CAN

I think it is so sad that the Gucci Princetown fur loafers for both men and women are a thing. Without fur? They look funky and quirky, but the fur doesn’t even look real – it looks like Donald Trump’s hair! Gucci really must have saved cutting corners and feeding what looks like rat fur to trend-obsessed consumers.

Margiela Boots (Image: The Rosenrot)

Who: Margiela
What: Tabi Boots
How Much: $1,130.00 CAN

These have been around for some time, and to be frank I’ve hated them since laying eyes on them. While they take their inspiration from Japanese tabi which are socks worn with sandals that feature straps that go between your big two and your second toe, they just don’t have the same archaic and cultural charm. This boot reminds me of pig feet, goat feet, camel toes, and just any ungulate in general. They are currently available in black on SSense.com for $1,130.00CAN.

Barefoot Finger Sneakers (Image: Vibram)

Who: Vibram
What: Fivefinger Barefoot Shoes
How Much: $130.00 CAN

How absurd… GQ said it best when they wrote, “We always knew Vibram’s toe-shoes were creepy and ugly, but now we know they’re sinful in other ways, too. The shoemaker recently settled a class-action lawsuit for $3.75 million stemming from claims that their gross shoes for chimpanzees “reduce foot injuries and strengthen foot muscles.” Again, how absurd.

Christopher Kane Crocs (Image: Selfridges)

Who: Christopher Kane
What: Crocs stone-embellished rubber sandals
How Much: 385.00 CAN

So apparently Christopher Kane teamed up with Crocs and I’m just finding out about this and laughing so much. Less at the final product that is the brood of the collaboration and more at the price of the product from this collaboration. $385.00CAN for rubber Crocs?! I don’t care if Victoria Beckham and Rihanna both wore them together enjoying splashes of champagne in St Barths on a super yacht – and that’s $385.00 CAN on sale, for rubber. No, thanks. 

Marni Boot (Image: SSense)

Who: Marni
What: Black Velcro Platform High-Top Sneakers
How Much: $1,190.00 CAN

I don’t know if it’s the price that’s outrageous or the shoe itself that is actually outrageous? Shockingly, when considering the price, the entire shoe is comprised of man-made fabrics, which seemingly doesn’t exemplify a state of being luxurious. Appalling.

Prada Sandals (Image: Prada)

Who: Prada
What: Satin Sandal
How Much: $990.00 US

Miuccia Prada, you’re wild for these. 

Moschino Pumps (Image: LuisaviaRoma)

Who: Moschino
What: Embroidered leather pumps 
How Much: $1,745.00 CAN

Unless it is a themed party and you have $1,745.00 CAN to toss on some clownish clogs, let’s stay away from these. Weird.

Dolce & Gabbana (Image: Luisaviaroma)

Who: Dolce & Gabbana
What: Pineapple Clog
How Much: $2,791.00 CAN

I like pineapple but not this much. Fun fact: When you eat pineapple, it’s eating you. Apparently, the acid of pineapple is quite strong. Who else remembers the French speaking pineapple L’ananas that helped teach us speak French in grade 4? 

Balenciaga (Image: Net-a-Porter)

Who: Balenciaga
What: Thigh High Clog
How Much:  $2,145.00 US

Balenciaga as a brand is very hit and miss – some collections are a total hit and others are a total miss. While some shoes from this collection were epic, this clog boot is straight clownish, and for those who don’t want the thigh high version, there’s an ankle one too available on Net-A-Porter. #SurgicalMaskEmoji

Are there any other ugly shoes that should be added to this list? Let us know in the comment section.

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