Crocs clogs

Crocs were originally conceived as a boating shoe by Lyndon "Duke" Hanson, Scott Seamans, and George Boedecker Jr. in 2002. During a sailing trip, they encountered a unique foam clog design created by the Canadian company Foam Creations, Inc. Recognizing the potential of the material—a proprietary closed-cell resin called Croslite—the trio acquired the rights to the design and technology, launching the first Crocs model, 'The Beach,' at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in 2002. The material is renowned for being lightweight, odor-resistant, and capable of molding to the wearer's feet.

While the brand originated in the United States and initially performed some domestic production, Crocs gradually shifted to a global supply chain. In 2018, the company closed its last company-owned manufacturing plants in Mexico and Italy. Today, Crocs footwear is produced through third-party contract manufacturers, primarily in Vietnam and China, which serve as the brand's largest production hubs. Other manufacturing locations have included Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania.

As of 2026, Crocs, Inc. remains an independent, publicly traded company (NASDAQ: CROX) headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado. The company has expanded significantly through strategic moves, including the 2006 acquisition of Jibbitz (the charms used to customize the shoes) and the 2021 acquisition of the Italian footwear brand HEYDUDE. Ownership is predominantly held by institutional investors, such as BlackRock, Vanguard, and Fmr LLC, rather than a single corporate parent.