Crocs announces new Creative Director of 'Pollex Pod'

Casual footwear brand Crocs and industrial designer Salehe Bembury are to form a two-year partnership, onboarding Bembury as Creative Director of the Crocs x Pollex Pod collection.

In this role, Bembury work alongside the team to evolve his Crocs signature Pollex design and introduce new silhouettes and colourways within the collection.

The brand's relationship with Bembury began authentically as an internet conversation-turned-real-life-partnership story. When Crocs reached out to Bembury via Instagram direct message offering to send him shoes, he responded by asking if the brand might consider a collaboration.

The pair first collaborated to introduce the Pollex Clog in 2021. Crocs broke the mold of its iconic Classic Clog for the highly anticipated release, creating a new silhouette which resulted in one of the fastest global sell-throughs for a Crocs collaboration.

Following the first launch's success, Crocs and Bembury released seven new colourways of the Pollex Clog in 2022, each selling out within a few hours.

Michelle Poole, Brand President at Crocs, said: "For many years, collaborations and product partnerships have been at the core of our brand strategy, and we are very proud of what we have been able to create in partnership with Salehe.

"His unique approach to design has brought a fresh perspective to our molded form and enabled us to connect with new consumers. Looking ahead, we are excited to continue this partnership and extend into dynamic new silhouettes."

Crocs Pollex

Salehe Bembury added: "We exist in a landscape of 'here today, gone tomorrow' collaborations, so the value lies in long-term relationships and that's what we've established. Good design exercises restraint and balances utility with beauty and the Pollex Pod represents that by successfully merging Crocs' brand identity with my own brand identity."

The first release of new silhouettes within the Pollex Pod collection will be announced later this spring, with designs taking inspiration from the original Pollex clog motif.