"Never Wear Them to School"…Crocs Faces Emergency Despite Record Sales

"Students Falling is Dangerous" U.S. Schools Ban Crocs

Dozens of schools in the United States have banned students from wearing Crocs. This is because there has been an increase in injuries caused by students slipping while wearing Crocs. Crocs are rubber shoes similar to sandals, popular among young people because they can be customized with decorations called "jibbitz" attached to the holes in the shoes.

[Photo by Crocs Instagram capture]

On the 28th (local time), Fortune, Bloomberg, and others reported that dozens of schools in more than 12 U.S. states have banned students from wearing Crocs. Label Middle School in Florida stated in its dress code, "Students must always wear safe shoes. Open-toed shoes, bedroom slippers, and shower slippers are prohibited. All shoes must have straps or backs around the heel," adding, "Crocs are absolutely not allowed." Lake City Elementary School in Georgia also banned Crocs and established a dress code requiring students to wear closed-toe shoes.

The ban on wearing Crocs in schools is due to safety concerns. On the social media platform TikTok, many memes have been posted showing teenagers slipping or falling in school hallways while wearing Crocs. Jessica Ramirez, senior research analyst at market tracking firm Jane Harley & Associates, said that as Crocs' popularity surged among young people in recent years, accidents related to Crocs have increased compared to other shoes.

Crocs are very popular among Generation Z and Generation Alpha (the youngest generation born from 2010 to the present). According to a survey conducted by U.S. securities firm Piper Sandler targeting American teenagers, Crocs have consistently ranked among the top 10 favorite shoe brands of Generation Z in recent years. Riding this wave of popularity, Crocs recorded record-high sales earlier this year, and its stock price has risen 55% over the past 12 months.

However, parents and medical professionals have expressed concerns about Crocs' popularity. They argue that Crocs pose safety risks for toddlers learning to walk and for active elementary and middle school students.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Megan Reich said in an interview with HuffPost, "Both children and adults fall more frequently when wearing Crocs compared to wearing shoes with firmer heel support and closed toes." Dr. Priya Partasarathi, spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, pointed out that besides falling, "Crocs lack sufficient arch support and retain moisture on the skin surface, which can cause blisters," adding, "These factors combined make them not really good shoes to wear all day."

Meanwhile, Crocs told Bloomberg, "We do not have concrete data showing an increase in bans," and said, "It is perplexing that schools are banning our shoes."