Clearly, the timeless trend continues!
The short answer is yes, but has clog fashion ever truly disappeared?
Long considered a footwear of choice for busy mums and digital creatives, clogs have made a solid comeback a few years ago and are not showing any signs of slowing down. During the Spring 2021 Fashion Week in Paris, no shoe was more talked about than the clog. The fact the none other than the luxury brand Hermès has made its own high fashion clogs collection probably helped.
But this was just a designer version of footwear that has been on the international clog fashion radar for years. The retro shoe that has once been considered an orthopedic shoe and held in high regard by nurses and doctors alike, is now donning the runways of fashion houses such as Dior, Balenciaga, Gucci and the more purse-friendly Zara.
According to fashion shopping data platform Lyst Insights, clog fashion and popularity are not showing any signs of slowing down with searches for the style increasing by 27% on a month-to-month basis.
Hailed as the new Birkenstock for the ages by Vogue Australia, clogs are not a phenomenon, but rather a new staple footwear. They adhere to the slow and sustainable fashion etiquette that is increasingly becoming a purchase pre-requisite by conscious consumers.
While the mention of clogs might initially elicit images of Dutch farmers in wooden klompen, or more recently the Birkenstock Boston clog or Crocs, the modern images are of brands such as No. 6, the New York-based brand known for its original clog designs with interesting details.
Clogs satisfy most of today’s customers’ needs be it comfort, look, and ethical fashion. In addition to providing comfort fitting for the lockdown age, there is also a sense of nostalgia associated with the clog shoe. A reminder of the carefree 70’s, Abba, and a simpler time filled with nature and gardening clogs.
So for those who are re-discovering the shoe staple, welcome to the new age of clogs! And for those who have been wearing clogs all along, we hope you can find a new pair from our Love of Clogs collection.
Photography credits: Dimitra Koriozos
Courtesy of Fashion Weekend 2023 organised by the South Australia Fashion Industry Association
