Ugly shoes are en vogue, as Ugg mashup hits stores, Crocs storm the runway
Birkenstock no longer has the market cornered on ugly-but-chic footwear.
Crocs — those porous, amphibious shoes consumers won't stop buying — took a trip down the runway at Christopher Kane's London fashion show on Monday.
The brand's appearance came just days after Deckers introduced a partnership between its Ugg and Teva labels, which some are calling "the world's ugliest shoe."
The mid-calf mashup between Teva's sandals and Ugg's iconic sheepskin boots (seen here) is available for $225. The "sporty sandal" version, which incorporates Ugg's sheepskin sans the boot, costs $175.
The company admits the collaboration is "certainly not for everyone."
"This collection was designed for the consumer who wants to make a bold statement with their footwear and embraces an unconventional, fashion-forward style," Erika Gabrielli, director of marketing for Teva, told CNBC in a statement.
"At Teva, we value individuality and personal expression, which is why we actually love the conversation about this collection, good or bad — we wanted these styles to be disruptive and push the limit, and they've done just that."
A Crocs spokesman said the company is still finalizing deals regarding the distribution and prices for the designs seen on the London catwalk. They were shown in marble prints and shiny earth tones, and were topped off with gemstones.
"Working with Christopher reinforces our belief that our iconic clog is incredibly relevant in today's style arena," Michelle Poole, senior vice president of global product and merchandising for Crocs, said in a news release.
"This partnership becomes a terrific vehicle for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, and elevating the everyday into desirable luxury."
Functional footwear has seen a resurgence on the runways, with Paris-based luxury brand Celine featuring fur-lined Birkenstocks at its spring 2013 show. Some have credited the comfort trend to the spike in athletic apparel trickling down toward women's feet.
During New York Fashion Week, models paired dresses with sneakers at Carmen Marc Valvo. And at Noon by Noor, they wore a fashionable spin on slippers.