World’s Ugliest Shoe ‘Crocs’ Steps into NFT and Digital Collectibles Space

Colorado-based footwear manufacturer Crocs, Inc is dipping a toe into the NFT (non-fungible token) space. As per a recent US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) report, Crocs has trademarked every intellectual property of its belonging. The software for trading these types of digital assets would also be covered.

CROCS™ trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of downloadable digital media, namely digital assets, digital collectibles, digital tokens and NFTs. Downloadable virtual goods created with blockchain-based software technology and smart contracts, in the nature of footwear, clothing, bags, accessories and charms for decorating [them]; downloadable computer software for creating, managing, storing, accessing, sending, receiving.

USPTO report

The file was issued on an “intent-to-use” basis, so it’s safe to assume that Crocs could soon launch a NFT collection based on its products. The footwear company had a positive 2021, with 67 percent revenue growth year on year.

Fashion and Footwear Brands Moving into NFTs

This year could mark a new trend for fashion accessories and shoe brands in the NFT industry, especially with the emergence of the metaverse. Crypto News Australia reported on January 14 that clothing retailer Gap Inc was set to launch an NFT collection on the Tezos blockchain, working with NFT artist Brandon Sines, who’s behind Frank Ape.

There are also Aussie fashion companies betting on the NFT wave, such as Ordre, a global online wholesale fashion tech company based in Byron Bay that last year raised US$9 million to expand its fashion services and accelerate the development of its blockchain-based platform and NFT technology.