The Dingyun Zhang x Crocs Diffuser Debuts December 2024

Published December 5, 2024

Although Crocs long held the reputation of being an “uncool” clog brand, public opinion over the last half decade has shifted to look at the Colorado-based company as an innovator. Outside of their licensed collaboration with what seems like every movie franchise, company, or character from pop culture, we’ve seen Crocs delve into the avant-garde territory with the likes of Salehe Bembury and, more recently, with the signing of legendary sneaker designer Steven Smith. Another ex-Yeezy employee has landed a project with Crocs, this time Dingyun Zhang, who is introducing an all-new model dubbed the Crocs Diffuser.

It is fitting that Zhang gets to design his silhouette with Crocs, as he is credited with helping create the Yeezy Foam RNNR, an obvious riff on the slip-on clog that the brand helped pioneer. For the duo’s debut collab, the Crocs Swiftwater Sandal, an archival Crocs style, was reimagined with organic waves and shapes, a signature design feature from Zhang that has remained constant throughout his projects.

The debut colorway has a clean White finish, and the entire Croslite foam construction takes on this single hue. With their shape and placement, the perforations on the toebox draw some comparisons to the Foam RNNR, while we see a heel and sandal-like construction around the forefoot and heel for lockdown. When viewed from a top-down perspective, the shape and molded look of the Croslite foam appear similar to Zhang’s iconic alien head puffer design with Moncler, which helped propel him into the mainstream.

Alongside the debut White colorway, four other renditions are on the horizon, including Black, Mauve Purple, Mauve Blue, and Aqua Blue, which have appeared via Crocs official imagery. These pairs were all previewed during Zhang’s fashion show in September during Paris Fashion Week.

The Dingyun Zhang x Crocs Diffuser will first launch in the White colorway on December 12, 2024, through Crocs, Dingyun Zhang’s website, and select retailers online and in-store. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is set at $85. Future colorways have no confirmed release date, but expect them to roll out throughout 2025. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.