Complex Con Announces First Look At the New Murakami Crocs
The California festival has exclusive dibs on the highly-anticipated collab.
Takashi Murakami and Crocs? It’s a match made in pop art heaven. The Japanese artist best known for his “superflat” mixture of high and low art styles has teamed up with the iconic waterproof shoe for the first time ever, and we’re loving the results. The shoes will debut at the Complex Con Gift Shop, where Murakami will also display his latest art pieces alongside Madsaki from the Kaikai Kiki Gallery.
While Murakami has dabbled in all forms and mediums, his commitment to 2D styles that mirror anime and manga has manifested into perhaps his most iconic image: the Murakami teddy bear. With the Complex Con Croc, Murakami has returned to the bear once again, along with all the psychedelic imagery that’s become his calling card. His other famous icon, the smiling daisy, peek out more subtly on the strap, where the Croc logo normally stands. Murakami washes the entire shoe in multicolor camo, with black trim and soles to ground the trippy experience.
Murakami has had a big year in the pop culture world. Back in March, the artist directed V cover star Billie Eilish’s music video “you should see me in a crown,” which allegedly took him eight months to create. The video also drew heavily on anime influences, with Murakami’s signature neon visuals.
The Murakami Croc arrives just in time for Croc Day, and the announcement comes one week before Complex Con goes underway. The two-day music festival based in Long Beach is both a music festival and a larger cultural convention where fashion, art, and media intersect. This year the festival will take place from November 2nd to November 3rd, on the heels of Halloween. This first look is just one of the exclusive features and collaborations that Complex Con has to offer this year, but if you couldn’t get a ticket, you can always try to score a pair off eBay.