Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet

Somewhere, deep in the recesses of the marketing departments at KFC Corp., or Crocs Inc.—or both—resides evil genius.

And we're all just along for the ride.

KFC has, for years, found ways to create a buzz around the chicken brand through marketing campaigns that grab plenty of attention and push sales.

And Crocs, which was a huge thing, and then not so much, has become a huge thing again.

So, of course, any sane person understands the partnership that's getting a bit more than its 15 minutes of fame these days.

KFC X Crocs. And they are exactly what they sound like.

Is it footwear? Is it dinner? Is it both? Well, it's definitely not both.

But you can now order a pair of KFC-styled clogs from Crocs for $59.99.

There are two versions of the limited-edition Crocs—the Kentucky Fried Chicken X Crocs Bucket Clog, described by the companies as "a sky-high, platform avant-guard version" that was created for publicity. And then there is the classic clog style that will be available to the masses come this spring.

An artist named Me Love Me a Lot unveiled the poultry-themed shoes while attending shows during New York's recent fashion week.

"Combining the unmistakable look of our world-famous fried chicken and signature KFC bucket, with the unparalleled comfort and style of Crocs, these shoes are what fried chicken footwear dreams are made of," Andrea Zahumensky, KFC's chief marketing officer in the U.S., said in a statement.

All that talk of secret chicken recipe that once dominated the company's marketing has given way to edgier marketing over time, including a string of high-profile celebrities portraying Colonel Sanders.

And then there was the Double Down sandwich, which substituted two fried chicken patties for the bread, among the many stunts the restaurant chain has staged over the years.

So the chicken Crocs, in the grand scheme of things, maybe isn't so preposterous after all.

Wait, who are we kidding? That's the whole point.

The footwear features a KFC chicken pattern along with "a nod to the iconic red-striped bucket," according to a release hyping the shoes.

The clogs also come with two charms shaped like pieces of fried chicken drumsticks that can be worn proudly or removed.

Although we who live in the Wacky World of Rubber would question someone buying the KFC-themed Crocs and then drawing the line at wearing the chicken-scent drumstick charms. Seems misguided and, frankly, downright disingenuous.

Terence Reilly, chief marketing officer at Crocs, said the project was a "bucket list" partnership with KFC.

We are not sure to give a standing ovation for that one or hiss.

People can sign up at Crocs.com to receive a reminder when the KFC X Crocs become available in the spring. Be warned, the companies said they are limited-edition.

Jim Johnson joined the Rubber & Plastics News team in January. He previously served as a reporter for Plastics News. Follow him on Twitter @JimJohnson360.