MANILA, Philippines - Crocs, a brand that became famous for its comfortable clogs with holes, recently launched a sneaker line as part of its efforts to create more fashion-forward pieces to its clients.

Still made from its trademark Croslite material, Crocs' new additions come in sneaker styling, hybrid construction and with a zippy colored band around the sole.

The two-tone Crocband sneaker is available in black/red, ash/lime and white/navy. Each pair is priced at P4,650 each.

"Lightweight and well-cushioned, the Crocband sneaker guarantees that wherever you go and whatever you do, the legendary comfort of Crocs never leaves your feet," Crocs Philippines said.

Crocs was first introduced in 2002 as comfortable clogs with holes. The shoes became a hit in several parts of the globe, but the look didn't sit well with some fashion-conscious individuals.

Because of this, Crocs eventually branched out to offer a variety of styles as well as flip flops and phone accessories.

A few months ago, the brand unveiled pairs that looked more like regular footwear.

The Croc bites back

Early this year, the shoe brand launched a "massive crackdown" campaign against fake Crocs in the Philippines and other parts of Asia.

It began with various raids in warehouses, stalls and malls in bargain hotspots such as Tondo, Binondo, Divisoria, Greenhills and St. Francis Square.

Atty. Raymond Rojas, the company's legal counsel, earlier said authorities seized P71 million worth of fake Crocs merchandise including footwear and accessories. (Read story here.)

So how do you distinguish original Crocs from fake ones? The footwear brand gave these tips:

Material. Original Crocs are made of Croslite, a material that is soft, non-marking, odor-resistant. It also conforms to your feet. Fake ones, on the other hand, are usually made of plain rubber.

Detail. Original Crocs bear the name of the style and the shoe size at the soles. Fake ones don't have those details.

Price. Original Crocs are usually more expensive than regular shoes, with each pair priced at a minimum of P1,200. Fake ones are cheap, with some of them being sold for as low as P50.