Only £1,400 to prove you're an Idiot

Nike (as in the shoes and shorts and other things associated with sweat - not the goddess) is in a spot of hot water. Someone thought it would be a good idea to make some limited edition crocodile shoes:

Sports kit giant Nike is under fire from animal rights groups after putting a special edition training shoe made from crocodile skin on sale. The shoes come with 18-carat gold lace tags and cost £1,400. They have been made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nike's Air Force 1 range, and have gone on sale at the company's flagship stores around the world. In London, one pair is spotlighted beneath a glass case.

PETA are keen to point out that alligators and crocodiles on farms may be beaten to death with hammers and axes, sometimes remaining conscious and in agony for up to two hours after they are skinned.

Londonist are keen to point out that although Nike footwear is often advertised by winning sportspersons they are more often found on the feet of losers. This is the brand that ripped off poor old Hackney Council after all.

Nike is still going ahead with an anaconda skin shoe, but the adverse publicity will almost certainly mean we won't see a Crocodile Hunter-skin shoe anytime soon. Instead of upsetting Australians and Animal Planet viewers Nike will probably just start skinning some of its sweat shop labour force. Maybe once their hands get too big to properly sew swooshtikas onto their overpriced pieces of crap.