clarks originals desert trek shoes

The Clarks Desert Trek Is a Cult Classic for a Reason

The shoe also known as the "Bank Robber" is exactly what your footwear rotation is missing.

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Let's do this with reggae songs, considering how deeply Clarks shoes are embedded in Jamaican culture. If throwing on a pair of Desert Boots is like cueing up "No Woman, No Cry" and lacing up your Wallabees is like dropping the needle on "Stepping Razor," opting for a pair of Desert Treks is like tossing a few coins in the jukebox and putting on "54-46 (That's My Number)" by Toots and the Maytals. Unknown? By no means. But maybe not the first thing you'd think of, if only because a couple other iconic entries in the genre spring to mind in its place.

But "54-46" is a jam , and life without it would be a bit worse. So even if you've already got your DBs and your Wallees on deck, you'd be well served to consider the Desert Trek, too. Low-slung and a little off-kilter in its own distinctive way, it's exactly the sort of shoe you should add to your rotation. Here's why.

The vibes abound.

The first thing most folks notice when they look at the Desert Trek—the first thing you probably looked at, especially if you're just getting acquainted with the style—is that raised center seam running from tongue to toe. It gives the whole shoe a more crafty feel, showing the work that went into it even more obviously than, say, the welt on a pair of Desert Boots (which, as it happens, you'll also find on the Trek). But it also makes 'em feel a little funkier. The Trek is the shoe you wear with your patchwork denim and that breezy camp collar shirt with the hand-blocked print. It's the one you wear with a suit, but the loose and louche navy with a splash of tie-dye, not the tailored tan one you'd wear to work (save that one for your Desert Boots). Basically, the Trek is the shoe you need when you want to mix it up (within reason).

SHOP $150, zappos.com

Comfort is king.

One thing that always gets me about Instagram ads for shoes that claim to "bridge the gap between dress shoes and sneakers" is that those shoes already exist . Clarks has been making 'em for years. And while they may not include any hyper-futuristic tech, that's okay, because those crepe rubber soles—those bouncy, supportive, long-wearing soles—do the job just fine. Better than fine, in fact. And when you combine them with a flexible leather upper that'll mold to your feet over time? Mwah! Just go ahead and insert a chef's kiss emoji here and send my complements to the, er, shoemaker.

SHOP $150, clarksusa.com

They're a conversation starter.

While there's a decent chance a fellow fan will clock your Desert Treks as a sign of an in-the-know kindred spirit and strike up a conversation, let me give you a bit more than that. See the graphic of the little man at the heel with the bag slung over his back? Clarks calls him the "Trek Man," but fans in Jamaica were reminded of something else. Hence the Trek's other name, the "Bank Robber," which has persisted to this day. Something tells me Toots—and Bob, and Peter—would approve.

Photography by Timothy Mulcare Prop styling by Sharon Ryan for Halley Resources

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History of Clarks: Desert Boots, Wallabees and More

O ne of the U.K.'s oldest footwear companies, Clarks has outfitted the feet of everyone from British schoolchildren and soldiers to hipsters and hip-hop artists around the world. What began as a small slipper-making business eventually flourished into a global footwear operation.

In addition to being a go-to for high-quality yet affordable children's shoes, Clarks remains a fixture on the fashion scene thanks to two of its most iconic styles, the Desert boot and the Wallabee , both of which have seen countless iterations and fresh takes over the decades.

Here's a closer look at Clarks' nearly 200-year-old history.

Inspiration strikes

The Clarks' story began in 1825 when James Clark came to work at his brother Cyrus' sheepskin rug business in the small village of Street in Somerset, England. After observing the waste of offcuts piling up, he had the idea to turn the scraps into simple, hand-sewn slippers, which came to be known as Brown Petersburg slipper.

The slippers quickly found their way into homes across the country and by 1842, the Clarks were selling around 1,000 pairs a month. To keep up with the demand, the brothers utilized a network of outworkers who would collect sheepskin scraps from their tannery and take them home to cut and sew the slippers in exchange for a wage.

Eventually, the company - which traded as C & J Clark at the time - expanded outside England to markets including Ireland, Canada and Australia.

Turning point

The onset of several lean years, driven by an economic downturn, brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy around 1863. James and Cyrus, lifelong Quakers, turned to their Quaker community for help. They secured a loan on the condition that James' son William take over the running of the business.

Keen to mechanize the production process, William acquired a Singer sewing machine, a novel technology at the time. Under his savvy leadership, the company quickly succeeded in paying off its loan and moved into a rapid phase of growth.

A new line of shoes and boots under the Hygienic moniker was introduced, featuring the first-ever shoe designed to fit the shape of the foot, a key innovation in Clarks' history.

Willam not only invested in the company but the surrounding community as well, building homes, schools and recreational facilities for workers and their families.

Era of progress

As the 20th century kicked off, technological innovations came swiftly - from mass production to the invention of zippers and more affordable alternatives to certain fabrics, sparking a growing interest in fashion that more people could partake in.

Women emerged as a major new customer base, in search of more feminine designs.

William's children, Alice, Roger and John Bright, joined the company, and the two brothers began closely studying American manufacturing processes for insights to apply to the family business.

More changes afoot

As its product offering grew, the company rolled out its very first advertising campaign in 1936 to spread the word. Clarks also opened a chain of shops under the name Peter Lord, and expanded its children's range with multiple width options amid growing awareness that ill-fitting shoes were unhealthy for kids' feet. The company developed a novel children's foot-measuring instrument to be used in stores. 

During both World Wars, Clarks stepped up to help the war effort by deploying its factories to manufacture much-needed equipment and supplies. Amid a scarcity of shoe-making raw materials like leather, the company had to get creative to meet the demand for footwear.

The fourth generation of Clarks picked up the mantle in the 1940s, with Bancroft Clark appointed chairman and managing director. As the business flourished, 15 new factories were opened in surrounding towns and cities. The company also commenced foreign manufacturing and rolled out even more retail stores, including Clarks' first flagship on London's Regent Street in 1957.

On a mission

In what would be a fateful event in Clarks' long history, Bancroft's brother Nathan was posted to Burma in 1941 as part of the Royal Army. Bancroft tasked Nathan with gathering information and inspiration for new footwear designs during his travels in Southeast Asia.

Nathan encountered some 8th Army officers from the North African campaign wearing ankle-high suede boots that were made to order in the bazaars of Cairo, Egypt. The boots, designed for a desert terrain, were a more comfortable alternative to the heavy and hot government-issue army boots. Excited about the boot's potential as a casual, comfortable footwear option for everyday customers, Nathan sent sketches to his brother.

The Desert boot

When he returned home, he created a pattern and the first Desert Boot was made using a crepe rubber sole. Though Clarks' Stock Committee initially dismissed the idea, believing the boot would never sell, Nathan was undeterred.

He began selling the boots in Australia and later showed the design to an American fashion editor, Esquire 's Oskar Schoefler, at the 1949 Chicago Shoe Fair. Schoefler ended up featuring the boot in Esquire 's cousin publication Apparel Arts in 1950. The piece caught the attention of salesman Bronson Davis, who signed on to represent the Clarks brand in the U.S. market.

Before long, the Desert Boot had become a global success, worn by customers of all walks of life.

Another Classic

Following in Nathan's footsteps, Lance Clark, part of the sixth generation of the Clark family, turned out a hit of his own. The Wallabee - a casual, moccasin-style shoe with a thick crepe sole - made its debut in 1967.

It soon gained popularity around the world, including in Jamaica where Wallabees were a staple on the music scene in the '60s and '70s. In the '90s, Wu-Tang Clan wore the shoes in their music videos and even rapped about them, sending sales skyrocketing. Wallabees remain a favorite of hip-hop artists today, as well as Hollywood stars and fashion influencers.

Over the years, a number of artists, musicians and designers have put their creative spin on the iconic shoe with buzzy, limited-edition collaborations.

Under the Clarks Originals banner, both the Wallabee and the Desert Boot continue to receive fresh updates as the brand experiments with new silhouettes, materials, colors and details.

Who Owns Clarks?

Viva China Holdings owns Clarks. In November 2020, Clarks sold a majority stake to the Hong Kong-based private equity firm LionRock Capital. In January 2021, Viva China - controlled by Chinese business mogul Li Ning - agreed to purchase a 51-percent stake in LionRock, bringing Clarks into its fold under the roughly $69.7 million deal.

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A special edition 350 release from Adidas Originals in the build up to the World Cup this special edition 'Moscow City Pack' commemorates the Luzhniki Stadium, the home of Russian Football. Simple but effective with a Core Black leather upper that is inspired by the classic silhouette from the Adidas archives, this iteration of the much loved classic combines the Orange and Yellow colours of the iconic stadium creating a versatile and easy to wear trainer that is lightweight and breathable. Finished is Gold MOSKVA lettering in the Cyrillic alphabet (Moscow) to the sidewall to commemorate the edition this 350 is defiantly one for your collection or for everyday wear over the coming months.

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Clarks Originals Desert Trek Mens Dress Shoes

Product details, about this item.

• Material - Upper: Leather

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• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.54 x 11.81 x 6.3 inches; 2.09 Pounds
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 26160225
• Department ‏ : ‎ mens
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ April 8, 2021
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Clarks
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0922VF82W
• #208,122 in Men's Shoes

Product Description

Made from a premium nubuck leather, this pair of Clarks Originals desert trek boots look smooth and stylish. They’re styled with the signature central seam and classic crepe sole to complete the authentic look. Nubuck Uppers Crepe Sole

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adidas Originals Opens Its First Flagship Store in Moscow

With special guests gosha rubchinskiy, kano and more having attended the shop’s grand opening..

Last week, adidas Originals opened its first ever flagship store in Russia. One step inside the newly unveiled shop—located in the historic city of Moscow—and visitors will be in awe of the interior decor which takes its design cues from the ’60s and ’70s. Imbuing the layout of a Russian living room, the store is fitted with square chairs, classic carpets with vibrant patterns, as well as bespoke furniture made with Soviet modern style in mind.

“The display of art objects by four young Moscow based creatives who came up with unique pieces of art inspired by their beloved city conveys the versatility of the new adidas Originals store that is to become a place of the most important launches, workshops, exhibitions, and installations and will house the brightest collections and the most significant collaborations as well as the limited-edition sneaker packs,” said adidas to HYPEBEAST.

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