Did you know that Clarks is two centuries old? As in, they’ve been around, making shoes, for 200 years. How mad is that? Very few things make it to that sort of age, and even less manage to do it while remaining relevant.
Perhaps even more impressive than their lengthy existence, though, is how Clarks haven’t changed all that much about their design process throughout. The Wallabee and the Desert Boot – arguably the brand’s most iconic silhouettes – remain relatively unchanged since their introduction in the 20th century. Yet somehow, we’re still not bored with either – and that stands for collaboration versions too…
For this Fall/Winter season, Clarks have teamed up with French luxury ready-to-wear brand, SANDRO, in a noble quest to combine British heritage with sleek Parisian craftsmanship. And if you want our opinion, they’ve managed to do so flawlessly.
The collaboration centres around the two aforementioned icons, Desert Boot and Wallabee. The men’s Wallabee has been reimagined in three new iterations, utilising three different (but equally tasteful) fabric compositions. The first appears in a sensible suede calfskin, the second arrives in a polished cognac leather, and the final iteration incorporates a slightly mad pony-effect hide. All versions are then sat atop the crepe sole that has defined the silhouette for decades.
The Desert Boot then continues this agricultural inspiration, available in either a super cosy beige shearling or cowhide-effect leather.
In 200 years of making shoes, Clarks has never chased trends. The brand’s approach has stayed consistent and considered, but there’s always been a quietly playful streak running through it. The SANDRO collaboration captures that perfectly: classic silhouettes, subtly reworked with unexpected materials, yet still unmistakably Clarks.
The Clarks & Sandro collaboration is available now at sandro.com
