Footwear manufacturer and retailer Clarks has marked its 200th anniversary with a new documentary, celebrating two centuries of shoemaking.
The short film titled ‘A Journey from Somerset to the World’ follows the brand as it grew from a small family business established in 1825 to a global chain found across the world.
It was directed by New York artists Set Free Richardson and narrated by American rapper Yasiin Bey. It features the musings of numerous celebrities sharing their memories of the brand.
Liam Gallagher of Oasis said: “My earliest memories of Clarks, is probably when I’ve gone to school… because everyone was wearing them, they were all the rage back then.”
“I wore Clarks all the way through the ‘90s, got lots of memories… I don’t think there is any other brand for me, really… I find it hard to even look at other brands… Clarks have never let me down.”
As it grew, Clarks gained prominence in Jamaica. Jamaican Reggae artist said in the documentary: “If you know anything about Jamaicans, it’s that if anything is coming from overseas, it’s worshiped. There’s something really special about Clarks.”
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The brand also gained traction in America, becoming popular during the ‘golden era of hip-hop’.
Musician Ghostface Killah said: “In the golden era, like 1988-89, when it was multiple pairs of sneakers that were popping… Clarks was right there with them.”
Clarks was also immensely popular in East Asia. W. David Marx, author of Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style, said: “The first thing you have to understand was Japanese kids had to be in uniform all of the time, so they weren’t really dressing up. The big revolution [in Japan] came with Ivy League style around 1963/1964, and it was explained to teenagers through magazines like Men’s Club and Heibon Punch.”
Terry Zhu, founder of Shanghai brand DOE added: “My first impression of Clarks is [the] Desert Boot… it is a timeless design. Whether I am in a formal look or sporty casual style, Clarks is always the first choice.”
