For some people, a shoe is a shoe, for others it’s a style that tells a cultural and musical story. From rockers to skaters, from modern streetwear to 90s hip hop, no shoe has had such an impact on so many different subcultures as the Clarks Originals Wallabee. The Wallabee first hit the market in 1967 and has since become a design classic. The upper was initially based on an old German moccasin called the “Grashopper”, while the underpinnings were fixed using the signature Clarks sole, making the silhouette eye-catching and instantly recognisable. While the Clarks brand is steeped in British heritage, the impact the Wallabee has had on various movements spreads much further afield. Despite the shoe’s initial success in the UK and Ireland, popularity increased before Clarks focused its marketing efforts on North America. This led to the introduction of the Wallabee to Jamaican Rude Boy culture. At the time, there was a demand for a product that looked brand new, cost a little and was made in England. The brand's reputation for lasting quality made it very useful, while its crepe sole was also said to make little to no noise, making it a favourite among young Jamaican criminals, so much so that its sister shoe the Desert Trek earned the nickname "The Bankrobber". Clarks became so ubiquitous in Jamaica's various pioneering music scenes in the 1960s and 1970s. Over the decades, the Jamaican influence spread globally and, before long, the streets of New York were awash with Wallabees. Famously worn by 1990s hip hop stars Wu-Tang Clan, they were just one of many big names to be part of the rise. In the mid-90s, MF Doom was gifted a pair of custom Knicks-inspired Wallabees and sales skyrocketed. In Europe, the rise of acid house saw a boom in popularity in the late 80s and early 90s. Britpop further cemented the Wallabee's countercultural status with Blur and Oasis as avid ambassadors and The Verve's Richard Ashcroft wearing a pair on the cover of 1997's "Urban Hymns."
At the same time, Japan’s growing list of retailers saw the shoe move eastward. Populating popular shopping districts like Harajuku and Shibuya, Wallabees satisfied fashionistas’ search for authentic, beautiful products.
One of the most popular collaborations to date is with early supporters Wu-Tang Clan, who helped create the “Wu Shoe.” More recently, brands like Carhartt WIP, Drake’s OVO, Supreme, and END. Apparel have had the chance to create a new iteration of the shoe, while a collaboration with New York streetwear specialists KITH is also expected later this year. The Wallabee has infiltrated subcultures in a way that few shoes have ever done. While music has been the primary instigator and influence behind the shoe’s rise over the years, its simple, iconic, and utterly unique aesthetic resonates universally. Discover the Little America Store’s selection of Clarks Originals Wallabees available in 4 colorways, in-store and online.
