Leading footwear brand Clarks Originals has released vegan versions of its iconic Wallabee and Desert Boots.
Put your best foot forward as Clarks Originals launches its first-ever vegan versions of its classic Wallabee and Desert Boot shoes.
Available in neutral hues including beige, brown and black, the brand’s iconic Desert Boot and cult classic Wallabee have been reinvented with vegan-friendly uppers, linings, and rubber crepe soles.
Announcing the news on its website, Clark’s wrote: “You asked. We listened. Meet the all-new Wallabee and Desert Boot, our two most loved profiles carefully crafted in Portugal with non-animal derivative materials for all the style with none of the leather. An ethical update dedicated to a vegan lifestyle.”
Both the vegan Desert Boots and Wallabee shoes are available now from Clarks priced at £120.
Head to the website and look for the leaf symbol that indicates which styles are available with vegan materials.
Moreover, Clarks has even included exclusive fobs and heel stamps with a leaf design that clearly indicates which shoes are vegan.
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‘Timeless classics’
Clark’s Originals shoes are synonymous with Jamaican culture and have been engrained in island life for almost 60 years.
According to Clarks, these timeless classics have been worn by ‘revolutionaries, free thinkers, and counter-culture icons for generations.’
This is because Clarks were the first ‘casual’ shoe to be introduced to the mass market in Jamaica. Previously, if you wanted casual shoes like trainers, your choices were limited to suede brogues.
Another reason why Clarks’ shoes became so popular in the ’70s was that they offered comfort and support to islander’s whose main mode of transportation was on foot, Al Fingers claims in his book Clarks in Jamaica.
Their popularity continued to grow in the ’80s, with many reggae singers and deejays wearing them prominently on album covers. The iconic shoes were even honoured in a Little John song dubbed “Clarks Booty.”
In more recent years, Clarks shoes have found popularity in the hip-hop subculture thanks to Brooklyn Jamaicans. Furthermore, many modern dancehall artists such as Koffee and Vybz Kartel are also big fans of the brand.
In fact, Clarks works closely with Koffee and her non-profit organisation, Families Rule/MTLT, to offer empowerment programmes for young people.
As many Jamaican’s are Rastafarians who eat an ital diet (a predominantly plant-based diet) and avoid animal flesh, the launch of Clark’s new vegan range will be welcome news.
Are you a vegan shoe fanatic?
In that case, you need to check our guide to the best sustainable vegan sneakers!
