My late brother had a funny story about Clark's wallabies. My brother dabbled in real estate in the 1980s , but he was definitely a small fish. He had a meeting with Harry Hemsley the billionaire real estate developer at the Empire State building. My brother was prematurely crippled by degenerating hips and had only a few kinds of shoes he was comfortable with. His wallabies were the most favored. For the meeting, my brother war Italian dress shoes that was hell on Earth for him. When he entered the door and introduced himself, he looked down and noticed that Harry was wearing wallabies. My brother joked that if he knew non-dressed footwear was acceptable then he would have worn his. The meeting degenerated into a 30-minute conversation about wallabies while huge real estate developers and businessmen at the meeting waiting for the conversation to end.
They were evidently wealthy men but did not spot an opportunity to be seized . Generally those who get rich through real estate ain't the go-getter types ; they're the usually non-adventurous types .
Jamaicans in Brooklyn were rocking these in the early 80s. My older brother had several pairs and then Wu's Ghostface [The Wallabee Champ] really put the battery in the back of these classics during the golden era throwing them on the cover of his solo debut Ironman.
I've been wearing Wallabees since the 60's or 70s. Later I couldn't afford them, but in recent years I have gotten a couple of pairs in different colors. Recently I was wearing them in a McDonald's near where I work, and a young male McD employee came over to complement this old lady's shoes.
@@ianturnbow7011 They were made in Ireland from the 60’s to the’80’s.The company split and Padmore & Barnes stayed in Ireland and Clarks has since ‘84 been made in England,Italy but currently made in India,China,Cambodia, Mexico,Vietnam & Bangladesh. The Wallabees made in Ireland and England are in my the best quality.
Hey Mr. Anvil I work at Clark’s and love wallabees. I always preach to customers about the quality and was scared to watch this video to find out I was wrong. But you reinforced my love for them and the knowledge of the quality. Thank YOU!!!!
Decades ago, my girlfriend was studying Chiropody/Podiatry at College, UK. The course (three years) included a tour of the Clark's main factory in Street, Somerset to see how good footwear construction could prevent problems. I understand the Street factory is now closed which is a huge shame.
That’s the least interesting thing about this shoe. Who cares about some imaginary person when real events formed the history of the shoe. Are you by any chance a child?
@@fizroynelson People like you are the problem with social media. No matter the subject matter or how insignificant it may be, you respond with stupid crap.
Love the content and educating people about Clarks. I am of Jamaican descent and Clarks have always been with me. They are timeless classics I can sit on a pair for 2 years or more and they still look the part and the new colours with the weaver they are the only shoe I wear.
Wallabees are timeless, it’s just a shame that Clark’s Originals in general have gone up in price so much over the last 5-10 years. It’s good to know that they are still made to a good standard though.
It's simple my guy or girl idk. The Jamaican market for Clarks has risen tremendously in the past 10- 15 years. Pretty much everyone here is wearing them, you or old. I'm not sure but I think Jamaica is the biggest market for them and may be what is affecting the prices.
I love how you show the history of shoes. I never would have known this shoe had such an interesting history. I would have just thought it was another random shoe designed by a nameless person in a huge company.
Finally!!! A shoe i can really relate to... I'm from Jamaica so u know we were colonized by the English... So we've grown to see all ppl of stature wear these shoes... Its In The Top 3 Shoes worn in Jamaica all day everyday any day u can see someone wearing clarkes we have persons who only wear clarkes we have songs about clarkes here... I wore mine 2 nights ago same wallabee just the high tops... Love the videos keep em coming...
The Clark's "Weaver" shoe is one of my favorites. It's an underrated model in the Clark's lineup, with the Desert Boots and Wallabees domimating their marketing.
@@Conrad45 My experience. Same pair of socks, no extra footbeds/insoles. UK-made NB991 size us10½ = US-made NB997 size us10, similar to Clarks Weaver Boot (high) size44(size uk9½G, us10½M on the label) Edit: My Weaver (low) size us10½ is slightly longer than the Weaver Boot (high) size us10½. Idk why.
I have at least 20 pairs of Clark’s in my collection, one of my favourites is the Clark’s Wallabee Ridge(Caravan) and still rock a pair regularly that I bought in 2012, just imagine wearing clouds on your feet they are that comfortable. I love how they are so engrained in culture in the U.K. generally that it seems like you’re missing out if you don’t own at least a pair of wallabee or weaver tbh
In South Africa, the Grasshopper shoe (which looks identical to the Clarks Wallabee) is immensely popular in the middle class “Cape Flats” communities. My dad has always owned a pair, and I used to wear the all black leather version as school shoes many years ago. This video brought back fond memories… I’m going to buy a new pair for old time’s sake.
I have over 20 pairs of wallabees. Definitely my favorite shoes. I've always liked the wallabee boot over the low tops. Like stated in the video the only drawback is the way the sole is narrower than the upper. You can roll your ankle fairly easy if not careful.
Cool video about one of my favorite shoes. One group you left out of your history is the hippie/freak scene from the late 60s / early 70s up until the late 80s hacky-sack / deadhead / pothead scene. My Dad used to wear them when I was born into the Lawrence, Kansas, hippie world of 1970, and had them on when marching on DC against the war in Vietnam. I started wearing them, along with growing my hair out and smoking way too much of the kind, around '86, hanging out on the smoker's corner of my high-school. Caught eye of them because a lot of the older freaks I was trying to emulate wore wallabees. The stitching also made for a great hacky sack catch. The sole used to stick to the hot tar in the heat of the Northern Virginia summer and build little gooey pearls at the bottom. I remember the stitching disolving after heavy use and at one point threading a paper clip through the holes to keep the tip together.
The Jamaican community has never stopped wearing these. Young cobblers make exceptional copies of all the classic Clark's designs. Clark's had shut down some of their factories recently.
I had a pair of these shoes back in the mid 70's and absolutely loved them! I wasn't the only kid that had them as they were the popular shoe in these Cali streets along with the Earth Shoe. Back then, you didn't have as many styles of shoes to choose from but that was ok. We all pretty much wore the same thing and that was a cool way to bond with your peers. Cool video! It brought back some fond memories of childhood. ✌🏾🙏🏾❤
Highly recommend Padmore and Barnes. They were the original makers of the wallabies for Clarks until, I think and I could be wrong, the early 2000s. They called theirs The Original Boot p404.
Loving the little history lessons in these videos, really adds a whole nother dimension and appeal to the great stuff you're already doing. Stuff like this and your recent military boots episodes have been my favorites!
The crepe soles on my Clarks boots fell off before I had a chance to wear them. I had them stored in a closet for over a year and couldn't believe it when they fell apart. I bought a can of contact cement and stuck the soles back on. I looked online for information and found that other people had the same experience with the soles. Turns out mine were made in China. In the 70s I used to buy wallabee-style shoes that were made in Poland. They were inexpensive and virtually indestructible. I'm hoping my repair job will last a long time as these Clarks cost around $150.
That was an education, thank you. I’m from the UK, home of Clarks and CFStead and I had no idea how popular the Wallabies were and still are. I think I might look at getting a pair. 👍
I’ve had this shoe in a low-key-Adidas-stitching charcoal version for about 12 years. Loads of style acknowledgement has come our way in this metro. Worn just twice in all those years, I’ve worn these shoes on three social occasions in recent weeks and they’ve received loads of love. I’m astonished, I simply never thought of them as a stylish choice.
I'd be curious to see you review the wallabees made by Padmore & Barnes, a company that used to manufacture the shoe for Clarks but now is independent.
Where Clark’s “borrowed” the Weaver style from . The padmore and Barnes version being superior IMO. Would love to see them both being cut open to compare .
Hey man, absolutely love the content. I think something interesting you could do related to the sneaker stuff would be a comparison between fakes and genuine shoes. Just how bad/good is the fake stuff?
I’ve had a pair of Wallabees for at least 15 years (black leather) and they’re still in almost perfect condition other than the sole being dirty, I find that a lot of hair and lint seems to stick to it, but still super comfortable.
Really appreciate the fact that you focus on each detail of the construction and provide explanations. Can definitely see it helping when I go to buy shoes that will last a long time. Love your videos!
alright, i love these films, love seeing the shoes and history etc. but i absolutely love the cat chilling on the box! he/she is just hanging out like "hey i want to be here too!"
I'm considering getting another pair of these and after having watched a lot of your videos, decided to see if you had one for the Wallabee's... of course... Glad to see that you feel they're a quality product. I had a pair that I wore the hell out of back in the 90's during middle/highschool (EVERYONE wore them) and we would always clown on the guys who had the fresh clean pairs without that nice dark patina that they get as you wear them. Eventually mine had gotten enough oil and grease stains on them from working on cars that I tossed them and got another pair in college that I wore for another 4 or so years and after getting a job with the government, I tossed them as I wore sneakers or boots out and dress shoes to work. Now I'm working in a more casual environment and those mid green suede colored ones are calling my name pretty hard.
I used to work at a very busy Clark's outlet and occasionally people would come in to buy a fuck ton of wallabees and desert boots to resell to people. Some people got super super uptight when we didn't have the model or colorway they wanted, or were annoyed we had so few models of the "Clark's Originals" bc they didn't understand how an outlet store works. I had heard of the shoes before in fashion trends, but had no clue how crazy people went over these until I started working there.
Im from the UK. I started working for Clarks 2 months ago. I had never really paid attention to the brand, aside from school shoes (Clarks are synonymous with school shoes.. in the Uk we cant just wear what we want, have to be black formal.) Since starting, employees have a load of online training courses to complete. Some mandatory, most optional. Like you, I was massively surprised and enlightened by the history of the company. Of course, now Clarks are global. Wallabees although dipped at times. Have always been a classic in many peoples eyes and are classed as "Originals" as a range. Im not one to stand behind something because i have to if the product isn't as good as suggested. Watching this, Its good to see you recognise their quality. They really are incredibly well built footware and if you take care of them with the appropriate products. Can last for years and still look great. I dont know how prominent Clarks is in the US, or the rest of the world. But if you want a genuinely well built, thought out shoe. You really cant go wrong
I had a pair in the late 70s, and remember it as the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. Love to try another pair so many years later. Thanks for the breakdown.
This was really interesting. We actually sell Clark’s at my workplace, so to know they’re both a higher quality and have a cool history makes me want to buy a pair and easier to sell them!
With inflation hitting presumably all shoe companies I have to wonder if we should be on the lookout for some companies sneakily cutting material/manufacturing costs in existing product lines to maintain a sticker price. I'd rather have a shoe sticker price go up to meet the new realities of higher materials costs rather than sneakily cutting corners to maintain the same sticker price. But I understand business realities don't always make that possible, since consumers are price sensitive. If you think you might need a shoe in the next 6-12 months maybe now is a good time to buy, as some inventory on store shelves may still reflect pre-2022 inflation price increases an/or material cost/quality reductions. In a year from now I'd be suspicious of shoes still maintaining the same price as in 2021, they probably cut material costs somewhere.
I work in a shoe store and we've slowly been getting new shoes in for the fall/winter 2022 collection and I am noticing a change already. For men's shoes, two brands who have been making leather shoes with full leather on the inside now have this weird leather/fabric mix. Where the material looks like leather but surface feels weirdly fuzzy (not suede). Sure, brands have made shoes with a leather and fabric mix lining before but that would mostly be seen in spring/summer collections with fabric at the toe for breathability. Again, The phenomenon I'm talking about is for fall/winter shoes, where breathability is much less of a priority. I'll have to see how much of the new collection does this.
I had a pair of these Wallabee's that I bought in 1999. I wore them for 4 years then stored them. They were still in great condition, bar the sole, when I sold them on eBay for $10 six months ago. Looking at this video, I can tell you there was a difference from then and now. The sole was solid crepe and there was no sponge.
Wore desert boots as a child ,raved the 90s in a red pair of wallabies and got a new revised pair now with a vibram sole and gore tex 😊classic og footwear timeless
I really like the pivot you're taking with the videos and how much research you (or you and your team :) ) do to actually make the video interesting and informative outside of the raw examination/deconstruction of the shoe.
How could you talk about Clark’s without mentioning that it’s Jamaicans🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲who make Clark’s shoes so popular today even though you used the Jamaican flag 🇯🇲 as your backdrop
I had a pair of Beeswax brown ones in College. Rose is absolutely right around the narrow foot. I don't consider my feet that wide. But I would notice that instability when picking up the pace. They're definitely a casual/formal use shoe.
I got the Wally story. In the 2000s the 1980s were the throwbacks and Wallabees were still selling in every retail sneaker store. I still have them today in good condition and great quality.
Let me start by saying that I really enjoy your videos, I find them very Informative and entertaining. I'm 64 and have owned 4 Deserts, 3 Walllabees and a pair of Clark's sandals (they don't die) and I now intend to own a pair of special edition Clark's that celebrate the long-lasting relationship between the island nation of Jamaica and Clark's footwear, which I believe goes back to the 60's. In Jamaica it might be called a status symbol between the real, everyday Jamaicans to own a pair of Clark's footwear. As far back as I can remember, only the coolest Jamaicans wore Clarks boots (booties in Jamaica) and shoes, like Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley (just to name a few). I'm happy to be of Jamaican parentage and have always felt "cool" in my Clarks!
Congratulations on the Rose Anvil boots! They look badass! Went through two or three pairs of Wallabee shoes in the early 1970s. I had forgotten that they were made by Clarks, a brand I have many pairs, of various styles, currently. Part of the reason I went through the Wallabees is because I was a growing, active tween and teen. I remember my toe going through the tip of one pair. And those rubber crepe soles wore out pretty fast. Mine were the darker brown. Very cool to learn the history of them and to have a newfound appreciation for them and how they're made. They definitely didn't used to be considered high-end and were not as costly relative to an average shoe as they are now. I have a number of pairs of Clarks and I have not paid $160 for any of them. Wouldn't go back to the Wallabee style now. But it was very cool to learn about them! Thanks!
Hey weston, super hyped for this! I'm currently wearing a pair of wallabies from goodwill, the older style that's a bit lower cut. I'm not a huge fan of how chunky they made the refresh version, it's going to be a sad day when these ones wear out.
My dad loved those shoes. I had a pair when I was a kid & loves them. Then I grew to a size 15 4E & sadly they don't make my size. Thats pretty much the story of life.
Clarks were _the_ most coveted shoes when I was a teenager in Malaysia in the 70s. During that time, only those who were working (certainly not teens) and earning a minimum certain income could afford Clarks. There was a certain snobbish attitude, and many would proudly inform (unasked) "These are Clarks". And they certainly wouldn't leave these outside the house. Decades later, I now have three pairs of Clarks. The latest being a suede Jaxen Low, bought when they were on offer. Clarks may not be "the best", but they certainly offer a lot of value for money.
Would love to see a comparison to the Padmore & Barnes take on their wallabee. Love the fit and construction on them compared to my Clark’s and super intrigued on a deep look into what exactly separates the two!
I wore them almost exclusively from the mid 70's through mid 80's. When I first bought them, they were made in Ireland and sold for about $35. I got a pair a few years ago, but I haven't worn them much. Not quite as much support as I'd like, now being an old guy. I think I'll try again.
Lots and LOTS of casual shoes had crepe soles in the 70s. They were especially widely used on women’s wedgies which were EXTREMELY popular at the time. That squishy, gummy material was everywhere.
there is a shoe thats really similar to these called the padmore and barnes p204 that seems to be made equally as well or better because theyre hand lasted and hand stitched with the same style of crepe outsole. i would be really interested in seeing them cut in half before i make a decision on which one i should get, because even though these seem to be good quality the fact that its not a true moccasin makes me a bit hesitant to spend that much since i would for sure be looking to resole them once they wear out
I recently bought a pair of Wallabees but returned them and got a pair of Padmore and Barnes p204s. A couple of other things to note about Padmore and Barnes vs Wallabees is that the Padmore and Barnes do not have that narrow sole thing going on. The crepe extends past the sides of the shoe. In addition, the primary reason I returned the Clarks was that they were too narrow. I had a pair of Wallabees about 7-8 years ago and they were much wider than the newer version of the Wallabee. From what I read, they changed the design within the past few years, making them more narrow whereas the Padmore and Barnes are the original slightly wider design. I had the two shoes side by side, and the Padmore and Barnes seemed higher quality.
@@niftyhorsowitz4494 Padmore and Barnes p204s are an abomination and have zero style credibility - of course if you're over 40 then I guess those kind of things don't bother you when looking for a comfortable orthopedic shoe with elasticated laces. hahaha
I had a small resell shop in the northwest. I sold vintage clothing, Streetwear and highend designer clothes. Also sold sneakers. I posted these on my business account Instagram story maybe 2/3 years ago, asking if they were cool, or if people liked them at all. Literally everyone said they were garbage. I knew the history the shoe had with hip hop culture, mainly Wu-Tang and MF Doom wearing them. I had no idea they were making a comeback. I thought they were great. I still own a pair of Desert Boots. Great casual boots.
Wallabees were all the rage when I was in High School. Especially low top Wallabees. I'm 65 and was in HS '73-'77 in SoCal. Low top Wallabees, 501's, Hawaiian Shirt and Puka Shell choker with a roach clip clasp. Stylin'!!!
I’ve been a part time sales associate at a Clark’s outlet for a bit over a year now and only about a month ago did I get my first dessert boot (the black vegan leather) and I can see what the hype about it is. Going to order the Pokémon collab today!
I worked at Clark’s HQ around 12 years ago just before they went down. I filmed for their internal communications and conferences. It’s a fantastic company and their knowledge of shoes is unrivalled I’m my opinion. Just a real shame the management took some very bad decisions and are now owned by the Chinese.
I found a pair of goretex clarks after watching this video. I have always been eyeing a pair but this video sold me on them. The pair that i bought have a vibram sole and the inside is lined with a type of wicking material. The leather isnt one piece stitched in the middle either.
What I don't like with Clarks is they released cheaper low quality versions of the classics like the Desert boots and Wallabees, I mistakenly bought that instead of the Wallabees, and it was just bad
I wonder if the foam has always been in the outsole. I've had several pairs 10-15 years ago and recently bought another pair. Newer pair seems lighter than before and the outsole feels harder.
I couldn’t believe that you didn’t know how influential Clark’s and the Wallabee are as well as The Desert Boot and Desert Treks. Also the Wallabee has not recently gotten popular.They have been popular since the 70’s ,and thanks in large part to Wu Tang (most notably Ghostface) Wallabees in the early 90’s became a staple in hip hop fashion.
A lot….A lot of Jamaicans are going to be watching this. They are great shoes tho and Clarks truly is a great brand that makes brilliant shoes, especially the Originals. They’ve been a part of our culture for decades. I’m looking at a pair as I type this and almost every Jamaican male has had or has at least one pair in his lifetime. Great video and thanks for the history lesson
46, from germany and I wear the wallabee around 25 Jears, allmost every day and I have a big love for this shoe. Timeless design and very comfortable. Last week came my latest one in black leather. I have 3 - 5 pair here and rock them in rotation. You only need a pair of wallabees and a pair of chucks in your life. Big love for these. ❤
They are just so weird, I love it! They look like just a pair of slippers, but then instead of like felt they're made of surprisingly thick leather. Makes me go "what the heck IS that?" :D
I love Wallabees, I own 4 pairs of Wallabees and planning to buy more. Wallabees are my favorite shoes in the world, I personally would trade all of my Jordans in for a pair of dope Wallabees any day😁
Wore a pair of these almost every day for nearly 4 years. Always just replaced the outsoles once the foam wedge started showing through. Timeless and durable shoe
I love wallabees personally. They’re so ugly they’re amazing. Plus the materials are usually really nice. Great with pants, I used to find these in various colors pretty often at Ross back around 2017. Copped a few pairs for like $50 a piece. Such a good deal in hindsight, sad I don’t own any of them anymore
Nice video Man. I stumbled your video when I'm looking for some info on clarks wallabees. Just bought a black leather with white sole wallabee for only 7 US dollars in a thrift shop. Had it sewn inside for 2.5 US dollars. It's now almost new! Not bad for a 9. 5 US dollars 😂. Had my first Clarks wallabee! ❤
Down here in S.A we call them grasshoppers. Love seeing these shoes abroad and certainly love wearing them. Love and peace all the way from South Africa💕🇿🇦
These were all the rage when I was in high school '74-'77 in SoCal. You wore them with your straight leg 501's, Hawaiian shirt, and puka shells. Very cool. 😎 Thing is that once they wear out, they wear out. Contrary to your statement, they DO have stitching underneath the glued on sole and the sole is VERY difficult to remove. They are virtually un-resolable (most cobblers won't touch them) and even if you found a cobbler who would attempt re-soling them, it would be too expensive. Easier to buy a new shoe. But hey, we are slaves to fashion and what is old is new again.
This shoes are extremely popular in the Caribbean, Namely Jamaica and Trinidad. Vybz Kartel Made these shoes even more popular with his Hit Song “Clarks”. These shoes never went out of style in Jamaica.
Worn these since I was a late teen. Mod classic shoe here in the U.K. Massive hike in price lately which is a shame. Double what they were 10 years ago.
You might want to look into dissecting a pair of Grasshoppers now! I grew up in them and was surprised how different they are to Wallabees. GH are lighter, the sole is shaped differently and the inside isn’t slippery. Very very comfortable.
Grasshoppers were easily one of the most comfortable shoes I ever had. I had it in black for school and an algae green suede pair. Tough outer, but sole not so much.
I'm Jamaican. We are basically Clarks number one customers for like 50+ years strong 😆. We have atleast 3 popular songs about clarks. My father and his brothers all have clarks in probably every color!
Great video! I just bought the wallabees navy sashiko stitch boot and it is the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. It also looks great and I get asked all the time where I bought them. I'm deffo buying some other wallabees styles 😀
I always liked the look of these. Also, Ghost Face Killa from Wu Tang pointed me in this direction at a young age. These are all age all styles of shoes, Clarks alone are starting to rule my shoe collection.
In the early to mid 80s all guys in high school wore were mid rise wallabees or high tops(loose laced of course, never tied). A few let checkerboard Vans slip in. The rest of the attire was levi's 501s and either a t-shirt or polo typed shirt. Have a semi mullet with your hair parted down the middle and there you go.
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
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How much?
So What’s the point of this
My late brother had a funny story about Clark's wallabies. My brother dabbled in real estate in the 1980s , but he was definitely a small fish. He had a meeting with Harry Hemsley the billionaire real estate developer at the Empire State building. My brother was prematurely crippled by degenerating hips and had only a few kinds of shoes he was comfortable with. His wallabies were the most favored. For the meeting, my brother war Italian dress shoes that was hell on Earth for him. When he entered the door and introduced himself, he looked down and noticed that Harry was wearing wallabies. My brother joked that if he knew non-dressed footwear was acceptable then he would have worn his. The meeting degenerated into a 30-minute conversation about wallabies while huge real estate developers and businessmen at the meeting waiting for the conversation to end.
Thank you for sharing this.
The irony
They were evidently wealthy men but did not spot an opportunity to be seized . Generally those who get rich through real estate ain't the go-getter types ; they're the usually non-adventurous types .
Ha ha ha! That sounds like a situation I could easily find myself in.
So cool. Good times, that time.
Jamaicans in Brooklyn were rocking these in the early 80s. My older brother had several pairs and then Wu's Ghostface [The Wallabee Champ] really put the battery in the back of these classics during the golden era throwing them on the cover of his solo debut Ironman.
We still rock them
In the early to mid 80s these were worn everywhere. That and high tops were all we wore in high school. Far, far away from brooklyn.
But it’d be like…blue n cream
@jerryrice2752s/o Bob James
I've been wearing Wallabees since the 60's or 70s. Later I couldn't afford them, but in recent years I have gotten a couple of pairs in different colors. Recently I was wearing them in a McDonald's near where I work, and a young male McD employee came over to complement this old lady's shoes.
Who know knows
How was the quality changed over the decades? I’ve heard mixed things.
@@ianturnbow7011 They were made in Ireland from the 60’s to the’80’s.The company split and Padmore & Barnes stayed in Ireland and Clarks has since ‘84 been made in England,Italy but currently made in India,China,Cambodia, Mexico,Vietnam & Bangladesh. The Wallabees made in Ireland and England are in my the best quality.
I've been through 6 pairs and am currently wearing the Bank Robber Clark's Boots
They’re absolute trash.
Hey Mr. Anvil I work at Clark’s and love wallabees. I always preach to customers about the quality and was scared to watch this video to find out I was wrong. But you reinforced my love for them and the knowledge of the quality. Thank YOU!!!!
Decades ago, my girlfriend was studying Chiropody/Podiatry at College, UK. The course (three years) included a tour of the Clark's main factory in Street, Somerset to see how good footwear construction could prevent problems. I understand the Street factory is now closed which is a huge shame.
What most important about these shoes that it is Walter White favorite shoe, he wore them throughout all 5 seasons of the Breaking Bad.
That’s the least interesting thing about this shoe. Who cares about some imaginary person when real events formed the history of the shoe. Are you by any chance a child?
I care.
@@fizroynelson random history bums < Waltah white
Yeah mr. White! Yeah science!
@@fizroynelson People like you are the problem with social media. No matter the subject matter or how insignificant it may be, you respond with stupid crap.
Love the content and educating people about Clarks. I am of Jamaican descent and Clarks have always been with me. They are timeless classics I can sit on a pair for 2 years or more and they still look the part and the new colours with the weaver they are the only shoe I wear.
Clarks wi prefer
Erribody affi ahks weh mi get mi clarks
Yea, Wu-Tang clan type of shoes 👞
I’ve been wearing Clark’s wallabees since 1990 back home in Philly! I still have like 6 pairs and still love them!! Glad my style has never changed
I just bought a new pair at a spot down on 15th & Chestnut a few months ago.
Wallabees are timeless, it’s just a shame that Clark’s Originals in general have gone up in price so much over the last 5-10 years. It’s good to know that they are still made to a good standard though.
It's simple my guy or girl idk. The Jamaican market for Clarks has risen tremendously in the past 10- 15 years. Pretty much everyone here is wearing them, you or old. I'm not sure but I think Jamaica is the biggest market for them and may be what is affecting the prices.
@@splashchronicles7144 You are spot on, Clark's get free marketing from Jamaicans and the diaspora. There is even songs dedicated to the shoes.
Vybz kartel made clarks price went up in Jamaica
Find an outlet store near you, they're like half price.
Astoflex - Italian company that makes exactly same shoes as Clark’s with crepe sole. Fraction of the price
I love how you show the history of shoes. I never would have known this shoe had such an interesting history. I would have just thought it was another random shoe designed by a nameless person in a huge company.
Finally!!! A shoe i can really relate to... I'm from Jamaica so u know we were colonized by the English... So we've grown to see all ppl of stature wear these shoes... Its In The Top 3 Shoes worn in Jamaica all day everyday any day u can see someone wearing clarkes we have persons who only wear clarkes we have songs about clarkes here... I wore mine 2 nights ago same wallabee just the high tops... Love the videos keep em coming...
Don't forget the tooth brush ina back pocket🗣
Kartel:True me say Clarke's everybody wah one
Toothbrush and eraser 🇯🇲 still have mi desert from 2010 still ah touch road
@@robomania6164 absolute legend man
Don’t forget y’all literally will kill for them as well like a bunch of savages. One love Jamaica.
The Clark's "Weaver" shoe is one of my favorites. It's an underrated model in the Clark's lineup, with the Desert Boots and Wallabees domimating their marketing.
Honestly like the look of the weaver better. Are they true to size?
@@Conrad45 I size
up a half-size on Weavers.
@@Conrad45
My experience. Same pair of socks, no extra footbeds/insoles.
UK-made NB991 size us10½ = US-made NB997 size us10, similar to Clarks Weaver Boot (high) size44(size uk9½G, us10½M on the label)
Edit: My Weaver (low) size us10½ is slightly longer than the Weaver Boot (high) size us10½. Idk why.
@@Conrad45 in my experience with wallabee styled Clark's half size down is best. especially if you'll wear it long term.
@@Conrad45 Half a size down on Weavers for me.
I have at least 20 pairs of Clark’s in my collection, one of my favourites is the Clark’s Wallabee Ridge(Caravan) and still rock a pair regularly that I bought in 2012, just imagine wearing clouds on your feet they are that comfortable. I love how they are so engrained in culture in the U.K. generally that it seems like you’re missing out if you don’t own at least a pair of wallabee or weaver tbh
In South Africa, the Grasshopper shoe (which looks identical to the Clarks Wallabee) is immensely popular in the middle class “Cape Flats” communities.
My dad has always owned a pair, and I used to wear the all black leather version as school shoes many years ago. This video brought back fond memories… I’m going to buy a new pair for old time’s sake.
Yes it is sir.here in south africa we love the shoe
Grasshopper makes money hand over fist, especially with the school going kids
I have over 20 pairs of wallabees. Definitely my favorite shoes. I've always liked the wallabee boot over the low tops. Like stated in the video the only drawback is the way the sole is narrower than the upper. You can roll your ankle fairly easy if not careful.
Cool video about one of my favorite shoes. One group you left out of your history is the hippie/freak scene from the late 60s / early 70s up until the late 80s hacky-sack / deadhead / pothead scene. My Dad used to wear them when I was born into the Lawrence, Kansas, hippie world of 1970, and had them on when marching on DC against the war in Vietnam. I started wearing them, along with growing my hair out and smoking way too much of the kind, around '86, hanging out on the smoker's corner of my high-school. Caught eye of them because a lot of the older freaks I was trying to emulate wore wallabees. The stitching also made for a great hacky sack catch. The sole used to stick to the hot tar in the heat of the Northern Virginia summer and build little gooey pearls at the bottom. I remember the stitching disolving after heavy use and at one point threading a paper clip through the holes to keep the tip together.
Yes!
I'm in NOVA, so good to know that these shoes won't work well in the summer..
The Jamaican community has never stopped wearing these. Young cobblers make exceptional copies of all the classic Clark's designs. Clark's had shut down some of their factories recently.
Hey I know this is an old comment but are there any Jamaican cobblers who make these and can ship internationally? Feel free to PM
A lot of the celebrities he used as examples are Jamaican or Jamaican descent.
I had a pair of these shoes back in the mid 70's and absolutely loved them! I wasn't the only kid that had them as they were the popular shoe in these Cali streets along with the Earth Shoe. Back then, you didn't have as many styles of shoes to choose from but that was ok. We all pretty much wore the same thing and that was a cool way to bond with your peers.
Cool video! It brought back some fond memories of childhood. ✌🏾🙏🏾❤
The UK brand YOGI make shoes very similar to the the earth shoe! Same sole and everything!
Highly recommend Padmore and Barnes. They were the original makers of the wallabies for Clarks until, I think and I could be wrong, the early 2000s. They called theirs The Original Boot p404.
There is also a brand called British Walker
Good to know, the last pair I brought from Clarks were rubbish
Loving the little history lessons in these videos, really adds a whole nother dimension and appeal to the great stuff you're already doing. Stuff like this and your recent military boots episodes have been my favorites!
The crepe soles on my Clarks boots fell off before I had a chance to wear them. I had them stored in a closet for over a year and couldn't believe it when they fell apart. I bought a can of contact cement and stuck the soles back on. I looked online for information and found that other people had the same experience with the soles. Turns out mine were made in China. In the 70s I used to buy wallabee-style shoes that were made in Poland. They were inexpensive and virtually indestructible. I'm hoping my repair job will last a long time as these Clarks cost around $150.
That was an education, thank you. I’m from the UK, home of Clarks and CFStead and I had no idea how popular the Wallabies were and still are. I think I might look at getting a pair. 👍
I’ve had this shoe in a low-key-Adidas-stitching charcoal version for about 12 years. Loads of style acknowledgement has come our way in this metro. Worn just twice in all those years, I’ve worn these shoes on three social occasions in recent weeks and they’ve received loads of love. I’m astonished, I simply never thought of them as a stylish choice.
I'd be curious to see you review the wallabees made by Padmore & Barnes, a company that used to manufacture the shoe for Clarks but now is independent.
Bumping this!
@@theelectricant98 seconded
They definitely aren’t the same quality as before
Where Clark’s “borrowed” the Weaver style from .
The padmore and Barnes version being superior IMO.
Would love to see them both being cut open to compare .
They're p204s Suede Derby's and not Wallabees, I do wish people on the internet would use facts just once in a while.
As a Jamaican I can say that the Desset Boot and the wallabies are the .ost popular mens shoe all ages. It also one of mine.
Hey man, absolutely love the content. I think something interesting you could do related to the sneaker stuff would be a comparison between fakes and genuine shoes. Just how bad/good is the fake stuff?
I’ve had a pair of Wallabees for at least 15 years (black leather) and they’re still in almost perfect condition other than the sole being dirty, I find that a lot of hair and lint seems to stick to it, but still super comfortable.
Love my Wallabees. Had so many pairs over the years. Timeless.
Really appreciate the fact that you focus on each detail of the construction and provide explanations. Can definitely see it helping when I go to buy shoes that will last a long time. Love your videos!
alright, i love these films, love seeing the shoes and history etc. but i absolutely love the cat chilling on the box! he/she is just hanging out like "hey i want to be here too!"
I'm considering getting another pair of these and after having watched a lot of your videos, decided to see if you had one for the Wallabee's... of course... Glad to see that you feel they're a quality product. I had a pair that I wore the hell out of back in the 90's during middle/highschool (EVERYONE wore them) and we would always clown on the guys who had the fresh clean pairs without that nice dark patina that they get as you wear them. Eventually mine had gotten enough oil and grease stains on them from working on cars that I tossed them and got another pair in college that I wore for another 4 or so years and after getting a job with the government, I tossed them as I wore sneakers or boots out and dress shoes to work.
Now I'm working in a more casual environment and those mid green suede colored ones are calling my name pretty hard.
Jamaican street and music culture has had the largest popularity boost on these shoes, also the Clark's Dessert boots.
We have the same design is South Africa but they are named grasshoppers🔥they are kinda timeless here and usually preferred for school uniform..
I used to work at a very busy Clark's outlet and occasionally people would come in to buy a fuck ton of wallabees and desert boots to resell to people. Some people got super super uptight when we didn't have the model or colorway they wanted, or were annoyed we had so few models of the "Clark's Originals" bc they didn't understand how an outlet store works. I had heard of the shoes before in fashion trends, but had no clue how crazy people went over these until I started working there.
I’m guessing they usually wanted black or dark brown
Jamaicans national shoe
What? Im going to find my national shoe, I didn't know that was a thing👍
Lol it’s serious business 😅
Im from the UK. I started working for Clarks 2 months ago. I had never really paid attention to the brand, aside from school shoes (Clarks are synonymous with school shoes.. in the Uk we cant just wear what we want, have to be black formal.) Since starting, employees have a load of online training courses to complete. Some mandatory, most optional. Like you, I was massively surprised and enlightened by the history of the company. Of course, now Clarks are global. Wallabees although dipped at times. Have always been a classic in many peoples eyes and are classed as "Originals" as a range. Im not one to stand behind something because i have to if the product isn't as good as suggested. Watching this, Its good to see you recognise their quality. They really are incredibly well built footware and if you take care of them with the appropriate products. Can last for years and still look great. I dont know how prominent Clarks is in the US, or the rest of the world. But if you want a genuinely well built, thought out shoe. You really cant go wrong
I had a pair in the late 70s, and remember it as the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. Love to try another pair so many years later. Thanks for the breakdown.
This was really interesting. We actually sell Clark’s at my workplace, so to know they’re both a higher quality and have a cool history makes me want to buy a pair and easier to sell them!
With inflation hitting presumably all shoe companies I have to wonder if we should be on the lookout for some companies sneakily cutting material/manufacturing costs in existing product lines to maintain a sticker price.
I'd rather have a shoe sticker price go up to meet the new realities of higher materials costs rather than sneakily cutting corners to maintain the same sticker price. But I understand business realities don't always make that possible, since consumers are price sensitive.
If you think you might need a shoe in the next 6-12 months maybe now is a good time to buy, as some inventory on store shelves may still reflect pre-2022 inflation price increases an/or material cost/quality reductions.
In a year from now I'd be suspicious of shoes still maintaining the same price as in 2021, they probably cut material costs somewhere.
I work in a shoe store and we've slowly been getting new shoes in for the fall/winter 2022 collection and I am noticing a change already. For men's shoes, two brands who have been making leather shoes with full leather on the inside now have this weird leather/fabric mix. Where the material looks like leather but surface feels weirdly fuzzy (not suede). Sure, brands have made shoes with a leather and fabric mix lining before but that would mostly be seen in spring/summer collections with fabric at the toe for breathability. Again, The phenomenon I'm talking about is for fall/winter shoes, where breathability is much less of a priority. I'll have to see how much of the new collection does this.
Meanwhile Jordan brand is both cranking up the price AND using worse materials at this point
I had a pair of these Wallabee's that I bought in 1999. I wore them for 4 years then stored them. They were still in great condition, bar the sole, when I sold them on eBay for $10 six months ago.
Looking at this video, I can tell you there was a difference from then and now. The sole was solid crepe and there was no sponge.
How about shoes made with recycled material?
@@botany500kojak I'm curious, if you sold them and did not cut them apart to examine, how would you know the sole was solid crepe?
Wore desert boots as a child ,raved the 90s in a red pair of wallabies and got a new revised pair now with a vibram sole and gore tex 😊classic og footwear timeless
I really like the pivot you're taking with the videos and how much research you (or you and your team :) ) do to actually make the video interesting and informative outside of the raw examination/deconstruction of the shoe.
How could you talk about Clark’s without mentioning that it’s Jamaicans🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲who make Clark’s shoes so popular today even though you used the Jamaican flag 🇯🇲 as your backdrop
I’d love to see a comparison to the padmore & Barnes version. They are the original manufacturer of these and still make them in Europe.
I'm Jamaican and Clarks are my fav shoes
I had a pair of Beeswax brown ones in College. Rose is absolutely right around the narrow foot. I don't consider my feet that wide. But I would notice that instability when picking up the pace. They're definitely a casual/formal use shoe.
I got the Wally story. In the 2000s the 1980s were the throwbacks and Wallabees were still selling in every retail sneaker store. I still have them today in good condition and great quality.
Been to Jamaica a number of times, this is and has been, one of the most popular shoes there for a long time, they love them…
Let me start by saying that I really enjoy your videos, I find them very Informative and
entertaining.
I'm 64 and have owned 4 Deserts, 3 Walllabees and a pair of Clark's sandals (they don't die) and I now intend to own a pair of special edition Clark's that celebrate the long-lasting relationship between the island nation of Jamaica and Clark's footwear, which I believe goes back to the 60's.
In Jamaica it might be called a status symbol between the real, everyday Jamaicans to own a pair of Clark's footwear. As far back as I can remember, only the coolest Jamaicans wore Clarks boots (booties in Jamaica) and shoes, like Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley (just to name a few).
I'm happy to be of Jamaican parentage and have always felt "cool" in my Clarks!
Congratulations on the Rose Anvil boots! They look badass!
Went through two or three pairs of Wallabee shoes in the early 1970s. I had forgotten that they were made by Clarks, a brand I have many pairs, of various styles, currently. Part of the reason I went through the Wallabees is because I was a growing, active tween and teen. I remember my toe going through the tip of one pair. And those rubber crepe soles wore out pretty fast. Mine were the darker brown.
Very cool to learn the history of them and to have a newfound appreciation for them and how they're made. They definitely didn't used to be considered high-end and were not as costly relative to an average shoe as they are now. I have a number of pairs of Clarks and I have not paid $160 for any of them. Wouldn't go back to the Wallabee style now. But it was very cool to learn about them! Thanks!
This is a truly excellent video. I really appreciate how well researched it is and how knowledgeable the host is. A real expert and coniesseur!
Hey weston, super hyped for this! I'm currently wearing a pair of wallabies from goodwill, the older style that's a bit lower cut. I'm not a huge fan of how chunky they made the refresh version, it's going to be a sad day when these ones wear out.
My dad loved those shoes. I had a pair when I was a kid & loves them. Then I grew to a size 15 4E & sadly they don't make my size. Thats pretty much the story of life.
Clarks were _the_ most coveted shoes when I was a teenager in Malaysia in the 70s. During that time, only those who were working (certainly not teens) and earning a minimum certain income could afford Clarks. There was a certain snobbish attitude, and many would proudly inform (unasked) "These are Clarks". And they certainly wouldn't leave these outside the house.
Decades later, I now have three pairs of Clarks. The latest being a suede Jaxen Low, bought when they were on offer. Clarks may not be "the best", but they certainly offer a lot of value for money.
Just got a pair of cola wallabees at 1utama for rm369.. they’re not available on website and im in love with the quality
Caribbeans, especially Jamaicans love a Clark’s shoes
Would love to see a comparison to the Padmore & Barnes take on their wallabee. Love the fit and construction on them compared to my Clark’s and super intrigued on a deep look into what exactly separates the two!
I wore them almost exclusively from the mid 70's through mid 80's. When I first bought them, they were made in Ireland and sold for about $35. I got a pair a few years ago, but I haven't worn them much. Not quite as much support as I'd like, now being an old guy. I think I'll try again.
damn we getting the Heisenberg drip 🥵🥵
We would wet clean them and put cornmeal on it and sun dry them , then brush off the cornmeal and they would look new again.
You're very consistent lately, love it
Lots and LOTS of casual shoes had crepe soles in the 70s. They were especially widely used on women’s wedgies which were EXTREMELY popular at the time. That squishy, gummy material was everywhere.
there is a shoe thats really similar to these called the padmore and barnes p204 that seems to be made equally as well or better because theyre hand lasted and hand stitched with the same style of crepe outsole. i would be really interested in seeing them cut in half before i make a decision on which one i should get, because even though these seem to be good quality the fact that its not a true moccasin makes me a bit hesitant to spend that much since i would for sure be looking to resole them once they wear out
I recently bought a pair of Wallabees but returned them and got a pair of Padmore and Barnes p204s. A couple of other things to note about Padmore and Barnes vs Wallabees is that the Padmore and Barnes do not have that narrow sole thing going on. The crepe extends past the sides of the shoe. In addition, the primary reason I returned the Clarks was that they were too narrow. I had a pair of Wallabees about 7-8 years ago and they were much wider than the newer version of the Wallabee. From what I read, they changed the design within the past few years, making them more narrow whereas the Padmore and Barnes are the original slightly wider design. I had the two shoes side by side, and the Padmore and Barnes seemed higher quality.
Padmores also have extra leather inside the shoe and much better insole, in clarks it's cheap and even not leather
I have two hair, the p204 and another in boot form. Love em
@@niftyhorsowitz4494 Padmore and Barnes p204s are an abomination and have zero style credibility - of course if you're over 40 then I guess those kind of things don't bother you when looking for a comfortable orthopedic shoe with elasticated laces. hahaha
@@ЮрийБородулин-г1в no one, and I do mean no one, has any interested in the views of a RuSSian at the moment,
Thanx for this! I was surprised to see these in shoes stores over the past 2 years or so. Good to see them making a comeback!
I had a small resell shop in the northwest. I sold vintage clothing, Streetwear and highend designer clothes. Also sold sneakers.
I posted these on my business account Instagram story maybe 2/3 years ago, asking if they were cool, or if people liked them at all. Literally everyone said they were garbage. I knew the history the shoe had with hip hop culture, mainly Wu-Tang and MF Doom wearing them. I had no idea they were making a comeback.
I thought they were great. I still own a pair of Desert Boots. Great casual boots.
Wallabees were all the rage when I was in High School. Especially low top Wallabees. I'm 65 and was in HS '73-'77 in SoCal. Low top Wallabees, 501's, Hawaiian Shirt and Puka Shell choker with a roach clip clasp. Stylin'!!!
I’ve been a part time sales associate at a Clark’s outlet for a bit over a year now and only about a month ago did I get my first dessert boot (the black vegan leather) and I can see what the hype about it is. Going to order the Pokémon collab today!
vegan leather :(
If they make a Pikachu that would be great
I’ve heard Clark’s quality has dipped over the past 10 years or so. Glad to hear they’re still well made. Might be time to finally pick up a pair.
I worked at Clark’s HQ around 12 years ago just before they went down. I filmed for their internal communications and conferences.
It’s a fantastic company and their knowledge of shoes is unrivalled I’m my opinion.
Just a real shame the management took some very bad decisions and are now owned by the Chinese.
yes，the li ning company bought them and the wallabee price in china (im chinese)is 3 times higher. i hate li ning😢😢😢
Jamaica Reggae/dancehall 🇯🇲 culture endorse this 👞 the most..the wallabies was my first taste of the Clark's brand..
You should cut a pair of Padmore and Barnes P204's next. Better wallabees made in Ireland.
^^^^This^^^^
I found a pair of goretex clarks after watching this video. I have always been eyeing a pair but this video sold me on them. The pair that i bought have a vibram sole and the inside is lined with a type of wicking material. The leather isnt one piece stitched in the middle either.
What I don't like with Clarks is they released cheaper low quality versions of the classics like the Desert boots and Wallabees, I mistakenly bought that instead of the Wallabees, and it was just bad
really? How can we tell the difference if it's not about price?
@@orbispictus6127 different model name, but I bought it in store when I didn't know much about shoes (maybe 10 years ago)
@@ChillManilaDrives just did some research. I think you probably got a pair of Clarks Shacre. They are pretty the same and Shacre are much cheaper.
@@orbispictus6127 might be the Stinton. Can't check since I threw them out already, really bad quality
I wonder if the foam has always been in the outsole. I've had several pairs 10-15 years ago and recently bought another pair. Newer pair seems lighter than before and the outsole feels harder.
I couldn’t believe that you didn’t know how influential Clark’s and the Wallabee are as well as The Desert Boot and Desert Treks. Also the Wallabee has not recently gotten popular.They have been popular since the 70’s ,and thanks in large part to Wu Tang (most notably Ghostface)
Wallabees in the early 90’s became a staple in hip hop fashion.
bro you should have waited like 3 mins further into the video before commenting lmfao
Jamaicans made them popular in NY in the 80s henc Wu, Biggie, and Slick Rick weraing them
They were big in Hip Hop culture way before the 90’s, something you read versus something I know and lived through
very ugly cat
About the narrow sole. Clarks is one of the makers who makes different widths. You can get wide and extra wide
I’ve always loved the Wallabees but gravitated more toward the Desert Chukkas. After watching this video, I’m buying a pair to wear this summer. 🤙🏼
A lot….A lot of Jamaicans are going to be watching this. They are great shoes tho and Clarks truly is a great brand that makes brilliant shoes, especially the Originals. They’ve been a part of our culture for decades. I’m looking at a pair as I type this and almost every Jamaican male has had or has at least one pair in his lifetime. Great video and thanks for the history lesson
46, from germany and I wear the wallabee around 25 Jears, allmost every day and I have a big love for this shoe. Timeless design and very comfortable. Last week came my latest one in black leather. I have 3 - 5 pair here and rock them in rotation. You only need a pair of wallabees and a pair of chucks in your life. Big love for these. ❤
They are just so weird, I love it! They look like just a pair of slippers, but then instead of like felt they're made of surprisingly thick leather. Makes me go "what the heck IS that?" :D
I love Wallabees, I own 4 pairs of Wallabees and planning to buy more. Wallabees are my favorite shoes in the world, I personally would trade all of my Jordans in for a pair of dope Wallabees any day😁
Wore a pair of these almost every day for nearly 4 years. Always just replaced the outsoles once the foam wedge started showing through. Timeless and durable shoe
I love wallabees personally. They’re so ugly they’re amazing. Plus the materials are usually really nice. Great with pants, I used to find these in various colors pretty often at Ross back around 2017. Copped a few pairs for like $50 a piece. Such a good deal in hindsight, sad I don’t own any of them anymore
Nice video Man. I stumbled your video when I'm looking for some info on clarks wallabees. Just bought a black leather with white sole wallabee for only 7 US dollars in a thrift shop. Had it sewn inside for 2.5 US dollars. It's now almost new! Not bad for a 9. 5 US dollars 😂. Had my first Clarks wallabee! ❤
Down here in S.A we call them grasshoppers. Love seeing these shoes abroad and certainly love wearing them.
Love and peace all the way from South Africa💕🇿🇦
These were all the rage when I was in high school '74-'77 in SoCal. You wore them with your straight leg 501's, Hawaiian shirt, and puka shells. Very cool. 😎 Thing is that once they wear out, they wear out. Contrary to your statement, they DO have stitching underneath the glued on sole and the sole is VERY difficult to remove. They are virtually un-resolable (most cobblers won't touch them) and even if you found a cobbler who would attempt re-soling them, it would be too expensive. Easier to buy a new shoe. But hey, we are slaves to fashion and what is old is new again.
This shoes are extremely popular in the Caribbean, Namely Jamaica and Trinidad. Vybz Kartel Made these shoes even more popular with his Hit Song “Clarks”. These shoes never went out of style in Jamaica.
Worn these since I was a late teen. Mod classic shoe here in the U.K. Massive hike in price lately which is a shame. Double what they were 10 years ago.
Here in South Africa we've been wearing them as school shoes since forever
They're really good shoes... glad to see the history behind these shoes
My school shoes in J'ca a million years ago...............(lol).
You might want to look into dissecting a pair of Grasshoppers now! I grew up in them and was surprised how different they are to Wallabees. GH are lighter, the sole is shaped differently and the inside isn’t slippery. Very very comfortable.
YEs and the Padmore and Barnes version too.
Grasshoppers were easily one of the most comfortable shoes I ever had. I had it in black for school and an algae green suede pair. Tough outer, but sole not so much.
I'm Jamaican. We are basically Clarks number one customers for like 50+ years strong 😆. We have atleast 3 popular songs about clarks. My father and his brothers all have clarks in probably every color!
Great video! I just bought the wallabees navy sashiko stitch boot and it is the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn. It also looks great and I get asked all the time where I bought them. I'm deffo buying some other wallabees styles 😀
As the song writer said "we no love crep innu clarks we prefer clarks fi d summa clarks fi d winter"
These were the most coveted shoes when I was a kid. I had no idea they were that expensive and still available. Thanks for the history on them.
I always liked the look of these.
Also, Ghost Face Killa from Wu Tang pointed me in this direction at a young age.
These are all age all styles of shoes, Clarks alone are starting to rule my shoe collection.
In the early to mid 80s all guys in high school wore were mid rise wallabees or high tops(loose laced of course, never tied). A few let checkerboard Vans slip in. The rest of the attire was levi's 501s and either a t-shirt or polo typed shirt. Have a semi mullet with your hair parted down the middle and there you go.
Some of the rappers you mentioned have Jamaican and/or British heritage...or were influenced by the West Indian community. It's worth noting.
Also, everyone calls them "gummy soles". Although it's good to know that the proper term is "Crepe Rubber" :)
Came for the shoes reviews... Stayed for the cat! Awesome analysis and always find the answer to my shoe related questions. Love the Channel !
This is the most impressive shoe review I’ve ver seen . You have such indepth wealth of knowledge
I’ve been eyeing these up for twenty years, but never bought a pair. Now after this video, these may just be my next shoe purchase. Cheers!
Wallabees are my favorite Clark's shoes and as much as I loved the history lesson, it really broke my heart to see you dismantle the shoes like that.