C. & J. Clark - History

History

Started in 1825, by Quaker brothers Cyrus and James Clark, as a business making sheepskin rugs and slippers, using out-workers in the village, it has expanded to become a global shoe brand, with operations in Europe, the United States and the Far East.

For much of the life of the business, the company manufactured its own shoes in Somerset, building several factories in the area. The company's Quaker ethos made provision for workers' housing, education and leisure activities, while its keen social conscience kept Street 'dry' for many years. Rising costs and low productivity prompted the company to move production abroad, and while shoe design is still predominantly done in the United Kingdom, all manufacturing has now moved to India, Brazil, Cambodia, China, and Vietnam. In 1993, redundant buildings at its Street site were opened as Clarks Village, which includes more than 90 shops. There are also coffee shops, refreshment stalls, and a dining area shared by fast food chains, mostly selling goods at a discount to high street prices.

Clarks has created a number of iconic styles during its history, including the Clarks "Wallabee", the Clarks "Desert Boot", and the Clarks "Playdeck" sandal.

The "Playdeck" sandal was made for men, women and children, from the 1950s to the early 1990s. A popular style of sandal, it consisted of a flat crepe sole unit, a leather insole, a plain ankle strap and two buckling straps, one at the instep and the other at the toes. It came in a variety of colours, but most popular were bamboo(tan), navy blue and white. Clarks reintroduced an almost exact copy of the original Playdeck style in their Spring 2010 Originals range, with a style called Kestral Soar, which is virtually identical to Playdeck save for a very small wedge in the heel.

Clarks Companies North America's logistic centre is based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, near the Maryland state line. In the recent years of growth, this facility was deemed a Federal Trade Zone, and has expanded its warehousing locations across town.

Clarks shoes are popular in Jamaica — thanks to Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel. In some cases, shops are sold out and thieves target them. Local music star Vybz Kartel released a single called "Clarks" with the cover carrying pictures of his favourite styles — Wallabees, Desert Boots, and Desert Treks. The dancehall track features the catchy chorus line: "Everybody haffi ask weh mi get mi Clarks". The lyrics refer to Elizabeth II wearing them.

Clarks have become known for their ranges of children's shoes and advertisement campaigns based upon the "Back to School" time of year. The brand's reputation has also been boosted amongst adults, as musicians such as Florence Welch, Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Dizzee Rascal and Robbie Williams have been spotted wearing them.

C & J Clark brands include Clarks; Pr!vo (pronounced "Privo"); Indigo; Artisan, Wave, Unstructured, Bostonian; K Shoes; and Ravel Shoes.