HAPPY ‘WALLABY’ DAY
Legend has it that on 26th April 1971, an alarm was raised at New York’s John F Kennedy Airport, with customs teams rapidly assembling cages to accept the 4,176 Wallabees that were expected to arrive that day from Clarks. Customs called Clarks to check the animals were safe to handle and to discuss the lack of paperwork supplied to transport this number of live animals. There was a sense of relief (but also fury) when airport staff were informed that the creates did not, in fact, contain live animals, but the new Wallabee shoe silhouette.
To celebrate a style that has shaken things up from day one, Clarks announced the first ever Wallabee Day which will take place every year on 26th April, encouraging it’s global community of wearers to share their love of the iconic shoe.
For it’s inaugural Wallabee Day, Clarks teamed up with Wu-Tang Clan member and legendary Wallabee wearer, Raekwon, to officially usher in the celebration via the Clarks Originals Instagram account, having started with an announcement on 4th April.
“We need to have a wallabee day. We need to be able to say today is the day everybody throws their joints on.”
Raekwon
THE STYLE CLASSIC
Crafted in 1968, the Wallabee’s design philosophy was rooted in ultimate comfort, with its unprecedented foot shaped toe, true moccasin construction, and spongey natural crepe sole. However, what no one at the time could have foreseen is how global style communities have adopted, adapted and embraced it, pushing the shoe to icon status from its humble beginnings in Somerset. From football terraces in the UK, to the streets of New York and Shibuya Tokyo. It is a shoe that is just as at home in school halls as it is in Jamaica’s dancehall scene. Its adorned album covers of hip-hop royalty and Brit-Pop legends – but no matter who wears it, the king of casual footwear is always a good look.
“We are delighted to announce the launch of our first Wallabee Day. It’s such an iconic shoe loved by people across the world and has severed as a blank canvas to artists, creators and cultures over many generations. Wallabee Day allows us to celebrate not just the shoe, but also all of the collaborators who help us reinvent the story, year after year.”
Tara McRae, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer
DEFINED BY SIMPLICITY
The Wallabee is crafted from just two pieces of suede with a tubular construction technique. This means the upper is assembled with the vamp and side panel to create a tube shape, this gives an instantly recognizable silhouette.
The appeal of their next-level comfort, premium quality and casual styling, made the Wallabee a perfect alternative for sneakers, and has rapidly become a mainstay within sneaker and streetwear culture as the nonconformist choice.
“The Wallabee sits right in the middle between a sneaker and a brown shoe. It is THE sneaker alternative and a shoe like no other”.
Matteo Bellentani, Global Creative Director, Clarks
CELEBRATING THE ADAPTERS
A key component of the storied history of the Wallabee is the unmatched list of partners that have made the Wallabee their own. Below are some of our favourite Clarks collabs of the past.
Shout out to the Offspring Store staff who came to work flexing in style top to toe, busting out their Wallabees!
Join the celebrations, throw on your Wallabees and get involved #WALLABEEDAY #OFFSPRINGHQCOMMUNITY
