The classic Clark shoe has shed its Jamaican rude boy image to become a designer item.
Upper Wallabee 
Clarks Jamaica
The British shoe company Clark’s is at last acknowledging Jamaicans as a lucrative and viable consumer and worth investing in. Jamaicans acceptance of the Clarks shoe has been from early 20th century. Before Jamaica’s independence. Clarks shoes were seen as aspirational shoes coming from Britain and sold in upmarket stores on Kings Street downtown Kingston.
When Jamaicans left to live in the UK or in the US, they would often send Clark shoes back or take
them back on visits to their family and friends in Jamaica.
As this shoe was and still is commonly regarded as the most comfortable shoe, Clarks has now
embraced the post-pandemic emphasis on casual clothing, by supplying softer pastels and bold
shades. They have stepped up the couture game, by creating limited addition styles.
Take for example, the ’Desert Jamaica’ style, which is based on the classic style. The feature of the
Desert Jamaica boot has either a striking Jamaica green flag colour, and gold stitching with a classic
black suede upper. It also comes in a soft peach.
Then there is the ’Wallabee’, the ‘lower Wallabee’ and the ‘Upper Wallabee boot’, also known as the ’Jamaican Bee’.
There is the Jamaican Trek which is a version of the ’Desert Trek’.
Patrick Cann’s shop named Mr Clarks Originals, has seen at least a 200% increase in Clarks sales and he continues to provide his wealth of experience in retailing with an ever-expanding and exclusive edge on other outlets. His centrally located shop is well placed and has a high-quality lay out for easy viewing. Cann has grown with his clients and used his music business accomplishments and his all-consuming sense of humour, brings fun to your Clarks shopping experience.
Check out his Instagram page @MrClarksOriginal and his Facebook page.
Better still, if you are lucky enough to be in Jamaica, go and check out his store- Mr Clark’s Original at shop at #5 York Plaza, Half-Way Tree, Kingston.
How it go:
The founding family of Clarks shoes will lose majority ownership of the company for the first time as the pandemic rips through Britain’s high streets.
Cyrus and James Clark, who came from a Quaker farming family, started the company in Somerset in 1825 when they used offcuts from their sheepskin rug firm to make slippers.
Clarks grew to become one of Britain’s great retailers, best-known for supplying school shoes.
But yesterday the family had to sell much of its 84.8 per cent stake to private equity firm Lion Rock.
The Hong Kong firm will inject £100million to keep its 320 stores afloat. The sale is reliant on landlords voting for swingeing rent cuts next month as part of a company voluntary agreement (CVA).
At the same time all 4,000 shop staff roles up are for consultation, with 900 jobs lost earlier in the year.
Losses widened to £82.9million in the year to February 2019, up from a £31million loss in 2018.
Sales slid 6 per cent to £1.4billion as Clarks sold 20m pairs of shoes, 2m fewer than the year before.
It has struggled as shoppers moved online and from rising costs from rents, rates and the minimum wage.
The sale to Lion Rock will go ahead if, next month, creditors vote for harsh CVA proposals including moving 60 stores to zero rent. The remaining 260 would shift to turnover-based rents.
Irene Pedder, chairman of the Clark Family Shareholder Council, said: ‘The impact of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis has resulted in necessary steps being taken to safeguard the future of the Clarks brand, business and its people.
‘We remain invested in Clarks’ long-term growth and will remain committed shareholders to help steward this iconic company into its third century.’
By Daily Mail City & Finance Reporter
21:51, 04 Nov 2020 , updated 21:51, 04 Nov 2020
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