Did you know that April 26th was National Wallabee Day? Yeah, neither did I. But happy Wallabee Day to all those who celebrate. And why not indulge in a nostalgic new embroidered pair from Clarks, because THEY’RE BACK!
Is there a shoe more famously linked to the history of dance music?
To some people, a shoe is a shoe. To others, a certain style of footwear tells a cultural and musical story. From mods, rockers and ravers to modern day streetwear via 90s hip hop (and the shoes of my early raving days): never has one shoe made such an impact on so many diverse subcultures as the Clarks Originals Wallabee.
The Wallabee was born in 1967 and has since become a design classic. The upper shoe was initially based on an old German moccasin called the ‘Grashopper’, while the soles were set using the distinctive Clarks sole, making the eye-catching, and instantly recognisable, silhouette.
While the Clarks brand is steeped in British heritage, the impact that it had across various movements spreads much further afield.
They became part of Jamaican “Rude Boy” culture, making the shoe a favourite amongst young Jamaican criminals – so much so that sister shoe the Desert Trek earned itself the nickname ‘The Bankrobber’.
Over the decades, the Jamaican influence spread globally and, before long, the streets of New York were awash with Wallabees. Famously worn by 90s hip hop stars Wu-Tang Clan, they were just one of many big names to be part of the rise.
Back in Europe, the rise of acid house saw popularity boom in the late 80s and early 90s. I remember thinking they were mad when first seeing them. They looked like your grandma’s old comfort shoe – mine were mint green, however I don’t recall buying them from Clarks. Back then, you weren’t allowed to wear trainers in many clubs so they were one of the only cool shoes you could arrive in. Saying that, they weren’t practical with all the filth on the floor at The Haçienda and some of the London warehouse parties. Britpop further cememted the Wallabee’s countercultural position with Blur and Oasis being keen ambassadors and The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft wearing a pair on the cover of 1997’s ‘Urban Hymns’.
After falling out of fashion through the noughties, largely thanks to the rise of sneaker culture, Clarks has pushed its way back into global fashion. The brand has hooked up streetwear labels, rappers and more for reworks of the Wallabee, with everyone from Drake to Nas sporting them of late. More recently, Carhartt have had a crack at creating a fresh iteration of the shoe, with this collab with Clarkes. So it’s time to re-visit your youth.
The Clarks Originals X Carhartt WIP Wallabee is available in select Carhartt and Clarks Originals stores now – prices around £130.00
