In a brand-new film by Set Free Richardson, Clarks Originals honors the iconic Wallabee while delving into its broad influence on New York’s trend-setters during the height of hip-hop.
The new short film compiles first-person accounts from notable New Yorkers including Styles P, Dave East, Ronnie Fieg, self-described “Wallabee Kingpin” Ghostface Killah, and others. Together, they relate tales of witnessing the Wallabee’s ascent to fame and how it went on to leave an enduring mark on the cultural fabric of the city.
Rewinding back to the ‘70s, the film reveals how the Clarks shoe tied together a generation of Jamaican immigrants who often wore the Wallabee as a sort of sartorial alternative to sneakers. Featured in the film, artist Raekwon reflects on the shoes’ New York introduction saying, “The first people I remember seeing wearing Wallies was the Jamaicans and old skool cats from my hood.”
Later, a variety of counter-cultural groups and communities came to adopt the gum-soled silhouette as their signature look. RUN DMC, Slick Rick, and Wu Tang Clan all supported the style in the early years of the genre, and by the 1990s, Clarks’ Wallabee had become a zeitgeist for the developing hip-hop scene in New York.
“When music cultures adopt a product it helps build a legacy, for me that’s what hip-hop did for the Wallabee,” says director Richardson as he shares how he tapped into his own connection with the iconic Clarks style in the documentary. He continues, “I chose a cast that would reflect that, because I wanted people that really are fans of the brand and also know the New York history.”
The Wallabee has undergone numerous interpretations through fashion and art, from being a part of a carefully curated mash-up of baggy streetwear looks to offering itself as a canvas for creative expression.
Futura mentions receiving a pair of specially made shoes from designer Nigo in the documentary, saying, “[Nigo] had done a collaboration with them, it was like you get the seal of approval on shoes vis-a-vis his aesthetic.”
The Clarks Originals Wallabee still serves as an inspiration to artists today, while also looking to the thriving city for inspiration for new designs. The brand invited students to share their opinions on the Wallabee and create a visual celebration of New York City as part of an inventive student design challenge with ONE School. The winning design by student Tola Oseni, which alludes to New York’s contrasts and its eclectic musical background, was recently unveiled by Clarks.
Speaking of the shoe’s cultural journey, Clarks’ Global Chief Marketing and Digital Officer Tara McRae adds, “To us, culture and community have always been at the center of the Clarks brand. We’re proud to be celebrating the rich history the Wallabee shares with the iconic city and across music, fashion, and art.”
The ONE School collection is available to buy now on the Clarks website, and to watch the ‘Soles of the City film head to Clarks Originals’ Instagram.
