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 has today 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 has teamed up with Wu-Tang Clan member and legendary Wallabee wearer, Raekwon, to officially usher in the celebration via the Clarks Originals Instagram account, starting with an announcement on 4th April.
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 it’s 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.
Throughout the month of April, Clarks will be celebrating through a series of activations, customizations, incredible content releases, and a social media competition that allows the Clarks community to show off
their creativity.
Tara McRae, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer comments:
“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.”
In the spirit of the incredible history of Wallabee adaptation, Clarks will be encouraging Wallabee lovers to submit their Wallabees their way for a chance to win two of its most exclusive Wallabee creations. Submissions could be Wallabee inspired art, photography, animation or even the ultimate outfit pic. Everyone who submits a Wallabee creation via Instagram will be entered to win a pair of some of our most coveted collabs from friends of the brand Vandy the Pink and Shaun Crawford, with a mystery box of special Wallabees on top.
Submissions will start on 8th April with the very best being shared to Clarks socials throughout the month. The winner will be announced on Wallabee Day – 26th April and their creative will be kept for prosperity in the Clarks archive.
For exciting inspiration and to get started check out Clarks socials @clarksshoes @clarkssoriginals
#WALLABEEDAY
