Few British brands have shaped global culture as profoundly as Clarks. Born in Somerset in 1825, the iconic shoemaker marks its 200th anniversary with the release of a landmark book: From Somerset to the World: Clarks – A Visual History 1825–2025, a richly illustrated deep dive into two centuries of style, innovation and cultural impact.
Published by One Love Books and written by designer and historian Alexander Newman, the 448-page volume traces Clarks’ extraordinary rise from a small Quaker family business to an international symbol of craftsmanship and cool. It explores how the brand became a staple in British school corridors, a beloved statement in Jamaican dancehall, a fixture in New York hip-hop, and a fashion essential on the streets of Tokyo.
A Global Story Rooted in Somerset
Clarks began life in the village of Street, Somerset, where brothers Cyrus and James Clark transformed a rug-making workshop into a pioneering shoemaking enterprise. Newman’s new book uncovers rare photographs, family stories and archival moments that reveal how Quaker principles—simplicity, integrity and social responsibility—shaped the brand’s ethos.
Sir Jony Ive, former Chief Design Officer at Apple and lifelong Clarks wearer, contributes a thoughtful foreword. He recalls the “slightly angst-ridden back-to-school ritual” familiar to generations of British kids, while celebrating his personal love for Wallabees, which he discovered in art school in the 1980s.
A Legacy of Design, Innovation and Cultural Impact
Newman—also the author of the acclaimed Clarks in Jamaica (2012)—describes the new book as a tribute to “one of the great British brands.” He highlights Clarks’ influence across music, fashion, and youth culture, noting how deeply the brand has been woven into everyday life worldwide.
The book explores key milestones including:
• Quaker Values: How community, equality and integrity guided the brand’s identity from the start.
• Iconic Designs: The evolution of timeless silhouettes such as the Desert Boot, Wallabee, Desert Trek and Nature Trek.
• Global Influence: Clarks’ powerful presence in the UK, Jamaica, Japan, North America, West Africa and beyond.
• Advertising Innovation: From early hand-drawn artwork to Hollywood-fronted campaigns and award-winning TV ads.
• Sustainability & Technology: From the original Brown Petersburgh slipper to innovations like the footgauge and modern eco-minded designs including the Origin 2.0 and Desert Nomad Mule.
• Cultural Endorsements: Stars from Marvin Gaye and David Bowie to Liam Gallagher, Mahalia, Vybz Kartel and the Wu-Tang Clan have all helped cement Clarks as a cross-generational symbol of style.
A Bicentennial Worth Celebrating
From Somerset to the World is more than a brand history—it’s a cultural document capturing how a British shoemaker became a global phenomenon. With its rare images, forgotten stories and vivid design, the book marks Clarks’ bicentennial with the depth and respect the brand deserves.
