92% matchClarks
The mainline: same Somerset crepe soles, wider shoe range
What changes: Broader mainstream/comfort assortment, less subculture cachet
Brand profile
Clarks Originals
British heritage footwear line behind the crepe-soled Desert Boot and Wallabee, now a fixture of streetwear collaborations.
StreetOrigin
UnisexFocus
Workwear / HeritageStyle
$$Price
What to know about Clarks Originals
Clarks Originals is the heritage line of British shoemaker C. & J. Clark, founded in Street, Somerset in 1825 and still headquartered there. It centres on crepe-soled classics: the 1950 Desert Boot, the 1967 Wallabee moccasin and the Desert Trek, built in suede and leather. Long adopted by mods, Jamaican sound-system culture and hip-hop, the label now runs designer and retailer collaborations including Post Archive Faction, INVINCIBLE and West NYC. Hong Kong-listed Viva Goods, led by Li Ning, holds majority ownership; the Clark family remains a shareholder. Pairs typically retail $150-190.
If you like Clarks Originals
92% match
84% matchDr. Martens
Other British boot icon adopted by subcultures
What changes: Chunkier welted punk silhouette vs soft crepe suede
Brand facts
- Founded
- 1825 (Clarks); Originals line established 1990s
- Origin
- Street, United Kingdom
- Price
- $$
- Typical prices
- Footwear $146–$161
- Focus
- Unisex
- Styles
- Workwear / Heritage, Streetwear