Counter Culture

The Clarks Wallabee

A footwear icon.

Features

Brought into the market in the 1960s, the Clarks Wallabee is a style that needs no real introduction. Appreciated by musicians, artists and fashion-heads alike; whether it's through a Wu-Tang collaboration, a spot on The Verve's Urban Hymns album cover, or Clarks shoutouts on a number of Vybz Kartel tracks. It's a style that's gone from strength to strength, retaining its original qualities and continuing to be styled amongst younger and older generations alike. Here we show our appreciation for the classic shoe by offering up some styling suggestions and looking at why the Wallabee is such a timeless design...

Perhaps the most iconic colourway of the Clarks silhouette, the synonymous Maple suede has become as much of a staple in the Wallabee footwear range as the shoe itself.

The popular colourway is a go-to choice for collaborations, having been remixed by the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Supreme, Stüssy and, of course, us here at Goodhood.

With the choice of a boot and a shoe, the styling choices are almost endless. We recommend a pair of well-cut jeans or Dickies to complement the silhouettes boxy shape, as pictured here.

Perhaps a smarter counterpart to its Maple alternative, the black Wallabee is comfortable being paired with a pair of combat trousers and tailored pants alike.

With a silhouette and colourway that lends itself to being dressed up and dressed down, it's no surprise that the black option finds itself as popular as the Maple. The versatility of the shoe is what gained it the popularity it found during the 90's, and is why it continues into 2020.

For more info on the Wallabee, and its affinity within Hip-Hop culture, head over to our feature Style Legacy: Wu-Tang Clan.