That the world of hip-hop has served as the speakerphone for countless trends and springboard to the stardom from the same number of brands is obvious. The impact of this musical genre born in the Bronx projects transcends the merely musical. Since its inception, hip hop has been a tool through which MCs and rappers bragged of their lovemaking feats, underlining the amount of money that they had spent on their jewelry and alcohol and, over time, became a fashion show where luxury brands paraded between bars and boomboxes.
The importance of aesthetics in this musical genre is crucial. So much gold hung around your neck, so much success was in your music (or how much drugs you moved, depends). The evolution of the rapper’s looks has been palmar, going from extra oversized garments to full prints and fluorine, to bespoke Italian tailoring and chinchilla coats to the present day, where wearing the latest releases from Vuitton out on the catwalk is synonym with how well you do.
All these trends have been fleeting and have evolved with the sound of the genre and its increasing professionalization. From Dapper Dan’s bootlegs to adidas tracksuits and now Prada’s windbreakers, all had been falling into oblivion when the new IT PIECE emerged. However, few things have remained over time inside industry’s idols wardrobes. Few creations have remained trendy over time like Clarks, latent in every urban music era. From the Rude Boys in Jamaica with the Desert Boots to Kanye, Drake or Wu-Tang Clan and the Wallabees, their feet always wore a pair of the models designed by the British company.
Without a doubt, it was the last ones, the Wallabees, the design that captivated rappers from both coasts to become a staple of hip hop culture. They would make their debut in the 60s, but it wouldn’t be until the 80s when they would reach their highest level of success to sneak into all the houses of fans of American urban culture in the 90s, thanks to the outstanding success of a group of nine teachers of the rhyme and the mixer who called themselves the Wu-Tang Clan. RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, and company would rise to stardom with this iconic Clarks silhouette. Its suede construction and “crepe” sole were a guarantee of comfort and elegance, basic elements to storm the stage in each of his legendary shows. Ghostface Killa dedicated his eponymous song and album “Wallabee Champ” to them. Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Slick Rick, or Ludacris also mentioned their favorite Clark silhouette in some of their themes.
It is very significant that a house founded in 1824 continuous to maintain such a high level of relevance these days and has managed to evolve from off-road mocassin to “Must Have” of mods, skaters, rappers, and ravers. Few firms have united more than Clarks in contemporary culture.
Although the Wallabees are undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of the British firm in terms of cultural impact, it would also be fair to highlight the importance of the Desert Boots in the Jamaican Dance Hall universe or the Desert Trek, nicknamed “The Bankrobber” for their popularity among Kingston criminals.
The collaborations of Clarks with different references in the fashion or music industry are innumerable. From Carhartt, the mentioned Wu-Tang Clan, Stüssy, Drake with their OVO firm or Supreme are some of the privileged ones who have been able to leave their mark on the history of the Somerset firm.
To have a pair of Clarks on your shoe rack is essential. For the history, for the culture, and because each piece they make is better than the previous one.
