Clarks, Since 1825

A much-loved brand shared by my mother and I, known for the original “Desert Boot”, made out of calf suede leather, C&J Clarks International has become synonymous with comfort, quality and style that lasts for generations.

With humble beginnings in a tiny English village called Street, in Somerset in 1825, today they’re selling close to 35 million pairs of shoes a year even as the business is still based in Street, they manufacture and market the brand globally.

Clarks has come a long way and has just launched their Spring/Summer 2014 (SS14) collection in SA full of great British style. Step into spring with a collection of beautiful brogues, fabulous flats and summery sandals to wear for any occasion at any time on the day.

Inspired by international trends and their amazing archive, the Clarks collection combines quality craftsmanship, luxurious leathers and attention to detail. Their international team of designers have reinvented and refreshed highlights from their archive in addition to creating tomorrow’s classic shapes and styles. The shoemakers’ craft, the innovators vision and a flair for design merge to create beautifully stylish and comfortable shoes, which are British at heart.

What to expect from their new collection for the whole family?

WOMENS

Drawing inspiration from all over the world, this season’s colour palette mixes browns, greys and neutrals with pops of colour on trims and detailing. Whether dressed up or down, the Spring Summer 2014 collections are wardrobe essentials. Why not choose a stylish wedge from Clarks to update your spring summer wardrobe?

MENS

This season, lines are smart, clean and classic. Leathers are smooth; detailing discreet. The collection is the perfect complement to contemporary tailoring. Authentic and handcrafted influences are mixed with vintage inspired workwear. Clarks unmistakable handwriting is relaxed and classic.

KIDS

With ‘over 170 years of caring for kids feet’ with fashion-forward looks, must-have prints, patterns and colours plus up-to-the-minute detailing. From Clarks First Shoes to sandals, high tops and retro inspired trainers, designs are tailor-made to mix and match with the season’s coolest clothes and outfits.

Adding to the collection’s unique appeal, selected styles deliver built-in fun with the ever-popular Jack Nano and Daisy continuing to capture kids’ imaginations with free toys as well as dedicated apps.

AIRPORTS & COMMUTERS

For boys and girls, styles inspired by the theme of Airports & Commuters come complete with mini-me influences – an essential look for spring summer. They also take their lead from the street and urban sports, two more of the season’s hottest trends.

Girls’ styles include Zora Zippy, which captures the mood of spring with its bold colour, metallic toe cap and ribbon style laces, while for boys there’s Holbay Fun featuring a slim toe shape and bright contrasting coloured laces and lining.

Standout styles:

JUNGLES & DESERTS

In their Jungles & Deserts theme, the Clarks kids’ designers take one of the season’s key materials - canvas - and add prints plus prints on prints to create a collection of absolute must-haves with highlights that include classic camouflage reimagined for 2014 in vibrant new colourways.

Once again mini-me is a big influence, with little girls certain to love the ‘just like mum’ look of styles like covered wedge Harpy Fly, complete with delightful butterfly detailing. For boys, meanwhile, Kintor Lad teams a washed-out look with a camo print for style that’s as laidback as summer itself.

Standout styles:

SHORES & DRIFTERS

Especially for girls, Shores & Drifters sees global and local inspirations merge, while crafted detail adds a touch of authenticity. Dusted hues, sea-washed and sun-bleached colours are play a key role in a look that’s the perfect complement to spring summer fashions. Among the certain favourites are strappy sandal, Ayla Moon, with its metallic trim and Dance Dot which features eye-catching huarache woven detail.

Standout Styles:

SPORTS

For girls and boys, Clarks Sports designers have taken a leaf out of the brands’ back catalogue and revived a classic from the 1980s. Given a modern twist, it taps straight in to today’s retro runner trend with Super Leap for girls and Super Run for boys. Nylon and canvas are mixed with premium suedes, while vibrant colour combos complete the picture of a sports look that’s as authentic as it is contemporary.

Standout Styles:

FIRST SHOES

Across the entire Clarks First Shoes collection grown-up trends are reinterpreted for tiny toes. From suede and leather to Neoprene, contrasting materials are combined to great effect and character detailing injects that all-important element of fun.

For boys, Crazy Rock combines classic colours with bright pops of colour and details like contrast laces and linings. For girls the hugely successful Softly range gets a seasonal makeover with fun spot prints and a pretty in pink bow featuring on Softly Dotty.

Standout styles: