Clarks and The Wu-Tang Clan
With the release of the Wu-Wear Clarks Wallabees aka Wu-Wallys we travel back in time and take a look at some of the highlights where music, the Clan and the iconic leather shoe collide. In an era dominated by cloud and the rappers that come with it, the prevalence of the Wu-Tang Clan is unbroken.
“Follow me, Wu-Tang gotta be the best thing since stocks in Clark Wallabees” – Method Man on Gravel Pit
The history of Clarks dates back to 1825, with iconic moments in 1950 releasing the Desert Boot and later in the ‘60s the comfort-driven moccasin-inspired Clarks Wallabee. When Bob Dylan and Steve McQueen became synonymous with the Desert Boot in the ‘60s, and Jamaican rudeboys reppin’ them on the island and their LP covers, it took some time for the Wallabee to catch up. We can only assume that Ghostface and Co. found their inspiration to wear the all-leather donning moccasin from the yardies coming over from Jamaica in the '80s, which resulted in DIY color-blocking 1-of-1s.
The Wu-Tang love for the Wallabees knew no bounds, providing them with center-stage exposure on their first “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” record. With the success of the early Clan records that came with several Wallabee references, and Wu-Tang showing their love further on their artworks, they made a name for itself in music culture until today, with Oasis’ Liam Gallagher championing the shoe in the ‘90s, help lift the shoe to the Style-Mount Olympus, becoming music’s unsung influencers.
“Take a boat cruise, sip daquiris and max, swimming pools, fly jewels, Wally shoes, blow stacks” Ghostface Killah on Glaciers of ice
Wu-Tang rapper Ghostface Killah the proclaimed “Wallabee Champ” dedicated whole songs and even a lost-tapes LP after the comfortable leather silhouette, influencing his peers to rock baggy jeans with Wally’s. He further gave styling tips on how to combine Wallabees with jeans and introduced fans to his favorite colorways. Until today, with Kanye sporting them, MF Doom, Drake, Stussy, Bait and Supreme collabos, as well as a Breaking Bad cameo in the books, no one has ever rocked them as good as the Wally Champ. So, it’s just the right thing, that Clarks pay homage to the Staten Island crew and their tantamount Wu-Wear clothing brand.
(Poor image quality of the video but still a damn great gem)
Before #trendingtopics it was either music, movies or magazine adds that provided the thirst-quenching effect for your fashion desires. If you were into Hip Hop, there was no way around the Polo's, the Tommy’s or the Wu-Wear’s. Riding high on the Wu-Tang cloud, channeling the fame of the first LP, the Clan and Oliver "Power" Grant started Wu-Wear in the mid-‘90s as the first-ever brand started by rappers.
“Well at the moment, the main thing was the creation for the Wu-Tang fan. Something that was fashionable to them that they could wear and appreciate, but again, make it our own and make it a Wu-Tang thing.” Says Grant.
The new Clarks x Wu-Wear Wallabees let us be re-obsessed with the moccasin shoes.
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