A moccasin-inspired silhouette, soft suede or leather upper, and the signature crepe sole: the Clarks Wallabee – even though instantly recognizable for its distinctive design –was never intended to make a bold style statement. First introduced by Clarks in the 1960s, the highly comfortable shoe was first and foremost crafted for everyday wear, prioritizing a minimalist look and extreme comfort over flashy trends.
Despite or rather because of this very nonconformity and coziness, the Wallabee has developed a cult-like following in subcultures and popular culture alike. In joyful anticipation of the custom BSTN x Clarks Wallabee, here’s four hand-picked Wallabee moments that illustrate the exceptional niche that the iconic pair has carved out:
MF DOOM
With his unusual squared toe box and short lacening, the Wallabee might one of the unlikeliest shoes to become a style icon, if you think about it. So it just makes sense that one of hip hop’s most beloved oddballs, the late MF DOOM, was a Wallabee head. The late legend’s collaborational pair in this list also stands exemplary for the hip hop culture’s penchant for Wallabees:
From early trendsetters like Slick Rick (who has been rocking Wallabees since the 1980s), to Biggie, A$AP Yams, “College Dropout” days Kanye, to FKA Twigs, the list of rappers rocking Wallabees is endless. That’s especally remarkable in a culture, where – aside from the Timberland boot maybe – sneakers reign supreme. Maybe it’s because Wallabees are just as snug to wear. Or as DOOM said himself: “Only rich cats had these back in the days. But they always had a classy and casual look to them.”
The Dancehall Collection
The Wallabee is one of the most popular shoes in Jamaica, where Clarks is the ruling name in footwear in general. Its cultural significance in Jamaica is actually so profound that it inspired a whole book: “Clarks in Jamaica” by Al Fingers chronicles the deep relationship between the brand and the island, and especially its reggae and dancehall scenes.
Favored by Jamaican rude boys for its durable construction and head-turning design, the Wallabee was a perfect fit for bold fashion statements. They started to embrace the shoe as a symbol of status in the 1970s, and it has been a staple in the wardrobes of reggae and dancehall artists ever since. Vybz Kartel alone, for example, has three (!) songs about the shoe. Honoring the deep relationship with Jamaica, Clarks released the ‘Dancehall Collection’ in 2023, which made for a full-circle moment.
Walter White
In the world of television, Bryan Cranston’s fictional Walter White character from ‘Breaking Bad’ can be seen frequently wearing Wallabees during his transformation to Heisenberg – including the famous desert scene pictured above, bringing special attention to the shoes. Note how the Wallabees effortlessly blend with Walter’s everyman image: Can you imagine any other shoe that could suit the inconspicuous style of Walter White, while looking equally good in a flashy outfit by – let’s say – Ghostface Killah?
The Wallabee Champ(s)
The Wu-Tang Clan’s love for the Clarks Wallabee is legendary, within or outside of the hip hop scene. And while every single member of the Staten Island collective has passionately flexed the shoe (including countless lyrical references to it) over the years, the Clan’s Ghostface Killah and Raekwon set the biggest monument for their favorite choice of footwear:
Featuring dozens of customized Wallabee pairs, the iconic cover for Ghostface’s 1996 “Iron Man” album first solidified the shoe’s status in Wu-Tang and hip hop lore worldwide – one year before The Verve gave the Wallabee another prominent album cover spot, by the way. And while the British band might have sold more albums, there’s no discussion about who the undisputed Wallabee Champs are: it’s Ghost and Rae. If in doubt, just listen to the intro of ‘Glaciers of Ice’ and their “crazy visions” for those “cream joints” below.
