This year 2020 still holds some nice surprises in terms of collaborations between iconic brands. The Japanese streetwear label BAPE has teamed up with the historic brand Clarks Originals, founded in the UK almost 2 centuries ago. This project is the first collaboration between the two labels. It’s a celebration of BAPE’s unique designs, combined with the legendary Clarks silhouettes that have marked their era and which remain a must-have today. This capsule collection consists of a Desert Boost duo, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, and a Wallabee duo in limited edition.
The shoes retain their DNA while adding a touch of BAPE’s signature modernity.
They are made of high-end materials in the authentic Charles F. Stead tannery. To highlight this collection, Manchester City English football player Raheem Sterling is featured with these pairs in the lookbook. The footballer is of Jamaican descent, the Caribbean island nation that has played a major role in the growth of the Clarks brand’s popularity.
The Wallabee consists of an upper combining premium quality suede, in turquoise or brick red depending on the iteration, on the top of the shoe, and canvas covered with BAPE’s signature camouflage pattern on the rest of the upper. The pair features an ultra-comfortable leather lining, laces in the same color as the suede, an insole with co-branding and the « Manhunt » script engraved on the suede, paying homage to BAPE’s OG era. The whole is based on a thick, extra-light white sole with a unique imprint and signature in the shape of shark teeth.
The Desert Boot features a beige or brown suede upper, depending on the pair, with laser-printed illustrations and the BAPE logo on the entire shoe, which are arranged differently on each foot. To complete the design, we find also the slogan « Ape Shall Never Kill Ape », notably on the tongue, and a discreet white BAPE branding label on the ankle. The laces in the same colour as the upper and the topstitching adjacent to the sole finalise the look of the pair. The whole is based on the yellow crepe sole in Clarks signature.
The BAPE x Clarks Originals capsule collection will be available on August 8, 2020, on the bapeonline.com store and in the Clarks Originals Berwick Street store in London.
