After an elegant Wallabee reinterpreted by BODEGA, the legendary British brand CLARKS offers us a new and rather surprising collaboration. This time, the footwear specialist has teamed up with independent rollerblading label Them Skates for an exclusive capsule.
Them Skates is a young independent aggressive skate brand created by the famous American pro rider Jon Julio. The self-described « one of the greatest old men in rollerblading » stopped his VALO brand after 10 years of existence to invest much of his savings in Them Skates in 2018. Them Skates are a remake of a rollerblade called Sabotage, which was made by Ultra Wheels 20 years ago. Jon Julio traveled to China where he found the factory that produced the iconic Sabotage model. His reinterpretations are based on the same technology, but with a few modifications to bring them up to date, and they come with the UFS system that makes them compatible with almost every turntable on the market.
According to Jon Julio, a collaboration with Clarks was a no-brainer, as the Wallabee was a staple pair for the rollerblading community during the 90s.
Thus, the collaborative collection is articulated around a new Wallabee boot, a Wallabee Cup Mule and 2 models of rollerblades : THEM 80 with a wheelbase of 80mm and a THEM 909 with wheels of 58mm.
Paying homage to the 909s, the Wallabee boot in suede features a classic design in THEM SKATES’ signature blue color. It features subtle details on the sides such as ripple stitching on the front and wheel designs on the heel that match the skate brand’s logo.
The Wallabee Cup Mule is a Wallabee reimagined to be more practical for rollerblading enthusiasts. Adopting the aesthetics of a mule, it benefits from an open heel to make it easier and faster to put your foot through before or after the skating session. This exclusive version is available in grey suede, features the THEM SKATES 4-wheel logo on the tongue, a co-branding on the insole and benefits from a wide crepe sole.
Both versions of the skates are presented in the signature blue color and, like the Wallabees, feature a dual Clarks and THEM SKATES fob.
The THEM SKATES x CLARKS collection is available for pre-order as of September 28, 2022 on the rollerblading brand’s website themgoods.com. The complete capsule will be available on November 4, 2022 at THEM SKATES and SSENSE, and the skates can also be purchased at selected skate shops. Prices are set at $200 for the Wallabee Boot, $210 for the Wallabee Cup Mule, $400 for the THEM 80 or the THEM 909.
