Few shoes are as instantly recognizable as the Clarks Wallabee.
Its moccasin-inspired construction and crepe sole have made it a fixture of casual footwear for decades, but it’s never exactly been the sort of shoe you’d reach for before a hike. That might be about to change, thanks to a new collaboration that gives the classic silhouette some serious trail-ready elements.
Premium hikers
For the task, Clarks tapped Italian footwear label Diemme, who specializes in premium hiking boots, mountaineering footwear and contemporary sneakers. Its outdoor models typically run around $500, which is a stark contrast to Clarks’s more approachable prices (the Wallabee is currently listed at $140).
Nevertheless, the newest take on the Wallabee, along with the brand’s Desert Boot and Desert Trek silhouettes, will command much more. We’re talking $620 per pair!
But for that kind of price *ahem* hike, the shoes get brand-new details
What’s new?
Made in Italy by Diemme at its factory in Veneto, each of the three shoes swap its signature crepe leather soles for something more capable. The brand borrows the lugged rubber outsoles from its Roccia Vet and Cornaro hiking boots, giving these a more assertive stature and, of course, better grip underfoot.
Other elements come into play as well, including thick, rope-style laces you’d find on a typical outdoor boot, hiking-style D-rings to replace the traditional lacing hardware, an affixed paracord attachment and a textured mudguard at the bottom of the uppers.
The Wallabee lands in a bone-white suede that matches the base. Meanwhile, the Desert Boot looks the most like an outdoor shoe with a mostly brown colorway and suede uppers. And despite its upgrades, the Desert Trek goes with a full-grain leather skin for an almost-dressy, all-black appearance.
Price and availability
The Clarks x Diemme collection is expected to drop November 5 from Diemme’s website. Each silhouette is priced at $620 a pair.
Diemme x Clarks Originals Collection
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Adventure and Exploration,Boots,Hiking & Climbing
