Two Quaker brothers, Cyrus and James Clark began a business in Somerset in 1825. At first they made sheepskin rugs and slippers before starting to manufacture the iconic Clarks shoes. They built a village in Somerset to supply the shoe factories with workers. As Clark were Quakers there were no pubs. In 1993 shoe production moved to India, Brazil and China. Shoe design is still done in the UK but the original factory site is now a retail area known as Clarks Village.
Clarks shoes are extremely well-known for their children's shoes. Their iconic Playdeck sandal - a shoe for women, children and men - was first introduced in the 1950s. Despite falling out of fashion in the early 1990s it was reintroduced in 2010 in the Clarks Original range and has become very popular.
Since their small beginnings, Clarks shoes have become a hugely successful global brand, selling shoes in most countries in the world.
They built a village in Somerset to supply the shoe factories with workers. As Clarks Shoes Sale were Quakers there were no pubs. In 1993 shoe production moved to India, Brazil and China. Shoe design is still done in the UK but the original factory site is now a retail area known as Clarks Village.
ReplyDeleteI loved my Clarks sandals and me and my sisters always got a pair to start school in every year!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise the founders were Quakers. I came from a Quaker background, on my dad's side. I was also made to wear shoes like this. They were quality, but not exactly fashionable, even back then.
ReplyDeleteMy mum cut the fronts off the uppers so they were 'peep-toed' to last another summer. I wasn't the only girl wearing them like that. We thought they were great.
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