Clarks women's shoes | Collection

Clarks women's shoes_Elegant

Started in 1825, by Quaker brothers Cyrus and James Clark, as a business making sheepskin rugs and slippers, using out-workers in the village, it has expanded to become a global shoe brand, with operations in Europe, the United States and the Far East.

For much of the life of the business, the company manufactured its own shoes in Somerset, building several factories in the area. The company's Quaker ethos made provision for workers' housing, education and leisure activities, while its keen social conscience kept Street 'dry' for many years. Rising costs and low productivity prompted the company to move production abroad, and while shoe design is still predominantly done in the United Kingdom, all manufacturing has now moved to India, Brazil, Cambodia, China and Vietnam. In 1993, redundant buildings at its Street site were opened as Clarks Village, the UK's first outlet shopping centre.

C & J Clark company headquarters

Clarks have produced a number of iconic styles during its history. One such style is the Playdeck sandal, which was made for men, women and children, from the 1970s to the early 1990s. A popular style of sandal, especially for children, it consisted of a flat crepe sole unit, a leather insole, a plain ankle strap and two buckling straps, one at the instep and the other at the toes. It came in a variety of colours, but most popular were bamboo (tan), navy blue and white. Playdeck sandals were more commonly worn by girls, but a significant minority of them were worn by boys, and many girls' schools had them as a uniform item in the 1970s and early 1980s, typically with white knee socks. Clarks reintroduced an almost exact copy of the original Playdeck style in their Spring 2010 Originals range, with a style called Kestral Soar, which is virtually identical to Playdeck save for a very small wedge in the heel.

Clarks Companies North America's logistic centre is based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, near the Maryland line. In the recent years of growth, this facility was deemed a Federal Trade Zone, and has expanded its warehousing locations across town. A larger, more technologically advanced building is under preparation for construction very near to the original location, and should be fully operational by the second half of 2010.

C & J Clark brands include Bostonian Shoes; Clarks Shoes; Desert Boots; Elefanten Shoes; Indigo Shoes; K Shoes; Privo Shoes; Ravel Shoes

Clarks History At a Glance:

1825: Cyrus Clark founds a tanning and wool stapling business in the village of Street, in Somerset, England.

1828: Joined by brother James, Clark begins producing sheepskin slippers, called the Brown Peter.

1833: James becomes a full partner; business is renamed C&J Clark Ltd.

1863: William Clark, son of James Clark, takes over the company.

1893: The introduction of the "Hygienic" line of shoes begins the company's focus as a "comfort" shoemaker.

1937: The company acquires a retail shoe store chain and renames it Peter Lord.

1950: The company launches the successful Desert Boot.

1965: The first Clark Wallabee model is launched.

1978: The company acquires the Hanover Shoe manufacturing and retail business in the United States.

1979: The company acquires the Bostonian shoe manufacturing and retail business in the United States.

1981: The company acquires K Shoes Ltd., a U.K.-based shoe manufacturer and retailer.

1988: C&J Clark abandons its plans to go public.

1993: The company puts itself up for sale, then rejects an offer to buy from Berisford.

1996: The company begins restructuring, transforming itself from a manufacturing-oriented business to a consumer-driven, design-oriented branded products group.

2000: The company announces that it has decided not to go public for the near future.

2001: The company acquires Elefanten, a children's shoe manufacturer in Germany.

2005: Clarks ends shoe manufacturing in Somerset.

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