Clarks WTAF?

is there literally anything on MN that doesn’t allow trans to be shoehorned (!) in??

It’s much more likely that this London-Jamaican designer is appealing to the Clark’s cult following in the Caribbean. The brand gets name checked a lot in lyrics and they sell loads over there.

Laughing so hard at all the outraged comments on here. How dare Clark’s design shoes outside the comfort zone of frumpy suburban women. M&S will be doing lace knickers next!

Trans women are the target market, I imagine. Clarks actively supported the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender people, through collaborations and campaigns.

Looks like the dog's had a go at them! Definitely swerve them.

this Martine Rose for Clarks court shoe features a functional, intentionally distressed design which showcases time-tested techniques. Exposed seams reveal the shoe’s multiple inner layers for a utilitarian look, contrasting with bold, tactile croc-embossed blue leathers. An archival Sachetto construction method and authentic stitching captures the commitment to comfort and craft which underpins every pair in the Coming Up Roses collection.

Hmmm. Are we quite, quite sure that the shoes were originally intended to look like this?

Could this all be a load of marketing flannel to shift a batch of shoes caught in a manufacturing accident during production?

They're very creepy looking.

Wowzers indeed!!! Grim and quite scary!!

They look like they need to go to the cobbler's. No one is going to know it’s a ‘look’ and people will just think someone’s wearing shabby shoes. A more money than sense purchase.

I'd want to cut off that exposed seam.

Awful. Gorgeous blue though.

The outrage is making me giggle! Of course they're not to everyone's taste, but it doesn't seem nuts to me at all - Clarks have taken their 'British utility' brand towards something a bit more edgy plenty of times, and lots of heritage brands have done well collab-ing with more high end or out there designers.

The deconstructed shape must be familiar to lots of people via Irregular Choice?

But mainly, just pick the things that you like - if streetwear or 'fashion' stuff isn't you don't buy it. You don't have to like everything!

I do have some bits in the basket on temu but I haven't been brave enough to actually buy them but I'll take another look.

If these Clarks shoes were actually finished, I think they'd be beautiful, that colour is just gorgeous!! That said, I'd never spend £250 on a pair of shoes!!

I was worried at first but i’ve got 3 pairs of boots, some shoes and trainers from there and they’re great ( seeing as i barely do anything but work anyway) and i wear them all every day.
i like out there things, but i don’t think i could wear these shoes. They look half done and ripped. It would irritate me. I end up trying to pull the stitching from the back off….

I saw a video of things people bought from temu and it had a pair of timberland l9oking boots of which the sole had been squared rather than rounded and these shoes reminded me of that video 🤣

The thing is, they're not "intentionally distressed," are they?

"Intentionally distressed" is when you make a finished (usually fairly normal) item and then rough it up a bit to imitate wear and tear. Which I've got nothing against, personally.

These are shoes which have been made in a weird way in the first place (lining hanging out all round) and not distressed at all.

Once they actually do get any wear and tear then they will look terrible. The light-coloured, soft, porous lining all round the edge is going to get filthy and manky. It will also soak up any moisture and bring it into the inside of the shoe. There's actually a good reason why shoe linings are normally on the inside of the shoe and not sticking out all round the edge.

If you want to show off your shoemaking techniques, maybe make a display about them in your flagship stores (actually I would genuinely be interested to see that). Making a shoe which is going to look shit if you wear it outdoors is probably not the best way forward.

I don't know what they are trying to convey

"deconstructed shoes" or "this is how shoes are made" vibes going on here, right down to the diagram where the heel is supposed to be positioned, still marked on the soles

They aren't that different to a similar Sezanne block heel.

I like them but £250? No.

I love Clarks footwear but this unfinished offering doesn't represent Clarks values to me. The colours are lovely but the rest of the shoe and the price, nope.

There must be a very limited market. But I find Clark's shoes dreadfully uncomfortable anyway let alone making yourself a laughing stock by stepping out in some of these very ugly shoes. Give me European shoes any day.

They look like I made them on a ‘Shoe-making Workshop’ day out.

Clark’s has a cult
following in the Caribbean, apparently. Lots of people stock up here and take them over.

I don’t think the shoe is that hideous, it’s pretty interesting, but perhaps it’s aimed at a different market.

Two hundred and fifty quid for shoes that look like they belong in the bin?

Bloody hell.

I wish I had the ability to convince people to pay £££ for tat! I've got several pairs of worn out shoes I could flog. 😁

They look tacky. For that price you would be much better off buying in Ecco. Fabulous shoe shop.

They’re to generate interest from fashion press. They won’t sell many but they don’t intend to. They’ve achieved one of their aims through this thread which is to drive clicks to their website.

At first I was going to tell you “they’re denim.”
But they aren’t.
And the open toe - that’s a no for me.
I like the heel.
I like the heel - that’s it.
Maybe the price is due to Trump’s tariffs.