CLARKS ORIGINALS ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER WALLABEE DAY
On April 26th, 2024, British shoe brand Clarks Originals will celebrate its first-ever Wallabee Day. Why then? The legend goes that on that date in 1971, an alarm was raised at New York’s John F Kennedy Airport, with customs teams rapidly assembling cages to accept the 4,176 Wallabees that were expected to arrive that day from Clarks. Customs called Clarks to check that the animals were safe to handle and to discuss the lack of paperwork to transport this number of live animals. There was a sense of relief (but also fury) when airport staff were informed that the crates did not, in fact, contain live animals, but rather the new Wallabee shoe silhouette.
To celebrate the style that has shaken things up in the United States from its very arrival on our shores, Clarks has announced that Wallabee Day will take place every year on April 26th, encouraging its global community of wearers to share their love of the iconic shoe.
For its inaugural Wallabee Day, Clarks teamed up with Wu-Tang Clan member and legendary Wallabee wearer Raekwon, who officially ushered in the celebration via the Clarks Originals Instagram account with an announcement on April 4th.
Throughout April, Clarks will be celebrating with activations, customizations, incredible content releases, and a social media competition that allows the Clarks community to show off its creativity.
Tara McRae, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, commented, “We are delighted to announce the launch of our first Wallabee Day. It’s such an iconic shoe loved by people across the world and has served as a blank canvas to artists, creators and cultures over many generations. Wallabee Day allows us to celebrate not just the shoe but all of the collaborators who help us reinvent the story, year after year.”
In the spirit of the incredible history of Wallabee adaptation, Clarks will be encouraging Wallabee lovers to submit their Wallabees “their way” for a chance to win two of its most exclusive Wallabee creations. Submissions could be Wallabee-inspired art, photography, animation, or even the ultimate outfit pic. Everyone who submits a Wallabee creation via Instagram will be entered to win a pair of some of the brand’s most coveted collabs from friends of the brand Vandy the Pink and Shaun Crawford, with a mystery box of special Wallabees on top.
Submissions have already begun: the very best being shared to Clarks’ socials throughout the month. The winner will be announced on Wallabee Day, and their creative will be kept for prosperity in the Clarks archive. Check out Clarks socials @clarksshoes, @clarkssoriginals, #WALLABEEDAY.
