Clarks: The Sole of British Culture

British shoe manufacturer Clarks has unveiled an online storybook to lift the lid on Clarks’ 200-year-old history.

Unboxed, crafted by BBH, is an interactive multimedia experience that contains a series of stories about the people, ideas and beliefs that have led to the evolution of Clarks’ shoes.

Beginning in the 1820s, the story opens with brothers Cyrus and James who created luxurious slippers with unique leather exteriors and padded sheepskin inside. By 1833, the boys had set up J&C Clarks.

From there, the stories – sorted into 12 categories each with different chapters; Origins, Revolution, William, Fit, Alice, Jazz, Victory, Quads, Boot, Kinky and Ugly – span the store’s lifeline.

With familiar faces cropping up throughout the timeline - the Queen’s passing comment on the shoe, Honour Blackman’s iconic Kinky Boots and Breaking Bad’s Walter White’s Wallabee obsession, it’s safe to say that Clarks has been and remains a big part of British popular culture.

“Clarks Unboxed is a celebration of our incredible heritage,” says Clarks’ head of marketing Darren Day.

To uncover the stories, click here and watch Behind-The-Scenes footage with BBH creatives above.