Li-Ning's Clarks Wallabee Is Subtly Wild
Clarks Originals’ collaborations have slowed a little of late, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
It’s not that the flurry of Clarks link-ups across 2021 wasn’t great (because it was), it’s just that when there’s less of them, you learn to appreciate them a little more.
Last year the British footwear label’s hand-selected collaborators spanned from C.P. Company, and Moncler, to VANDYTHEPINK and BEAMS, as well as a handful of others including Bodega and Raheem Sterling. They found a nice balance.
This year though, after a fairly somber start, Clarks is upping the ante by revealing its debut Li-Ning collaboration.
The Beijing-based sportswear label — which was founded in 1990 — has taken on two of Clarks’ most iconic silhouettes in the Wallabee and Desert Trek, and spun two takes of each.
Colors are inspired by the elegance and beauty of ancient China’s three historical dynasties (the elegance of the Song Dynasty, the beauty of traditional rice paper, and the warmth of porcelain), while underfoot you’ll find Li-Ning’s unique midsole BOOM material.
As with most good things, there’s a catch: they’ll only be available in China from March 3 via the Li-Ning website and specific Asian Clarks locations.
That being the case, maybe now’s a good time to reconnect with anyone you know over in China for that all important plug.