Description
From Somerset to the World: Clarks A Visual History 1825–2025 by Alexander Newman, with a foreword by Jony Ive
From rugmaker to shoemaker. From Quaker family business to global brand. From Somerset to the world.
As Clarks celebrates its 200th anniversary, this book traces the remarkable history of the company behind some of the most iconic shoes of all time. Charting landmark footwear across two centuries, it explores Clarks’ visual heritage and cultural reach — from Beatniks to hip-hop kids, Mods to rudeboys, UK ravers to Tokyo tastemakers and beyond.
Footwear fans will enjoy this Clarks visual history and the stories behind its global influence. Packed with archive photographs, advertisements, catalogue imagery and cultural ephemera, the book offers a unique insight into how a small family enterprise developed into one of the world’s most recognisable footwear brands.
Alongside the visual material, Newman’s research uncovers lesser-known stories from Clarks history, revealing the people, places and ideas that shaped the brand’s evolution. The narrative explores the company’s Quaker roots, philosophy, its commitment to craft and the way its shoes have become part of global subcultures and style movements.
This richly illustrated volume will appeal to designers, collectors, cultural historians and anyone fascinated by the intersection of fashion, identity and innovation. Whether you’re discovering the Clarks story for the first time or deepening your appreciation of its legacy, this book offers a comprehensive and beautifully presented account of two centuries of creativity.
A brand is a story.
And this is the story of Clarks.
Written and designed by Alexander Newman
Foreword by Jony Ive
First edition, published 13th November 2025
ISBN: 978-0-9567773-1-7
217 × 252 × 44.5mm / 1.58kg
1260 illustrations
