Buy Clarks Apr 2026

A recession in 1863 brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. The local Quaker community provided a bailout loan on one condition: Cyrus and James had to step down, and James's son, William Stephens Clark, would take the helm.

In 1825, Cyrus Clark operated a tannery where he manufactured sheepskin rugs. His brother, James, joined him as an apprentice in 1828 and noticed a growing pile of sheepskin offcuts.

: In 1883, Clarks launched the "Hygienic" range, some of the first shoes designed specifically to fit the natural shape of the human foot. buy clarks

: By 1842, they were selling 1,000 pairs a month using local "outworkers"—families who collected materials from the factory to sew slippers in their own homes. Crisis and Innovation (1863–1900)

: James had a "flash of inspiration" to use these scraps to create hand-sewn slippers. A recession in 1863 brought the company to

: These slippers became an overnight success, eventually known as the "Brown Petersburgh".

: Today, Clarks continues to innovate with technologies like Active Air cushioning and has recently undergone a major digital transformation to modernize its global retail operations. About Us and Our story - Clarks His brother, James, joined him as an apprentice

The 20th century saw the birth of silhouettes that would transcend utility to become cultural symbols.