NEIGHBORHOOD Proves Clarks’ Wallabee Is the World’s Most Versatile Shoe
If all the talks about transitioning into a post-sneaker era are true, then we need post-sneaker options. The latest collaboration between Japanese streetwear brand NEIGHBORHOOD and Clarks Originals has made the search for sneaker alternatives disappear.
This isn't the first time NEIGHBORHOOD and Clarks Originals have joined forces: the duo previously reimagined the Wallabee and Desert Trek back in 2022 but that time the focus was on withstanding nonoptimal weather conditions by using GORE-TEX lining and Vibram outsoles.
In NEIGHBORHOOD and Clarks’ 2024 collaboration, Wallabees are presented in sleek, monochromatic black, accentuated by exposed stitching along the silhouette's outline.
The NEIGHBORHOOD x Clarks Originals Desert Boot instead is made with an earthy tan colorway, complemented by NEIGHBORHOOD's signature zig-zag stitching typical of NEIGHBORHOOD’s brandmark running down the forefoot.
For many years the Wallabee and Desert Boot have been a canvas for numerous collaborations, including high-profile names like Aimé Leon Dore, Supreme, Levi's, and now NEIGHBORHOOD, which have reinforced the status of both shoes as cultural collab touchstones.
Though the intricate stitching is texturally intriguing, in this collaboration the shoes themselves are mostly unchanged. This isn't a terrible thing, especially considering how good Wallabees and Desert Boot are, but the collaboration, available for purchase on July 19 at NEIGHBORHOOD’s official webstore, could have probably tried to be more creatively daring.
After all, the highly graphic and colorful nature of NEIGHBORHOOD’s brand identity could have elevated the Clarks silhouettes even more, helping them make a more notable impact in the hyper-competitive collaboration market.
