LAUNCH ALERT: Clarks x ONE School: The NYC Wallabee

The collaboration

Based in the US, ONE School challenges the lack of diversity in advertising on a global scale, giving Black creatives free access to some of the industry’s top talent. The initiative helps students build world-class portfolios, a crucial first step to launching rewarding careers. What’s more, ONE School connects students with mentors, building a strong, supportive network to empower the next generation.

As part of its 2022 New York campaign, Clarks partnered with ONE School to offer 60 students a unique design opportunity: reinterpret the iconic Wallabee Boot through an NYC lens. The brief invited bold thinking and cultural nuance, with a winner selected by Clarks’ in-house team of shoe designers — no easy feat given the creativity on display. Beyond the competition itself, Clarks are sponsoring places for future students at ONE School, opening doors for portfolio growth and further supporting emerging talent.

Tola Oseni’s NYC Wallabee

So who did they pick? Tola Oseni, a designer and art director, won with a design that is as playful as it is wearable. Her Wallabee reinvents the silhouette with a quirky, colourful motif and five detachable fobs, each paying homage to one of New York City’s boroughs. Inside the shoe, screen‑printed slogans and hidden details reward a closer look, while the embroidered collar and NYC heel deliver instant visual impact.

From its vivid embroidered collar and signature NYC heel to a contrasting rubber crepe sole, Tola’s black Wallabee captures New York’s dynamism without sacrificing the quiet confidence of the original silhouette. Eye-catching embroidery on classic white suede pairs with a colourful sole to make the boot pop, and the layered details turn a familiar shape into a conversation piece that still reads as effortless on the foot.

This collaboration is a neat distillation of craft and culture: Clarks’ heritage in comfortable, considered footwear meets a fresh, city-driven aesthetic. The crepe sole ensures the boot remains true to Wallabee DNA — comfortable, durable and ready for urban wear — while the playful graphics and bespoke hardware nod to contemporary street sensibilities. The result is a design that works visually and practically, easily balancing statement styling with everyday usability.

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