Clarks Shoes Brand: Are There Any Good Quality Shoes Anymore?

Clarks has a reputation for giving us quality products. What happened?

My Clarks -velvetstar64

Today I wore a pair of Clark’s women’s open-back shoes for the fourth time since I bought them. I love the Clarkes brand because I believe it is strong and of good quality. My husband has been wearing them for years and gives this brand a five-star rating.

This is my husband’s Clarks and has it for years. Good quality-velvetsatr64

I, too, have come to love them, especially the bootie or the uppers kind.

Clarks shoes originated in 1825 in Street, Somerset, England, founded by brothers Cyrus and James Clark. They began by making rugs from sheepskins, and James had the idea to use the offcuts to create slippers, known as the “Brown Petersburg,” which were the first Clarks shoes.

The company’s origin story highlights core values of innovation, conscientiousness, and craftsmanship, which remain central to their ethos.

According to orthoticsdirect.com:

Clarks remains a fashion staple in shoes for both men and women. Clarks shoes are often the first pair of school shoes for children, taking you through adult brogues and heels.

I bought a pair in 2024 and decided to wear them again to church this morning. This isn’t my first time wearing it. On my way out of the service, I slid on the tile floor, but never really fell, nor was I concerned that something was wrong with the shoe.

I left the church and decided to stop at the store to get some electrolytes to add to my water. My mind was so engrossed in getting this item that I didn’t pay any more attention to my shoe.

What left of my Clarks-velvetstar64

As I walked inside the store, I heard this strange clicking sound, but this sound was following me around the store. Then I looked down, and I saw a piece of black thing under my shoe. I stopped trying to pull it off, thinking it was a piece of paper, only to see the bottom of the boots all gone. My shoe was broken into two; the bottom all disintegrated into small pebbles.

I had to tiptoe out of the store, leaving what I had gone in to purchase.

When I got to my car, I was surprised to see the bottom of my Clarks shoe.

Isn’t Clarks making shoes anymore in England?

According to Google, the Clarks shoes are now being made in India, Vietnam, China, Mexico, Bangladesh, and other locations in Southeast Asia and Europe. The company once had factories in the UK, but production has moved overseas since the 2000s. A significant portion of these Clarks are now manufactured in countries such as India, China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.

Mine was made in one of these countries with low-grade material. My shoe was incinerated to tiny pebbles. What are we paying for? This Clark’s open back was $50.00.

What are we paying for, quality or quantity? Shoes in my days were of better quality than those being made today. Is there a difference in the quality, thought, and care of footwear being made in the ’60s and ’70s when I was a child?

Absolutely.

Shoes were strong and of better material at that time. The bottom seems as if it was made of asphalt.

According to Google, “there are major differences between quality shoes from that era and today, influenced by changes in manufacturing, materials, and consumer culture. In the 1970s, high-quality shoes were built for durability and repairability, whereas modern shoes often prioritize comfort, lightness, and affordability through mass-produced, synthetic materials.

This one was one of the poorly made, possibly due to its uneven or frayed stitching.

Another pair of Clarks-velvetstar64

So what should we look for when purchasing a quality pair of shoes? We should be looking for “excellent fit and comfort, high-quality materials like leather and breathable fabrics, durable construction with neat and secure stitching, and proper support for the arch and heel.”

https://www.globalpodiatry.com/post/shoe-buying-tips-what-the-right-shoe-can-do-for you#:~:text=Fit%20well%2D%20Shoes%20that%20are,like%20it's%20cutting%20off%20circulation.

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