The Desert Trek - 40 years
old this year and looking
it’s absolute best
With another year comes another milestone in our ever-evolving story of timeless British design. The Desert Trek turns 40 and to celebrate it’s sustained popularity from the West Country to the West Indies, we release three special edition Desert Treks for AW12.
To begin a series of features on our beloved Desert Trek, here’s an introduction to the how the legend started…
Based on a style discovered in Holland by the wife of an acclaimed abstract artist, refined under the watchful eye of Lance Clark in Ireland, and originally named ‘Six Toes’, the genesis of Desert Trek is almost as unusual as its design. Combining Clarks’ signature nature form last shape with a classic crepe sole and a raised centre seam, after its launch production in the USA alone went from 400 to 4000 pairs in just six months. And it wasn’t only the distinctive styling that proved to be popular. For millions, the oil crisis of the early 1970s meant leaving the car at home and walking. Comfortable shoes were called for and
Desert Trek was the answer. Untouched by the passage of time, except for the occasional addition of a new colour or finish, Desert Trek approaches its fourth decade as popular
today as it’s ever been.
The 40th birthday Desert Treks have been inspired by the original 1970s design and will be available in vintage leathers featuring a special version of our iconic Trek Man.
Until their arrival… check out our current SS12 Desert Treks here and read what Proper Magazine’s article had to say on our AW12 collection here.
