Nathan Clark Passes Away at 94

It seems that every few years, for some inexplicable reason, a classic trend is revived, redesigned and manufactured to death. There is no better example of this phenomenon than what has happened to the desert boot recently, experiencing rebirth on the runways of Milan and Paris as well as the streets of the Bronx and Los Angeles. A classic in every sense of the word, the desert boot’s resurgence has also been characterized by a huge amount of consumers demanding the original: a pair of Clarks. And why shouldn’t they? In all senses of the word, it is a classic – a foundational piece of footwear that would never have existed as we know it if it was not for Nathan Clark, who died recently at the age of 94. The great-grandson of the founder of Clarks, Nathan had an obvious passion for the crepe-soled, suede desert boot that was invented for use of the British military during World War II’s Western Desert Campaign; and he marketed them extensively, building the Clarks brand into the footwear powerhouse it is today in the process. Supremely comfortable and equally stylish, the desert boot is one of the few trends that has stood the test of time. Despite all of the designer reinterpretations, low-budget reproductions and limited-edition collaborations, nothing will ever beat the original. Job well done Mr. Clark.

Source: GQ