Melbourne Boutique Up There Taps 3 Local Artists to Rework the Clark's Originals Wallabee
An artist, an artisan and a shoemaker come together to customize a classic.
Up There Store, a Melbourne-based rustic boutique specializing in men’s fashion, sneakers and accessories, recently tapped three of its community members to reimagine the iconic Clark’s Originals Wallabee. The creative campaign was an inspired collision of craftsmanship and creativity, featuring 14 custom silhouettes that each transformed into a wearable work of art.
Illustrator Mike Kennedy set the tone with a bold reinterpretation of Melbourne’s Chinatown temple dogs—longstanding symbols of protection. His vivid graphics of abstracted dragons, bats, spiders and dogs paid homage to the folklore and Up There’s signature color palette.
Meanwhile, Anthony Wicks of Anthill Workshop translated Kennedy’s illustrations by utilizing vintage chainstitching machines to embroider each motif. The result was a tactile richness that felt both heritage and modern, an intricate interplay of stitch and story.
Bringing the vision to life was bespoke shoemaker Chase Shiel whose expertise lies in deconstruction and reconstruction. Working within the constraints of a machine never designed for footwear, Shiel rebuilt each Wallabee and Desert Trek with a meticulous hand, ensuring that no two pairs were alike.
All custom pairs have already been raffled off, but stay tuned for future projects from Up There and its growing community. Take a closer look at the designs above.
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