Clarks’ Timeless Desert Boot Celebrates 75 Years with a Rugged Custom Update

When it comes to chukka boots, Clarks’ iconic Desert Boot reigns supreme. This is the chukka by which all others are judged, due to a combination of their lasting power and timelessness.

This year, this quintessential footwear is celebrating a significant milestone: its 75th anniversary. As part of the celebration, the brand has teamed up with a beloved Japanese brand to launch the Clarks Originals x Beams Desert230 GTX.

Clarks

Just deserts

While it borrows heavily from Clarks’ long history of making chukkas, this is not actually an existing model from its catalog (nor is it borrowed from Beams’s.) Instead, this is an entirely new, bespoke model built from the ground up.

That said, it does still bear numerous hallmarks of the Desert Boots’ iconic styling. For instance, the relatively minimalist upper is still made from a classic tan suede material. It also maintains a simple four-eyelet lacing style.

But you’ll also notice some big changes. The outsole, for instance, is more in line with work boots than typical chukkas, boasting a tread pattern you might associate with Timberlands.

Furthering that connection are its laces. The boot comes with two pairs, including red-and-yellow “tiger” laces, which also hearken to urbane city-going boots. Altogether, the boots are a unique blend of the two styles, chukka and work boot, that both honor their heritage and help push them into modernity.

Clarks

Versatile styling, rugged capabilities

The boots alone are an excellent addition to Clarks’ historic catalog, but they actually offer more than you might assume at a glance. For instance, they have internal elastic, meaning you could wear them as slip-ons without the laces tied and they’d remain secure.

However (and much more importantly,) their suede upper is protected from the elements by a Gore-Tex membrane. That means they’re still breathable and comfortable in any weather, but they’ll repel water in a downpour, making them more durable and long-lasting than they might otherwise be.

Clarks

There is one small catch, however … Beams is selling these boots in Japan. There’s no clear indication if they’re going to come to the States or even go international. As such, you’ll have to be clever if you want to snag a pair.

Still, their presumed popularity could mean they get a wider release, so there is still hope. Either way, you’ll want to keep a close eye on Beams’s site for more information.

Clarks

Coming soon

The Beams x Clarks Originals Desert230 GTX will launch this Saturday, October 25, on Beams’s site for ¥34,100 (about $225.)

Clarks

Beams x Clarks Originals Desert230 GTX

• $225 at Beams

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