The Clarks Desert Boot: Made in England

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Film by Will Robson-Scott
Edit by Luca Campanale

Words

Inspired by a crepe-soled silhouette made in the bazaars of Cairo, the Clarks Desert Boot is one of the most iconic footwear styles of the 20th century. Designed by Nathan Clark in 1949 and unveiled later that year at the Chicago Shoe Fair, it was put into production soon after and went on sale in 1950. Widespread success followed and it remains relevant and immensely popular today, with more than ten million pairs sold.

To celebrate the Desert Boot’s 65th anniversary, Clarks is set to release a definitive, Northampton-made version, constructed on hand-carved wooden lasts from the original Charles F. Stead suede. Available from tomorrow, the limited edition model was the starting point for this behind the scenes film, which focuses on the shoe’s manufacture as well as its rich history and continued appeal.

—Clarks Originals

Weekend Viewing: Jela

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Film by Will Robson-Scott
Edited by Luca Campanale
Music by Makoto Masui

Words

Will Robson-Scott has a knack for capturing characters in a realistic and true light, whether via the medium of film or photography. His latest short, titled simply "Jela", is yet another great example of Will's ability to make his subjects perfectly at ease in his presence, allowing their true personalities to shine through. The film's central character Jela grew up in London's East End, and the film uses those streets as a background to the story of his life there; growing up in the 80s and 90s and immersed in football hooliganism, skinhead subculture, and heavy drug use.

—Will Robson-Scott

Top Deck by James Pearson-Howes & Will Robson-Scott

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Images

—01 & 02. James Pearson-Howes.
—03. Will Robson-Scott.

Words

"In popular myth, Margaret Thatcher reportedly said that any man still travelling by bus after the age of 30 could consider himself a failure. The quote is almost certainly apocryphal, but it stuck in the public consciousness because it sounded like the kind of thing that an arch-conservative would say; cars were the preserve of the rich and successful, whereas buses were how the poor, the failed and the antisocial travelled around the city.

If there’s any truth in that distinction, then it damns an awful lot of people in London. Every week day, over 6800 buses carry around 6 million people across 700 different routes. And while buses have their problems, they offer a unique view of the city." This except from Justin Quirk's foreward sums up the inspiration behind a new publication by James Pearson-Howes and Will Robson-Scott. Photographed over a 2 year period from the top deck of various East London buses, and currently on show at renowned advertising agency Mother, the project offers a fresh perspective on the monotony of the daily commute.

—Top Deck
—Mother