UP THERE is Launching 14 Bespoke Clarks Originals Sneakers

Australian boutique UP THERE is celebrated worldwide for its collaborative efforts in footwear. Most famously, it has worked alongside New Balance on a handful of different projects in the last few years. For the brand’s latest work, it has decided to celebrate Clarks Originals through a bespoke collection of 14 unique pairs of shoes based on the Wallabee and Desert Trek silhouettes.

Three UP THERE community members, Mike Kennedy, Anthony Wicks, and Chase Shiel, came together to create these bespoke pairs. Each silhouette receives one colorway in each size, from a UK size 7 to a UK size 12. Mike made the artwork on each pair, inspired by the temple dog that sits within UP THERE’s Flinders Lane store, which is inspired by the totems found in Melbourne, Australia’s Chinatown. Designs include abstract interpretations of dogs, dragons, spiders, bats, and more, with colors drawn from UP THERE’s signature palette.

UP THERE employed Anthony Wicks from Anthill Workshop to apply the artwork to the footwear. Each image is intricately hand-stitched and painted onto the silhouettes by Anthony. For the final step in the creation process, Chase Sheil cobbled the shoes back together after they were deconstructed to apply the artwork.

All 14 bespoke UP THERE Clarks Originals sneakers will be displayed in-store from February 28 to March 2. A raffle is on the retailer’s website, with winners drawn on March 4. Each pair retails for $400 AUD (approx $250 USD). Check below for images of the collection, and download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com