Born in Street, Somerset in 1916, Nathan Clark was an Oxbridge scholar, a soldier and a global ambassador for the family business founded by his forebears, James and Cyrus Clark. He was a collector of classic cars and an Englishman in New York.  He was also a shoemaker whose lifelong passion led him to create not only the iconic Desert Boot but also a whole range of ground-breaking footwear styles.

Throughout his life Nathan’s sense of adventure and curiosity took him all over the world but, true to his roots, he kept an office at Clarks’ UK headquarters. It was a retreat which, after Nathan’s death in 2011, revealed a treasure trove of sketches, ideas and inspirations. And among the dusty piles of unfinished projects for men’s shoes, one in particular cried out to be completed.

Nameless then, but now reborn as Duty Desert and Duty Trek, the resurrected style is both a homage to Nathan’s original vision and a modern classic.

The Clarks Desert Boot is, without question,  a classic and iconic style and we are all indebted to the creator of this versatile and all enduring piece of footwear (I ask what other piece of footwear is so easy to wear or all encompassing?). Few of us may know the name ‘Nathan Clark’ but he was responsible for creating this style which has stood the test of time and remains as relevant today as it ever has been.

These styles were started by the main man himself but remained unfinished… until now. Clarks has lovingly brought these unfinished designs to life and once again we become indebted to Nathan.

my great wardrobe contains footwear by Nathan Clark and we now make way for two more great additions. With the easy simplicity we expect from Clarks two new icons of footwear are born!

- Lucas Armitage, Loaded magazine