The original Desert Boot was created by Clarks Originals in 1949. The great-grandson of the company's founder left to help with the war effort and set off on his military expedition in Burma. It wasn’t long before he found inspiration from the sandy coloured boots his peers were wearing during their downtime and by 1949, he had designed his own boot with the same simple appearance and extreme comfort as those he had discovered. He first unveiled the shoe at the Chicago Shoe Fair the next year and the rest, as they say, is history. 

The boot was practical, but when paired with Oxford shirts, lambswool V-neck jumpers, and loose workwear trousers, it became stylish as well. In the 60s, they were a favourite of the mods, and in the 70s, they gained popularity with rockers. Many famous faces donned the boot, and back in the day, icons like The Beatles helped give it a relaxed, fashionable image.