The Originals original, the Desert Boot was designed in 1949 by Nathan Clark and launched at the Chicago Shoe Fair a year later. It's inspiration was a crepe-soled boot made from rough suede in Cairo's fabled Old Bazaar and the footwear of choice for off-duty Eighth Army officers. The simple lines and conspicuous comfort were an instant hit and the first ever casual shoe was born. The rest, as they say, is history. Often imitated but never bettered, sometimes different but in spirit always the same, long live the Originals Desert Boot.

Another decade, another original. Based on a style discovered in Holland by the wife of an abstract artist and refined in Clarks' Republic of Ireland factory by Lance Clark, the debut of Desert Trek in the early 70s couldn't have been timelier. For millions, the oil crisis meant leaving the car at home and walking. Comfortable shoes were called for and Desert Trek was the answer. Unlike its original names, 'Six Toes' and briefly 'Hike', Desert Trek's special combination of nature form last, trademark crepe sole and distinctive centre seam survives to this day.

Following in Nathan's footsteps, Lance Clark created another original - the Wallabee. Inspired by a moccasin made by a company called Sioux, it was developed in 1961 at the Clarks owned Padmore & Barnes factory in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Originally called 'Grasshopper' (for copyright reasons the name Wallabee was coined when the shoe first crossed the Atlantic) it was constructed around the nature form last. And it still is. But while the Wallabee is sublimely comfortable, it's the simple, uncluttered design that over the years has earned it millions of dedicated followers.

Traditionally boots used in the sport of curling have a crepe sole that wraps all around the upper. Another unexpected source of inspiration for Clarks Originals, our designers took the look but cut the crepe, just keeping it on the toe and heel, to create Natalie. This laid-back lace-up is a comparative new kid on the block, but is already following in the footsteps of all the other Clarks Originals and becoming a classic loved the whole world over.