G.H.Bass taps Clarks Originals for 150th anniversary collaboration

G.H.Bass has partnered with Clarks Originals, the heritage line of British footwear company Clarks, on a limited-edition loafer, adding a cross-brand release to the programme marking its 150th anniversary.

The G.H.Bass x Clarks Originals Wallabee Weejuns Loafer combines the handsewn moc stitch of G.H.Bass's Weejuns loafer with the Clarks Originals Wallabee last and its natural crepe outsole. The style launched on October 1 in men's and women's sizing, and retails for 295 dollars exclusively on ghbass.com.

The hybrid comes in two colourways. The maple version, the Wallabee's signature colour, uses suede from English tannery C.F. Stead, while the black version is made in the polished box leather long used in the Weejuns line. Both are built with G.H.Bass handsewn moccasin construction on a modified Wallabee last and come with co-branded sock liners and packaging.

"Our collaboration with Clarks Originals brings together two brands with a shared appreciation for craftsmanship and timeless design. As G.H.Bass celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, we are excited to mark the occasion by continuing to focus on the craft and heritage that has shaped our brand for over 100 years," said Jonathan Frankel, president of Aldo Product Services. "The timeless and thoughtful design of the Wallabee feels like a natural fit with our iconic Weejuns, a style at the center of our brand, with deep roots and a special place in our history."

Darren Day, chief marketing officer of Clarks, added: "We are excited to bring two brands with such deep heritage together to combine two of the most iconic footwear styles in the world, celebrating generations of everlasting style."

Anniversary programme

The release extends a year of activity for G.H.Bass, which is marking 150 years since George Henry Bass entered shoemaking in Wilton, Maine, in 1876, and 90 years of the Weejuns penny loafer, introduced in 1936. The celebrations launched during Paris Men's Fashion Week on June 26, followed by events in Berlin, Milan, New York and London, a limited-edition capsule collection carrying a commemorative anniversary penny, and collaborations with partners including Dover Street Market and Karl Lagerfeld.

The partnership lands amid a sustained revival of the loafer category, which G.H.Bass is positioning around its heritage rather than trend. "When people discover a trend, they often begin looking for the authentic products and brands that inspired it. That's where G.H.Bass has a unique advantage," Cyril Crentsil, marketing and PR manager at G.H.Bass, told FashionUnited in September.

Clarks Originals was formed in the 1990s to focus on the archive styles of the 200-year-old Clarks, including the Wallabee and its crepe sole. G.H.Bass says its 1936 Weejuns, adapted from a Norwegian farm shoe, was the first penny loafer.