Where Are Clarks Shoes Made

Clarks shoes are made mainly in Vietnam, Cambodia, and India by independent contract factories, and no longer in England, even though the brand was founded there nearly two hundred years ago.

Clarks closed its last remaining United Kingdom factory in 2019, ending nearly two centuries of domestic manufacturing and shifting production entirely to overseas partners in Asia.

The company itself changed ownership significantly in recent years. A Hong Kong based private equity firm rescued Clarks from financial trouble in 2020, and a Chinese investment group now holds a majority stake.

Despite these changes, Clarks remains headquartered in the small English town of Street, Somerset, where it was founded, and continues expanding its retail presence internationally.

This article covers exactly where Clarks shoes are manufactured today, who owns the brand now, why UK production ended, and how Clarks compares to other heritage footwear brands.

Where Are Clarks Shoes Made?

Clarks footwear is manufactured through independent contract factories located primarily in Vietnam, Cambodia, and India, with additional production across other parts of Asia, according to the company’s Wikipedia entry.

Clarks does not own these factories. Like most global footwear brands, it designs shoes domestically and relies on third party manufacturers overseas to handle production at scale.

No Clarks shoes are currently made in England. The company closed its final UK factory in 2019 after a brief attempt to restart limited domestic production just one year earlier, in 2018.

The Street, Somerset headquarters, where Clarks was founded in 1825, continues to handle design, corporate leadership, and archive preservation rather than shoe manufacturing.

This shift away from domestic production mirrors what happened across the broader British footwear industry over the past several decades, as overseas labor costs made UK factories increasingly difficult to sustain.

Who Owns Clarks Now?

Clarks was founded in 1825 by Cyrus Clark in Street, Somerset, England, with his brother James joining as a partner in 1833, giving the company its long used name, C and J Clark.

The company ran into serious financial trouble by 2020, entering a company voluntary arrangement, a form of UK insolvency protection, before Hong Kong based private equity firm LionRock Capital stepped in with a rescue deal, reported in detail by WWD.

Viva China Holdings Limited, tied to that rescue, now holds a 51 percent majority stake in Clarks, with the Clark family retaining the remaining 49 percent.

This ownership split means Clarks is now majority controlled by Chinese investors while remaining headquartered in the same English town where it started nearly two centuries ago.

The Clark family, though no longer majority owners, continues to be associated with the brand’s heritage and remains involved in aspects of the business even after ceding operational control.

Why Did Clarks Stop Making Shoes in the UK?

Clarks attempted to revive limited UK manufacturing in 2018, but the effort proved short lived, and the company closed that operation along with its last remaining UK factory in 2019.

Rising labor costs in the UK compared to Vietnam, Cambodia, and India made domestic production increasingly uncompetitive, a challenge shared by nearly every historic British and American footwear brand.

The financial pressure that led to the 2020 company voluntary arrangement further limited any realistic path back to UK manufacturing, since the rescued company needed to prioritize cost efficiency over domestic production.

Clarks has instead focused post rescue investment on retail expansion and new product lines, including its Cloudsteppers athleisure concept, rather than attempting to rebuild manufacturing capacity in England.

The closure also reflected a decades long pattern across the UK footwear trade, where once thriving manufacturing towns like Street, Somerset shifted their local economies away from shoemaking entirely.

What Are Clarks’ Most Iconic Shoe Styles?

The Clarks Desert Boot, introduced in 1950 and inspired by boots British officers wore in the Middle East during World War Two, remains one of the most recognized silhouettes in casual menswear.

The Wallabee, launched in the 1960s with its distinctive crepe sole and moccasin construction, has become a streetwear staple, particularly within hip hop culture in the United States and the UK.

Both styles continue to be manufactured through Clarks’ current overseas factory network, with periodic special editions and collaborations that have kept the classic silhouettes relevant to new generations of shoppers.

Clarks has also built a significant childrens shoe business, historically tied to school uniform requirements in the UK, which remains an important part of the company’s overall sales alongside its adult footwear lines.

How Has Clarks Changed Since the 2020 Rescue?

Since the LionRock Capital rescue, Clarks has pursued an athleisure focused expansion strategy, opening dedicated Cloudsteppers concept stores that lean into comfort footwear trends rather than purely classic dress shoes.

The company opened a flagship store at Oxford Circus in London in November 2025, signaling continued investment in physical retail even as online shopping has reshaped the footwear industry.

Clarks has also expanded its international store footprint, including locations in the United States, Malaysia, and India, part of a broader push to grow beyond its traditional UK core market.

These moves suggest the current ownership group is focused on modernizing the brand’s image and product mix rather than pursuing a return to domestic manufacturing.

Shoppers who want to check exactly where a specific pair of Clarks shoes was made can look at the small country of origin label sewn inside the shoe, since factory assignment varies by style and production season.

Clarks vs Ecco and Florsheim: Where Are the Shoes Made?

Clarks, Ecco, and Florsheim all compete in the comfort and dress casual footwear space, though Ecco stands apart by owning much of its own manufacturing rather than relying entirely on contract factories like Clarks and Florsheim.

Clarks and Florsheim both depend fully on independent overseas manufacturers, with heavy reliance on Vietnam and Cambodia in Clarks’ case and China in Florsheim’s case.

For comparison with brands using different manufacturing models, see Where Are Ecco Shoes Made and Where Are Florsheim Shoes Made.

Clarks generally prices its footwear in a similar range to Florsheim, positioning both brands below Ecco’s premium comfort pricing while still offering leather uppers and classic silhouettes.

Are Clarks Shoes Good Quality?

Clarks has built a long standing reputation for comfort focused dress and casual shoes, particularly its Desert Boot and Wallabee styles, which have remained popular across generations.

Financial results in recent years have been challenging, with the company reporting losses even as it invests in new retail concepts and product lines aimed at reversing that trend.

Customer reviews on the company’s own site and major retailers tend to praise comfort and classic styling, with some longtime customers noting that overall construction quality has shifted since production moved fully overseas.

For shoppers seeking classic, comfortable footwear at a moderate price point, most reviewers still consider Clarks a reasonable value, even as the brand works through its post rescue transition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Clarks Shoes

Are Clarks shoes made in England?

No. Clarks closed its last UK factory in 2019. All current production happens overseas, primarily in Vietnam, Cambodia, and India, through independent contract manufacturers.

Who owns Clarks in 2026?

Clarks is majority owned by Viva China Holdings Limited, which holds a 51 percent stake following a 2020 rescue led by Hong Kong based LionRock Capital. The Clark family retains the remaining 49 percent.

Are Clarks shoes made in China?

Not primarily. Clarks production is concentrated in Vietnam, Cambodia, and India rather than China, though the brand’s majority owner is a Chinese investment group.

Does Clarks still exist as a company?

Yes. Clarks continues operating as an active footwear brand, having recovered from its 2020 financial restructuring and expanded into new retail concepts and international markets since then.