Clarks have become synonymous for children’s school shoes in the United Kingdom, particularly for children between the ages of 4–12 years attending primary school.[9] Additionally, the company is commonly known for its Desert Boot, an ankle height boot with crepe rubber sole, usually made out of calf suede leather traditionally supplied by Charles F Stead & Co tannery in Leeds. Officially launched in 1950, the Desert Boot was designed by Nathan Clark (great-grandson of James Clark) based on an unlined suede boot profile produced in the bazaars of Cairo and worn by British officers in the Second World War.[10]
For the year ending January 2013, the company made a profit of £150 million on sales of £1,433m making it the 31st-largest private company in the United Kingdom.[5] More than half of its £1.4bn annualised sales to January were generated abroad. Since 2010, the company has begun to trade in India, where it now has 25 stand-alone stores, and relaunched marketing in China, where it has opened 400 outlets in partnership with local footwear retailers.